Introduction

We speak freely, even flippantly, about the forgiveness of sins. Perhaps we make careless assumptions about the subject. All of this is based upon our understanding of the grace of God and the death of Jesus on our behalf. There is, admittedly, a readiness on the part of God to forgive sinful man. But forgiveness or acceptance with God did not come about easily or without price. I think it is beneficial to review how we reached this present point in the scheme of redemption.

The New Testament says that God "made us accepted in the beloved, in whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace." (Eph. 1:6-7.)

I do not know when man first learned that God would forgive him of his transgressions. When Adam and Eve were driven out of the Garden of Eden, there was not one word about forgiveness. But there were three curses pronounced upon man, the serpent and the ground. (Gen. 3.) It was simply too early to speak about forgiveness and acceptance. The first time that forgiveness occurs in the Bible is Genesis 50:17. It is not about obtaining the forgiveness of God, but rather Joseph’s brothers asking Joseph for forgiveness of their wrongs against him.

"Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren and their sin; for they did unto thee evil. Now, we pray thee forgive the trespass of the servants of God of thy father." (Gen. 50:17.)

This scene is very instructive about forgiveness. First of all, time is needed for reconciliation. Joseph was only seventeen when his brothers sold him into slavery. (Gen. 37:2.) We know that Joseph was thirty when he stood before Pharaoh. (Gen. 41:46.) There were seven years of plenty. In the second year of the seven years of famine, Jacob and his family moved to Egypt. He lived there for seventeen years. (47:28.) Therefore, thirty-nine years had passed from the sins of his brothers to the death of their father. After Jacob died, the brothers feared that Joseph would now take vengeance upon them. Even though Joseph did not harbor hatred and vengeance against them, time was needed for reconciliation. For seventeen years in Egypt, the brothers feared what Joseph might do. When Jacob died, it was time for reconciliation.

Someone wrote, "Forgiveness rushed is forgiveness ruined." The goal of forgiveness is reconciliation. If the process of forgiving is rushed, often the goal is not accomplished. Time was required for man to understand the true nature of his sins against God. This is no discussion of forgiveness immediately after the fall of Adam and Eve. It was far too soon. God was ready to forgive, but man was not ready to be reconciled. There was much more that he needed to understand.

It is also interesting that the brothers sent a messenger to speak to Joseph. "And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying, So shall ye say into Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren." (50:16-17.) Someone stood between Joseph and his brothers making their plea for forgiveness. Sins, wrongs, transgressions are this serious. They demand a sober and serious handling. There is nothing light-hearted going on here. A serious wrong had been done. Some of the brothers wanted to kill Joseph. Our wrongs are against God Almighty. We need "a messenger" as well.

Joseph said to his brothers, "Fear not, for am I in the place of God?" (50:19.) No, Joseph was not in the place of God. However, he was sitting in a powerful position as ruler of Egypt under Pharaoh. He was not the guilty party. His brothers had committed the serious offence. Yet, Joseph loved them and had already forgiven them in his heart. We are like the brothers with our transgressions before God. He holds the power of life and death over us. God has done no wrong; we are the guilty ones.

It was a very emotional scene. When the brothers first appeared before Joseph in Egypt, Joseph wept. "Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him, and he cried, Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren. And he wept aloud, and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard." (45:1-2.) Seventeen years later when Jacob died, Joseph wept again when they asked for forgiveness. "And Joseph wept when they spake unto him." (50:17.)

Weeping is found at the scene down in Egypt because Joseph loved his brothers and because real wrongs had been committed. Forgiveness always involves hurt. There are many different ways in which humans hurt one another. But hurts can be described as personal, unfair and deep. All of these describe the offence of Joseph brothers against him.

I do not know when man first understood the concept of forgiveness. Perhaps it was when someone wanted to try to express the correction of wrongs with another. Dealing with one another on a human level helps us to understand our need for the forgiveness of God. This we know, that our forgiveness from God is dependent upon whether we forgive those who trespass against us.

"For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly father will forgive you. But if you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." (Matt. 6:14-15.)

People often ask why was the coming of Jesus for our salvation delayed so long after the Fall. One answer is that time was needed for the development of man’s understanding for reconciliation with God. The Bible says, "But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons." (Gal. 4:4-5.) Man was learning two important lessons before Jesus came: how to forgive one another on a practical level living day by day and the spiritual implica-tions of our sins against God.

The Law of Moses was designed to lead man back into fellowship with God. Though temporary in nature, it played an important role in bringing to pass "the fullness of time." Every time an innocent animal was sacrificed, man learned that the innocent had to die for the guilty. All of those sacrifices pointed to the coming "Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world." (John 1:29.)

I do not know exactly what transpired in the offering of the animals. Some things we do know. The animals belonged to the ones offering them. They may have been emotionally attached to them. No doubt, it was painful for them to see the lambs and goats killed. Surely, they asked, What does all of this mean? They understood that it was for their forgiveness. The Law of Moses clearly stated that fact.

• Lev. 4:20, 26, 31, 35 ". . . and it shall be forgiven them."
• Lev. 5:10, 13, 16, 18 ". . . and it shall be forgiven them."
• 2 Chron. 7:14 "If my people which are called by my name shall humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land."
• Psalm 32:1-2 "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity and in whose spirit there is no guile."
• Mark 1:4 John the Baptist’s baptism was a "baptism of repentance for the remission of sins."
• Mark 2:7, 10 "Who can forgive sins but God? . . . But that you may know that the son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins."

If it is asked whether sins could be forgiven before the death of Jesus on the cross, it must be remembered that Jesus forgave people of their sins during his ministry. Jesus had power on earth to forgive sins. This occurred before his death. All forgiveness of sins is based upon the sufficient sacrifice of Jesus Christ, but that does not mean that no one could be forgiven before Jesus died. That is a false assumption. The one predetermined event, the one sure event that could not be sabotaged, the event planned before the foundation of the world, was the offering of Jesus Christ for the sins of the world. (Eph. 1:11, Rev. 13:8.)

The view that man could not be forgiven under the Old Testament has caused many theological difficulties. It is, in fact, an indefensible position. Jesus forgave some people of their sins. The Old Testament used the word in such a way as to indicate that the people were forgiven. David confessed, "I have sinned against the Lord." Nathan told David, The Lord also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die." (2 Sam. 12:13.) If language means anything, there was forgiveness during the Old Testament before Jesus died.

Under the New Testament, we have a much more complete under-standing of forgiveness than any who have lived before. Here is some of that information and understanding.

Jesus’ death was for those under the first testament as well. "For this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of a testator. For a testament is of force after men are dead; otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator lives." (Heb. 9:15-16.)

Peter wrote, "Forasmuch as you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot, who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you." (1 Peter 1:18-19.)

It is also significant that Jesus was offered only once in contrast to the many sin offerings under the Law of Moses. This signified that only one sufficient offering was needed. Jesus is such a sacrifice that none other will ever be required. (Heb. 9:25-26.)

All forgiveness is based upon vicarious suffering. The one forgiving must suffer for the one forgiven; the just for the unjust. (1 Peter 3:18.) Joseph had to accept the personal offence and pain involved in order to forgive his brothers. He suffered on their behalf so that they would not suffer. Jesus suffered for us so that we might be forgiven. Whether human or divine, all forgiveness involves vicarious suffering.

Forgiveness and acceptance is found in Christ. (Eph. 1:6.) Divine forgiveness is not offered sin by sin. It is offered in His Son. This spiritual concept is the most mature understanding of redemption and justification presented in Scripture. This includes a new life and a new relationship with God through Jesus Christ.