There are a number of views about what the forgiveness of sins are in Scripture. Usually, it is believed there are two kinds of forgiveness, one being judicial or positional, and the other temporal.
The judicial or positional kind is usually seen as immediate in the propitiation (satisfaction for sin) that was accomplished in the death of Christ. Maybe more common is that that forgiveness is not received until one believes in Christ for salvation. There may be some that believe the propitiation isn't true for a person until they believe, at which time they receive forgiveness of sins, but there are those (including myself) who believe that the propitiation was accomplished in the work of the cross by which judicial forgiveness was made possible for those who believe.
The temporal kind of forgiveness is concerning fellowship which some believe every reference to forgiveness or remission of sins is about. Temporal forgiveness is something that has to be repeated, while judicial forgiveness does not. Temporal forgiveness will begin with a clean slate at salvation, but future sin needs to be acknowledged for forgiveness, but the work of the cross always makes that possible.
It may be that some who believe forgiveness is always a temporal issue also believe in a positional type of temporal forgiveness, that being there is a sense in which the believer, being "in Christ" has all his sins (past, present, and future) forgiven for fellowship, but he still has to confess or acknowledge his sin for the actual experience of fellowship with God. This view would probably see judicial forgiveness as bound up in the propitiation, and it isn't temporal or the positional-temporal type of forgiveness. These folks would probably say all sin has been paid for everyone, believer and non-believer, and sin is no longer the issue, only unbelief in Christ for salvation.
Though unbelief in Christ for salvation would be considered a sin, all sin is paid for, and the issue is a lack of justification and eternal life (new birth or regeneration) because of unbelief (the death of Christ did not release them from the sin of unbelief in this view).
The Greek words translated "forgive" and "forgiveness" are "aphiemi and "aphesis" respectfully. I presently believe in a judicial forgiveness of sins that takes place at the moment of salvation, and I see this as distinct from the propitiation accomplished at the cross. I know that this sets me apart from the view of a lot of Free Grace folks who believe that forgiveness was accomplished at the cross for all. I used to hold this view for many years, but had a change of mind back in the mid 90's.
I prefer to use the word "remission" for that judicial aspect, because I see it as being saved from the penalty of sin or the wages of sin which is death. I believe to be released from the wages of sin (being death) must result in justification and regeneration ("born again"), otherwise, I'm still under the wages of sin. Therefore, remission, justification, and regeneration are all connected, though they speak of different things. The consequences of sin brought death, but through the release from that consequence, I am accepted by God (justified) and given new life (regenerated or born again).
I believe we are in fellowship with God at the moment of salvation, and when we sin as a believer, we must acknowledge that sin when it is revealed to us to be forgiven (1 John 1:9) This is an ongoing thing, but it does not change one's eternal status as one who has received remission of sins and been justified and born again.
When a believer sins, why doesn't he have to be justified or regenerated again? Why doesn't future sin separate us from God into an unjustified and un-regenerated state? If future sin can break fellowship with God, then why doesn't it undo justification and regeneration? If you say justification and regeneration cannot be undone, then it must mean future sins, after salvation, cannot undue these things. This is the kind of remission of sins I am talking about. There is a remission of sins that is once for all, one that releases us from the consequence that required justification and regeneration.
I believe those verses that speak of the remission of sins with reference to salvation is that particular (judicial) remission (of sins). I distinguish this from the propitiation for sin. Propitiation makes remission of sin possible, and one receives this remission of sins by believing in Christ for it, by which one is justified and regenerated. All sin has been paid for, being the propitiation, and by that propitiation one can be released from the consequences of all sin by faith in Jesus. Sin can no longer, after salvation, causes one to revert to their former eternal status of being unjustified and unregenerate.
Below are some verses that have the words "forgive" and "forgiveness" or "remission" in them that needs consideration, and a few verses that I think parallel forgiveness but only speak of salvation from sins. I've included some comments with them.
"To give knowledge of salvation to His people by the remission of their sins," Luke 1:77 I believe that this parallels "And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins." Matthew 1:21
The knowledge of salvation is through the remission of sins. Should we limit this salvation to just fellowship with God or is it the change of one's eternal status? If it is the eternal status, then the remission must be a completed one, not one about temporal forgiveness as in fellowship, which can change due to future sinning.
48 Then He said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." 49 And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?"
50 Then He said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you. Go in peace." Luke 7:48-50
Jesus forgave her sins, and then he said her faith had saved her. Here we see forgiveness and salvation connected: salvation by the forgiveness of sins, just as we read in Luke 1:77. This salvation is received by faith, and it could be said that remission of sins is received by faith.
'Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon whose surname is Peter, 14 who will tell you words by which you and all your household will be saved.' 15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning. Acts 11:13-15 43 To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins. 44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. Acts 10:43-44
Peter would tell Cornelius, and those with him, words by which they would be saved. The words were about receiving remission of sins through faith in Christ, and we are told that while Peter was speaking these words, right after he spoke the words, they received the Holy Spirit. Remission of sins is received by faith, and they are words of salvation. Salvation is through the remission of sins, received by believing in Jesus for it.
38 Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; 39 and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses. Acts 13:38-39
The remission of sins is through Jesus, and remission is received through faith, as revealed in Acts 10:43. We see the connection of remission with justification. I believe that if we receive remission, then we must be justified, otherwise, we are still unaccepted by God. And by the way, Leon Morris did a word study on justification throughout scripture in his book "The Apostolic Preaching of the Cross," and he concluded it means the conferral of a status of acceptance.
30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. 31 Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him." Acts 5:30-32 I believe this is similar to ... "Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life." Acts 11:18
Forgiveness of sin and eternal life are not the exact same things, but I believe the one issues into the other. The forgiveness/ remission of sins spoken of in other passages as salvation is salvation because it results in eternal life. In both Acts references, it speaks of God granting repentance, to both Jews and Gentiles. I believe the repentance is a resolve to get right with God, which isn't complete until one believes in Christ for salvation ("those who obey him"). God grants it in that he has given them time and opportunity, and he has set the terms of salvation.
17 I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, 18 to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.' Acts 26:17-18
The reception of forgiveness of sins qualifies the Gentiles for an inheritance along with those who have believed.
"It was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. Luke 24:46-47
Again, repentance is a resolve to get right with God, which is not complete until one believes in Jesus for salvation. That salvation is the remission of sins which is to be preached in Christ's name to all nations.
22 And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission. Hebrews 9:22 ... 18 Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin. Hebrews 10:18
Isn't this speaking of a complete kind of remission? There was one sacrifice for sin forever because it accomplished a remission of sins. It seems the two things are inseparable, being a one-time remission of sins and a one-time sacrifice. If there wasn't a remission of sins, then the sacrifice would have to be repeated. The forgiveness in the temporal kind is just about fellowship, not being released from the wages of sin which is death. All the sins that brought death are no longer considered--death cannot return for any sin, past, present, or future. But sin in the present can bring a loss of fellowship, but not eternal alienation from God. There has been a remission of sins because of the once-for-all sacrifice.
"And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross." Colossians 2:13-14
Here I believe we see again that through the remission of sins, God gives us new life, for if we are released from the wages of sin, being death, then we must receive new life, otherwise, we are still dead, under the wages of sin.
7 "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace" Ephesians 1:7 13 "He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins." Colossians 1:13-14
Both of these texts speak of a "redemption" (Greek "apolutrosis") we have "in Him" which is the forgiveness of sins. Both redemption and remission speak of being released; I believe this release is from the obligation of our sins which was death and alienation from the life of God.
9 "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9
This must speak of temporal forgiveness. Sin for the believer interrupts fellowship with God, and acknowledgement restores fellowship, but sin does not return us to the former condition of death and alienation from God, because of the remission of sins and the result of justification and new birth.
12 "I write to you, little children, Because your sins are forgiven you for His name's sake." 1 John 2:12 "Little Children" is one spiritual asset of maybe three assets mentioned in the text. This forgiveness could be the remission of sins that saves and therefore makes them "little children." The writer also says, "I write to you, little children, Because you have known the Father. 1 John 2:13
Knowing God through the remission of sins is part of the new covenant. I would tend to think this is knowing God through the remission of sins by which we are saved. I suppose one could argue this is about temporal forgiveness. Like forgiveness, the issue of "knowing God" could have more than one aspect to it--just like one can know their spouse in a relational sense and then also in a getting-to-know-better sense. I could see here how this forgiveness could be the temporal kind, being a present spiritual asset represented in the designation "little children" just as "young men" and "fathers" (you will have to look at the rest of the text which isn't quoted here) signify spiritual assets, being all in the same individual: they are three natural stages of life used to signify different spiritual assets in the believer.
12 "And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors." Matthew 6:12 This would seem to be of a temporal kind of forgiveness. Just like .... 23 "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." John 20:23
This latter reference may be temporal forgiveness in reference to church discipline exercised by the elders.
31 "Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. 32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come. Matthew 12:31-32
The debate on what the blasphemy of the holy Spirit is never ends, but it seems similar to taking the mark of the beast, because in the latter, if one takes it, his fate is sealed. Maybe this blasphemy is of the same nature in which one has reached a point of hardness of heart that they can't ever respond positively to the gospel message. The consequence is never forgiven. I would think this is about the remission of sins which is salvation. Would a person who could later be saved never have fellowship with God because of this blasphemy they committed before they were saved? Or would they have some sort of temporal consequence forever because of what they did before they were saved? I just think it means they will never be saved, just like taking the mark of the beast is said to seal your fate: "And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name." Revelation 14:11 It must be they reached the point of no return.
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