There are many different views and teachings on issue of forgiveness, especially as it pertains to the role of Christ in His High-Priestly ministry in the heavens, and the current earthly ministry of priests and bishops who have claimed to have the power and authority to forgive sins. Now, while there may be conflicting views on this issue, the Bible makes it crystal clear that pardon and forgiveness of sins can only be granted by Jesus Christ, because His death for us on Calvary effectually removed the need for any human intermediary. And thus we can now go boldly before the throne of grace to obtain mercy. In addition to this statement of fact, we should also be aware that one of the most important subjects directly addressed in the first angel’s message of Revelation 14, is that of the investigative judgment now taking place as we speak.
And since this judgment has to do with the eternal destiny of all people, it must of necessity include the forgiveness and blotting out of sins, an essential prerequisite for entrance into the pearly gates. Thus it behooves every individual living on planet earth, regardless of what religion, denomination, caste, creed, or cult we belong to, to fully understand the import and ramifications of this central truth, for our future depends on it. To begin with, there are some fundamental truths about forgiveness that we should understand from a scriptural standpoint, in order that we may proceed rationally, with further investigation on this matter, in a manner that will make us aware of the solemnity of the first angel’s message.
The first important point to observe is that the old system of using an earthly intermediary as a priest has been permanently nailed to the cross, and as such there is no need for us to confess our sins to a mortal man, just like ourselves. In other words, the death of Christ on the cross opened up a new and living way for all, so that we can go directly to Christ through the Holy Spirit, and confess our sins to Him. Let’s read:
1st Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
1st John 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
These verses tell us with certainty that there is no need for penance, and the repetition of numerous prayers in an effort to secure the forgiveness and favor of God, for by His death, Christ has reconciled the entire human family back to God, if we accept Him, and were to follow His rules of engagement. This sacred truth, when it is adopted, lifts the heavy burdens of sin from off our shoulders, for now we can cast all our cares upon Jesus, who shed His blood to set us free. No more need to go through a bishop or priest with our most personal besetting sins, for no human being is to be made privy to our shortcomings, unless there is an issue involving someone who has been hurt by a wrong course of action. And even then, we are cautioned by Christ not to take the matter to a priest, bishop, pastor or elders, for Jesus gives us pertinent instruction on how all such matters should be handled, as pertains to forgiveness and reconciliation. Let’s read:
Matthew 18:15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee,
thou hast gained thy brother.
16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
The next very important point for us to understand is that Christ has by His death, opened a door that no man can shut, and He has shut a door which no man can, nor should attempt to open. The door that has been opened up is the one that leads us to the most Holy place, where Christ is now interceding on behalf of those who walk through that specific door, by faith, and where forgiveness and blotting out of sins take place. Now brethren, we are constrained by God to break some disturbing news to the world at large, for if any individual were to go through any other door for any reason, after having come to a knowledge of this sacred truth, forgiveness of sins will be nowhere to be found. The seriousness of the first angel’s message is not nearly comprehended as it ought to be, so we are obliged to put it bluntly, so that what is about to be stated from the Bible will be understood in clear and unmistakable terms.
If any person has read, and understood from the Bible that there is only One Mediator between God and man, which is Christ Jesus, and then continues to take his or her sins to a priest, or bishop seeking absolution and forgiveness, all such sins will remain untouched in the books of heaven, and will stand to witness against that person in the judgment, for the simple fact that they continued to go through the wrong door. A deliberate decision to enter through the wrong door will end in sins not being forgiven, and thus our transgressions which remain, cannot ever be blotted out. This is one of the important, solemn truths, shining in a dark place, in the context of the first angel’s message, waiting to be heralded by the remnant who are supposedto give the trumpet a certain sound. Let’s read:
John 10:1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.
6 This”….. “spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.
7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
During the dark ages, comprising the 1260 years of papal supremacy, the Bible was kept away from the multitudes, and it was chained to monasteries, so that the people were left in spiritual darkness. And in addition to this, it was predetermined by bishops, priests, prelates and popes, that the scripture could only be understood, and rightly interpreted by the clergy, and because of this, whatever the spiritual leaders back then presented to the people, was thus received as a God-send, not to be investigated, or even queried. However, since that time, the Bible has been made widely available to the masses, so that right here in America, most Christian homes now have at least one Bible at their disposal, so that we are without excuse.
