The bible ( Jn. 1:29 ‘Look, the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world’) teaches that Christ has died for ev died for every human being, and as the lamb of God, he has bore the sins of the entire world. All our sins were taken away when Jesus died on the cross for us 2000 years ago.
How is this How is this forgiveness given to me in the here and now?
Thus, the The bible also teaches that through the gospel, God delivers this forgiveness to me in the here and now. and now. For example, ‘As we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and p sins and purify us from all unrighteousness’ (1 John 1:9). The following passages connect the two: then and the now: Romans 5:19 ‘Through the obedience of one the man (on the cross 2000 yrs ago), t years ago) the many will be made righteous (now).’
2 C 2 Cor. 5:19 ‘that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself , not counting people’s sins against th against them. And he has commited to us (now) the message of reconciliation’
Rom. 4 Rom 4:25 ‘He was delivered over to death for our sins but was raised to life for our (present) justification’ (ie. the risen Christ justifies us here and now on the basis of his sacrificial death for our sin for us)
How is wh How is what Jesus accomplished for me 2000 years ago applied to me now? Isn’t it through God’s livin his word proclaimed to me here and now by the power of the Holy Spirit?
When did When does our justification take place? 2000 years ago on the cross or when it was delivered delivered personally to me through the living and active word of Christ (Romans 10). What does it me does it mean that we are ‘justified by God’s grace, because of Christ’s sacrificial death, through fai through faith’? (Romans 3:21-26) Doesn’t this mean that faith was given to us by the word of Ch word of Christ and that this same faith received Christ’s justification as he came to us through th through this word.
How can t How can the following two statements both be true?
1) When 1) Christ died 2000 yrs ago, God forgave all sins of all sinners. whether or not anyone
believes this now.
2) God in 2) Christ comes to people through his word right now and forgives them their sins on the basi basis of his sacrificial death for their sins 2000 years ago. They receive this forgiveness as a complete f free gift through the gift of faith (which is itself created by God’s word).
Do you te Does Perichorseis teach that everyone has received the forgiveness of their sins?
Martin Lu Martin Luther’s tract, ‘Against the Heavenly Prophets distinguishes between what God did on the cross ‘ the cross for our forgiveness’ and where God ‘gives this forgiveness to us now’:
‘We treat We teach the forgiveness of sins in two ways. First, how it is achieved…Second, how it is distributed distributed and given to us. Christ has achieved it on the cross, it is true. But he has not distributed distributed or given it on the cross…he has distributed and given it through the word, as also in the gospel the gospel where it is preached. He has [achieved]…it once and for all on the cross, but the distributio distribution takes place continuously…If now I seek the forgiveness of sins, I do not run to the cross, for cross because I will not find it given there. But I will find in the…gospel the word which distributes delivers, presents…and gives to me the forgiveness which was [achieved]…on the cross' cross.’ (Lu Luthers Works: Volume 40, pages 213, 214).
