Are There Two Types Of Forgiveness: Judicial Forgiveness And Relational Forgiveness? PART 6

We started this scriptural examination of forgiveness to determine if there are two types of forgiveness, Judicial and Relational. So far, we have seen no scriptural evidence to support two types of forgiveness.

In this concluding study, let’s take a closer look at the new testament established in the blood of Jesus.

Jesus stated in Luke 22:19-20, Jesus said, “And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me…This cup is the new covenant [testament and covenant are the same Greek word in the original manuscripts] in my blood, which is poured out for you.”

Matthew 26:26-28 says, “As they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks for it, and broke it. He gave to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is my body." He took a cup, gave thanks, and gave to them, saying, "All of you drink it, for this is my blood of the new covenant [testament], which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”

In these verses, we see Jesus revealing to his disciples that he will establish the new testament in his blood for the forgiveness of sins.

The question is: Is Jesus referring to judicial forgiveness or relational forgiveness? Or, is Jesus simply referring to forgiveness, without separating forgiveness into categories?

The writer of Hebrews provides insight into the forgiveness associated with the new testament established in the blood of Jesus.

His purpose for writing was to convince his Jewish readers in AD 65 that Jesus’ sacrifice for sins was the final, full, and forever sacrifice for sins (Hebrews 7-10), resulting in eternal forgiveness of sins and eternal cleansing from sins that is received by faith in Jesus.

In Hebrews, the writer quotes Jeremiah 31:31-34 to show that the new testament to be established had been established in the blood of Jesus. In quoting Jeremiah 31:31-34, the writer states that God’s desire was for people to know him (Hebrews 8:11). Furthermore, he quotes Jeremiah 31:34 when he states:

“None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” (Hebrews 8:11-12)

The rather expounds on this forgiveness in Hebrews 10:17-18 when he quotes Jerimiah 31:34, which says, “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.”

He then explains in Hebrews 10:18 what he means by their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more. He writes, “And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary.”

The writer clearly makes the case in Hebrews that forgiveness is full and forever. He calls it eternal redemption in Hebrews 9:12.

Redemption is the forgiveness of sins. Paul uses the word redemption in Ephesians 1:8 and Colossians 1:14 to describe the forgiveness of sins. The writer of Hebrews explains that redemption is eternal, which is why he states in Hebrews 13:20 the new testament is an eternal testament in the blood of Jesus.

When quoting Jeremiah 31:31-34, the writer of Hebrews states that all will know God from the least to the greatest. This is a statement of relationship.

This relationship is based upon the blood sacrifice of Jesus where all of our sins are forgiven, resulting in no further forgiveness being given by God or needed by us, but only receiving of his forgiveness by faith (Acts 26:18).

Paul expounds on the new testament (the one death of Jesus not twenty-seven books) in 2 Corinthians 3:1-5:21. In 2 Corinthians 5:18 he writes, “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.”

Reconciliation is a word describing two people whose relationship has been restored through the removal of the obstacle that separated them. The obstacle separating God from people and people from God were sins. The death of Jesus eternally removed the sin barrier when he died for all of our sins; therefore, God is no longer counting our sins against us, resulting in God reconciling himself to people.

Through faith in Jesus, people are reconciled to God. This reconciliation is a personal relationship with God where he does not count our sins against us.

There is no hint in Paul’s teachings or in the book of Hebrews that unconfessed sins result in being out of fellowship with God. Rather, it is the very opposite. When we examine scripture, paying careful attention to the new testament established in the blood of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins, it is evident our sins are forgiven so that we can enjoy a close relationship with God with no fear of ever being out of fellowship (close to God) him.

The writer of Hebrews clearly shows that the blood of Jesus has brought us close to God, removing the sin that once separated us from him (Hebrews 7:18-19; 9:14; 10:21-22).

Paul also writes that the blood of Jesus has brought us close to God (Ephesians 1:7; 2:13; 2:18). Neither the writer of Hebrews or Paul tell believers they need to consistently confess their sins to God for forgiveness so they can stay in fellowship with God or restore fellowship with him. Rather, they seek to reassure believers they are forgiven.

When we examine the scriptures to determine if there are two types of forgiveness, the evidence is overwhelming there is only forgiveness that is not divided into categories of judicial and relational. This forgiveness is based upon the blood of Jesus where his death provided for the forgiveness of all our sins that is received by faith. Through faith in Jesus, we receive forgiveness (Acts 26:18; 13:38-38) and begin a relationship with God where fellowship (closeness to him) with him can never be lost.

If unconfessed sins did result in being out of fellowship with God then how many unconfessed sins would it take to be out of fellowship with him? One, two, ten, twenty…

What if someone failed to remember a sin or two or was unaware of a sin(s) they committed and therefore never confessed them? Would they be out of fellowship with God? Would God simply overlook the sin(s)?

Some will say the Holy Spirit will bring sins to our attention so we can confess them to God and have our fellowship with God restored. What if someone failed to hear what the Holy Spirit was saying to them? Would this person remain out of fellowship with God, though they thought they were in fellowship with him?

The fact is scripture never says believers are out of fellowship with God if they have unconfessed sins. Additionally, scripture never separates forgiveness into categories of judicial forgiveness and relational forgiveness.

Rather,

-Scripture tells us that: Jesus said his blood was poured out for the forgiveness of sins.

-Scripture tell us the blood of Jesus brings us close to God.

-Scripture tells us God is no longer counting our sins against, since they were all counted against Jesus.

-Scripture tells us that because God is no longer counting our sins against us, God has reconciled himself to us, meaning God has come close to us.

-Scripture tell us that by faith we receive the forgiveness of sins and are reconciled to God in a relationship, where he knows us from the least to the greatest and where he remembers our sins no more.

Through this examination of the scriptures, I am confident we can conclude that there are not two types of forgiveness but only forgiveness that allows us to be in relationship with God with no fear of being out of fellowship with him.

If you would like to read more about the new testament of grace, listen to Brad’s teachings on Hebrews on the Gracereach With Brad Robertson Podcast or watch his teachings on Hebrews on his YouTube Channel. At the time of the writing of this blog, Brad’s teachings were not on this website, but they may be now. If so, they would be under the Teaching Resources button on the Home Page.

Additionally, Brad has many resources on the new testament on this website. To read more, CLICK HERE.