This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. -Matthew 26:28
All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name. -Acts 10:43
I recall hearing a Spanish story about a father and son who had become estranged. The son ran away, and the father set off to find him. He searched for months to no avail. Finally, in a last desperate effort to find him, the father put an ad in a Madrid newspaper. The ad read: Dear Paco, meet me in front of this newspaper office at noon on Saturday. All is forgiven. I love you. Your Father. On Saturday 800 Pacos showed up, looking for forgiveness and love from their fathers.
People continue to question Jesus and what He has done. Many struggle with this question: Does Christ in fact have the authority to forgive sins? We as believers answer emphatically, "Yes." Jesus not only has the power to forgive sins, but He has the power to cancel the effect of sin. As an old hymn of the faith says, “He breaks the power of cancelled sin.” Jesus overcame sin by offering Himself as a pure and spotless sacrifice for sin – the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of the world. And having received Him as Savior, His blood is then upon us for our forgiveness – our sins are washed away. And were we to sin, the Scripture says that we have an advocate with the Father – Jesus Christ the righteous.
My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. (I John 2:1, 2)
Christ has the power and the authority to forgive us. Think about how that we can forgive one another, and Jesus said that we are to do just that. But you and I are helpless to remove the stain of sin left upon the human heart. Only Christ can accomplish that. Something else to consider is the power of forgiveness in our lives. We all need the forgiveness which the Lord offers. When Jesus forgives us a terrible weight is lifted from us.
