The Highway Forums General Discussion Open Forum Confession and Repentance

I'm trying to make the distinction between that which has been fully completed (objective), which would be the "definite" atonement of Christ and that which is ongoing and experimental within the believer (subjective). Whether or not this finds acceptance in your thinking is something you are going to have to decide. My point before and still remains that the atonement of Christ was total, i.e., ALL that stood before the elect and God has been fulfilled in Him; e.g., propitiation, reconciliation, sacrifice, and redemption. These things result in the believer's justification, adoption and sanctification (1Cor 1:30). 1) Forgiveness (remittance) of sins is forensic and is not dependent upon an individual's repentance and/or faith, but rather upon the active and passive obedience of Christ Who not only paid the penalty for transgressions of the law but also imputes His own righteousness to the account of the individual at the point which faith is exercised. We could go on for some time and also speak about the fundamental differences between the proximate cause of justification and that which is a prerequisite to apprehending that justification. (cf. Redemption Accomplished and Applied, by John Murray or Justification by Faith Alone, by Joel Beeke)

The salient issue is, Does one's repentance and faith following justification effect the forgiveness/remittance of sins (objective) or play a part in the believer's ongoing sanctification (subjective)? Let me offer but a few texts, of which many others could be presented as well, to defend my view of the former choice,

Matthew 26:28 (ASV) "for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many unto remission of sins."

Acts 2:38 (ASV) "And Peter [said] unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

Acts 10:43 (ASV) "To him bear all the prophets witness, that through his name every one that believeth on him shall receive remission of sins."

Romans 3:25 (ASV) "whom God set forth [to be] a propitiation, through faith, in his blood, to show his righteousness because of the passing over (remission) of the sins done aforetime, in the forbearance of God;"

Hebrews 9:22 (ASV) "And according to the law, I may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and apart from shedding of blood there is no remission."

Hebrews 10:18 (ASV) "Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin."

So, again, based upon these few texts, I believe it is incontrovertibly established that forgiveness of sins is a) forensic, b) objective, c) alien to anything wrought by the believer. Thus, I am forced to understand 1Jh 1:9, 10 as saying that the alienation experienced (subjective) by a believer due to sin is removed through the means of confession/repentance with the assurance that due to the substitutionary work of the Lord Christ, God is obligated and faithful to not hold any transgressions against him (nothing written to the believer's account).

As should be obvious from what I wrote above, I must disagree that the "application" of forgiveness is an ongoing process. Unless God was wholly satisfied with the atonement of Christ, which of necessity includes the ALL that was held against us, so as to make reconciliation possible:

Colossians 2:13-14 (ASV) "And you, being dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, you, [I say], did he make alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses; having blotted out the bond written in ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us: and he hath taken it out that way, nailing it to the cross;"

In the vernacular, "It's a done deal!" for the believer. Forgiveness of sins came about through a judicial act and pronouncement of which is applied immediatelywhen one is united to Christ by a living faith.

In His grace,