CREED: I believe in ... THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS
In coming to this next phrase “ I believe in... the forgiveness of sins” I have had several paths to explore.
The first is a question: Why would the authors of the creed think this was a necessary tenet to include in a basic capsulization of the faith and held to be common by all believers? What was it in history or their experience that made them think they needed to declare this truth every time they proclaimed who and what they were as to their belief; this that set them apart from all the other professions of being or belief?
Another question or series of questions must also follow. Noting that it is the forgiveness of sins plural, and not just sin (singular or general) we must ask whose sins and by whom? And then having looked at these details, the concluding question must be: “So what?”
Let's suppose the creed was formed so that those facing persecution or being asked by the state to declare allegiance to a Caesar or false god or else face death, had a ready answer. They are saying to the death squad that “I believe in the forgiveness of YOUR sin and will not hold it against you even as Jesus said from the cross.” But they were assuring themselves also, “I believe in the forgiveness of sins, and therefore can face death with no fear of condemnation based on my misdeeds.” Furthermore “I believe in the forgiveness of sins, means that I believe that Jesus had the authority to forgive sins, and the resurrection I declared earlier, and the working of the Holy Spirit, confirm that God the Father accepted the work of Jesus on my behalf so that my sins ARE forgiven.
But if this is true there are other meanings also.
God is a forgiving God. (Old and New Testament declare it)
He is the One who Forgives Sins. (Who but God can declare the sinner pardoned?)
Jesus is the “Lamb of God” who takes away the sins of the world.
Every sinner is included in that work. (Not every sinner benefits.)
Jesus taught that to have sins forgiven, one must forgive others their sins.
(The forgiving of sins, does NOT depend on the sinner repenting. To know forgiveness may.)
(Jesus forgave, or asked for the forgiveness of all who sinned against him. We can do no less.)
I have the responsibility to forgive if I want to know forgiveness.
There is no sin that I can count unforgivable.
(I am convinced that the “unpardonable sin” that so many worry about is quite easily explained in the context in which the statement is given. Mark 3:28&29. “The blasphemy against the Holy Spirit” in context, is attributing the work of the Holy Spirit to Satan, (or an unclean spirit) Quite simply, as long as anyone continues to deny that the evidence before them is the work of God, then they will not accept what that work leads to. And since one of the primary works of the Holy Spirit is to convict of sin, then as long as the individual denies the prompting then they will fail to repent, and “will never have forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation”. BUT that is not a call we are asked to make. Therefore there is no sin (against me) that I can count unforgivable.)
Not to labour a point. If I truly believe in the forgiveness of sins, if the body of believers world wide, and specifically in my circles truly believe in the forgiveness of sins, shouldn't there be a great difference in the spiritual and physical health of the individuals and the local churches.? The “So What” should be a transformation! Therapists (for Christians) should go out of business. If I believe in the forgiveness of sins, mine in particular, I would be free from the load of guilt that seems to keep me from moving forward. Remember the connection Jesus made between the Forgiveness of sins AND THE KNOWLEDGE OF THAT FORGIVENESS, and the healing of the sick. If I believe in the forgiveness of sins (of those who I think have “sinned against me”), there would be no “root of bitterness” and all the ills, physically and spiritually, that come as a result of that.
I am afraid that while most of us will SAY we believe in the forgiveness of sins, to far too great an extent it is only a profession of doctrine rather than a declaration of soul stirring belief. Why is this statement in the creed?
Why is it separated only by commas and not a separate sentence or paragraph? Is it because it is part and parcel of believing in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church and the Common Union (Fellowship) of all saints? Is it part of the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting?
Complete these sentences:
Because I believe in the forgiveness of sins therefore I will ____________________.
Because I believe in the forgiveness of sins therefore I will not ________________.
In coming to this next phrase “ I believe in... the forgiveness of sins” I have had several paths to explore.
The first is a question: Why would the authors of the creed think this was a necessary tenet to include in a basic capsulization of the faith and held to be common by all believers? What was it in history or their experience that made them think they needed to declare this truth every time they proclaimed who and what they were as to their belief; this that set them apart from all the other professions of being or belief?
Another question or series of questions must also follow. Noting that it is the forgiveness of sins plural, and not just sin (singular or general) we must ask whose sins and by whom? And then having looked at these details, the concluding question must be: “So what?”
Let's suppose the creed was formed so that those facing persecution or being asked by the state to declare allegiance to a Caesar or false god or else face death, had a ready answer. They are saying to the death squad that “I believe in the forgiveness of YOUR sin and will not hold it against you even as Jesus said from the cross.” But they were assuring themselves also, “I believe in the forgiveness of sins, and therefore can face death with no fear of condemnation based on my misdeeds.” Furthermore “I believe in the forgiveness of sins, means that I believe that Jesus had the authority to forgive sins, and the resurrection I declared earlier, and the working of the Holy Spirit, confirm that God the Father accepted the work of Jesus on my behalf so that my sins ARE forgiven.
But if this is true there are other meanings also.
God is a forgiving God. (Old and New Testament declare it)
He is the One who Forgives Sins. (Who but God can declare the sinner pardoned?)
Jesus is the “Lamb of God” who takes away the sins of the world.
Every sinner is included in that work. (Not every sinner benefits.)
Jesus taught that to have sins forgiven, one must forgive others their sins.
(The forgiving of sins, does NOT depend on the sinner repenting. To know forgiveness may.)
(Jesus forgave, or asked for the forgiveness of all who sinned against him. We can do no less.)
I have the responsibility to forgive if I want to know forgiveness.
There is no sin that I can count unforgivable.
(I am convinced that the “unpardonable sin” that so many worry about is quite easily explained in the context in which the statement is given. Mark 3:28&29. “The blasphemy against the Holy Spirit” in context, is attributing the work of the Holy Spirit to Satan, (or an unclean spirit) Quite simply, as long as anyone continues to deny that the evidence before them is the work of God, then they will not accept what that work leads to. And since one of the primary works of the Holy Spirit is to convict of sin, then as long as the individual denies the prompting then they will fail to repent, and “will never have forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation”. BUT that is not a call we are asked to make. Therefore there is no sin (against me) that I can count unforgivable.)
Not to labour a point. If I truly believe in the forgiveness of sins, if the body of believers world wide, and specifically in my circles truly believe in the forgiveness of sins, shouldn't there be a great difference in the spiritual and physical health of the individuals and the local churches.? The “So What” should be a transformation! Therapists (for Christians) should go out of business. If I believe in the forgiveness of sins, mine in particular, I would be free from the load of guilt that seems to keep me from moving forward. Remember the connection Jesus made between the Forgiveness of sins AND THE KNOWLEDGE OF THAT FORGIVENESS, and the healing of the sick. If I believe in the forgiveness of sins (of those who I think have “sinned against me”), there would be no “root of bitterness” and all the ills, physically and spiritually, that come as a result of that.
I am afraid that while most of us will SAY we believe in the forgiveness of sins, to far too great an extent it is only a profession of doctrine rather than a declaration of soul stirring belief. Why is this statement in the creed?
Why is it separated only by commas and not a separate sentence or paragraph? Is it because it is part and parcel of believing in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church and the Common Union (Fellowship) of all saints? Is it part of the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting?
Complete these sentences:
Because I believe in the forgiveness of sins therefore I will ____________________.
Because I believe in the forgiveness of sins therefore I will not ________________.
posted by Mister A Muses | 2:52 PM
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