In our homes we have different doors for gaining access to various amenities. We have the garage door if we need to reach our cars, and we have the bathroom door if we want to have a shower. Then again we have bedroom doors for if we need to have a good night’s rest. Thus, if we need to use our cars to make an emergency trip to the doctor, we would not use the bathroom door, for as far as we know, there are no vehicles parked there. And if we need restful sleep, then the correct door to use will be the bedroom door, for there our souls may find rest. But for us to believe that Christ will park an S.U.V in the bedroom just because we believe that transportation can be found there, will not change the dynamic, because the garage is for vehicles, the bathroom is for showers, the kitchen for food, and the bedroom door is used so that we may find rest.
Therefore, if any individual goes through the wrong door of priests and bishops, seeking forgiveness of sins through their mediation, after having learned of the truth which clearly designates Christ as our own High Priest, they too, will find no forgiveness of sins whatsoever, and all of the transgressions that were ever confessed under such a system, by those Christians who have known better, will remain in the records of heaven untouched, and unpardoned, if the right changes and corrections are never made. This sacred truth, and the eternal consequences of our choices and decisions in this matter, should be thoroughly understood in the context of the first angel’s message, which brings to light the solemnity of the investigative judgment, now taking place at this very moment, as we speak. Let’s read:
Revelation 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
Hebrews 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.
Hebrews 2:1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.
2 For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward;
3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him.
Hebrews 2:17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
Hebrews 3:1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus.
14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end;
15 While it is said, Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.
Hebrews 4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.
2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
There is not a single mention in any of these verses, of even a hint or suggestion, that we must confess our private sins and weaknesses to any mortal man, for as we read these verses, it becomes very clear, that forgiveness of sins is all about Christ, who is to be the center of our focus, our faith and our utmost admiration. But when our focus is removed from Jesus’ ministry of forgiveness, and the blotting out of sins in the Most Holy place, and we instead place our attentions on a sinful mortal like ourselves, we put ourselves in a position where the mediation of Christ in our behalf becomes of no avail, and thus the entire gospel becomes a dead letter, not being able to produce the fruit of the Spirit in us, nor the cleansing from all unrighteousness that is essential to us being granted an entrance into God’s eternal kingdom of glory.
These sacred truths are urgently to be dispensed, for there is about to be a very rude awakening, in which millions of Christians will realize too late, that pinning our hope of salvation on the forgiveness of a mere mortal man, has cost us eternity, hence the reason why the following instructions, and the dire warnings are coming to us from God today. Under a veneer of pseudo piety and humbleness, millions are succumbing to the beast, whose deadly wound was healed, and just as Christ stated in His words of warning, the popular majority are all now following blindly, where the beast leads the way.
When the Bible teaches us to walk humbly with God, it is not referring to the habit of driving around in little cars, instead it has to do with the complete surrender of our persons to Christ, His institutions, and His laws, by which He alone is exalted, and we follow wherever He may lead. This type of godly humility will lead us to surrender our preconceived ideas of truth and duty, in favor of “It is written”. Thus the following prophecies and warnings given in the Bible, are addressed squarely to our generation, which is on the verge of those climactic events that are scheduled to shake the very foundations of our society as we know it, in the very near future. Let’s read:
2nd Thessalonians 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
Revelation 13:1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea”… “and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
2 “And the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.
4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of
life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
9 If any man have an ear, let him hear.
Now brethren, in lieu of these prophecies which are now being fulfilled before our very eyes, even as we speak, it becomes necessary for us to present in the clearest terms, and in three simple steps, what the process of forgiveness is, and how remission, and the blotting out of our sins must be accomplished, according to the scriptures. The Bible does not only point out problems, but it also gives us the solution, and thus, the following verses of scripture, when adopted, will grant us not only forgiveness of sins, full and free, but will also grant to us an abundant entrance into the eternal abodes of bliss, when The Lord comes to claim His own.
[1] We must first confess our sins directly to Christ, not to man, and we must do so with the intention of forsaking our sins, through the enabling power of the Holy Ghost, who is granted to all who believe. Let’s read:
1st John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.
Psalm 51:1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight”…..
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
[2] We must be willing to walk in obedience to all of God’s commandments, including the fourth, for God sent Jesus Christ into the world to save us from our sins, not in our sins. Thus, The Holy Spirit takes up residence in the hearts of all those Christians, whose purpose it is obey God. This aspect of God’s ongoing forgiveness through Christ cannot be emphasized enough, especially in our day when a cheap form of grace which countenances grave sins, is now being peddled across the land. Let’s read:
Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
1st John 3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the
love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
Acts 5:30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance”… “and forgiveness of sins.
32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
[3] If we continue on in the first two steps outlined, all of our sins will finally be blotted out, when Christ is finished with the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary. As the ancient sanctuary was cleansed on the Day of Atonement, when the earthly high priest took all the confessed and forsaken sins of the people, and placed them upon the head of the scapegoat, just so, when our sins are finally blotted out, Christ will take them and place them upon the head of satan, the antitypical scapegoat. And here is a sure method of knowing whether our sins have been blotted out as yet; if we can remember any of our sins, it means that they have not been blotted out as yet. It’s that simple! Let’s read:
Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.
20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you.
(The Great Controversy. Pp. 620) Had not Jacob previously repented of his sin in obtaining the birthright by fraud, God would not have heard his prayer and mercifully preserved his life. So, in the time of trouble, if the people of God had unconfessed sins to appear before them while tortured with fear and anguish, they would be overwhelmed; despair would cut off their faith, and they could not have confidence to plead with God for deliverance. But while they have a deep sense of their unworthiness, they have no concealed wrongs to reveal. Their sins have gone beforehand to Judgment, and have been blotted out; and they cannot bring them to remembrance.
The last important point for our consideration is that when we forgive those who have trespassed against us, and when the Bible says that whatever sins are remitted on earth, are remitted in heaven, The Lord would have us understand that He always retains the last word, and ultimately decides who is to be a recipient of forgiveness, because the final word always remains with God, and never with man. For instance, when Jesus was dying on the cross, He spoke those timeless words to those who pierced, and mocked Him saying, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do”. But under close investigation, we find that the prayer was never answered for many of the same people, because some of them refused to follow through on the other scriptural stipulations, which would have caused that prayer to become a living reality. Some did not confess, and others did not repent, and thus many of them prevented God from fulfilling Christ’s petition on their behalf. Let’s read:
Luke 23:33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him”….
34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
Revelation 1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
In closing, there is a very interesting commentary on this very point, written by the servant of The Lord in the book Great Controversy. Pp. 666 and 667. The multitudes of the lost are now gathered for the last great final conflict, and every human being that has ever lived upon the earth is alive for the first time together. Let’s read:
As soon as the books of record are opened, and the eye of Jesus looks upon the wicked, they are conscious of every sin which they have ever committed. They see just where their feet diverged from the path of purity and holiness, just how far pride and rebellion have carried them in the violation of the law of God. Above the throne is revealed the cross; and like a panoramic view appear the scenes of Adam’s temptation and fall, and the successive steps in the great plan of redemption…. “The awful, mysterious agony in Gethsemane, beneath the crushing weight of the sins of the whole world; his betrayal into the hands of the murderous mob; the fearful events of that night of horror,—the unresisting prisoner, forsaken by his best-loved disciples, rudely hurried through the streets of Jerusalem; the Son of God exultingly displayed before Annas, arraigned in the high priest’s palace, in the judgment hall of Pilate, before the cowardly and cruel Herod, mocked, insulted, tortured, and condemned to die,—all are vividly portrayed.
And now before the swaying multitude are revealed the final scenes,—the patient Sufferer treading the path to Calvary; the Prince of Heaven hanging upon the cross; the haughty priests and the jeering rabble deriding his expiring agony; the supernatural darkness; the heaving earth, the rent rocks, the open graves, marking the moment when the world’s Redeemer yielded up his life.
The awful spectacle appears just as it was. Satan, his angels, and his subjects have no power to turn from the picture of their own work. Each actor recalls the part which he performed”….. “The weak, time-serving Pilate; the mocking soldiers; the priests and rulers and the maddened throng who cried, “His blood be on us, and our children!”—all behold the enormity of their guilt. They vainly seek to hide from the divine majesty of His countenance, outshining the glory of the sun, while the redeemed cast their crowns at the Saviour’s feet, exclaiming, “He died for me!”
Now brethren, if Jesus, as our One and only High Priest and Mediator, forgave those soldiers who pierced Him, and yet their sins still remained in the books of heaven to condemn them in the judgment, how is it that we are now expected to believe that a mere mortal priest or bishop can absolve anyone of their guilt and sins, through the administration of confessionals and absolution. There is absolutely a profound disconnect between what we have just read, and what we are now seeing in the current beatification of men and women, and in the age old practice of presuming to exalt mortals to sainthood. God is now calling His people out of that system of worship and forgiveness which is not productive of any good, and it’s His will that as we study and learn of these important truths, that we may step up to the plate, by following the instructions given in His word on these issues.
We therefore end with a passage of scripture which encourages us to look to Jesus alone, for He is the Author and Finisher of our faith. Let’s read:
Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau”….
17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.
22 But ye are come unto”… “the city of the living God”… “and to an innumerable company of angels.
24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant.
God bless!