The Forgiveness of Sins
The Apostles’ Creed is simple but profoundly honest. When it declares, “I believe in the forgiveness of sins,” it names both our deepest problem and our greatest hope. In a world that often avoids the topic of sin, this line of the Creed reminds us that our greatest need is also our greatest source of hope.
Facing Our Sin
We live in a culture that avoids the word sin. It feels heavy, old-fashioned, or judgmental. So we soften it with words like mistakes, slip-ups, bad habits, or failures. While reframing sin in this way may feel kinder, the Bible is uncompromising: sin is rebellion against God — choosing our way over His.
Romans 3:23 says: “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Sin comes in two main forms:
Sins of commission: the wrong things we do.
Sins of omission: the good we fail to do when we ought.
Even small sins matter. The things we leave undone, the small lies, selfish thoughts, missed opportunities to do good — all of it counts. Sin is far more serious and pervasive than we often acknowledge. We can respond to this reality in two common ways. First, we may deny or downplay our sin, pretending it’s not serious or comparing ourselves to others who “sin more.” John warns in 1 John 1:8 that if we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves.
Second, we may confess our sins but cling to shame and guilt, as if some sins are unforgivable. Both approaches miss the fullness of the gospel.
Until we understand the full weight of our sin, we cannot come close to understanding our forgiveness through Jesus.
Forgiveness in Jesus
Luke 7:36–50 provides a vivid example of forgiveness in action. Jesus is invited to dinner at the house of Simon, a Pharisee. A woman known for her sin enters and pours out her devotion at Jesus’ feet — washing them with her tears, wiping them with her hair, and anointing them with perfume.
Simon judges her harshly, appalled by her actions and her reputation. Jesus, however, points out a profound truth: “Those who are forgiven much, love much.” Then He turns to the woman and declares: “Your sins are forgiven.”
This scene reveals the heart of forgiveness: it is not earned by good deeds or public displays of devotion. The woman’s response demonstrates what happens when someone truly understands the gift of forgiveness — love flows naturally from gratitude.
Jai’s Personal Story
Jai shared a deeply personal story to illustrate the power of God’s forgiveness in real life.
When he was six years old, his parents divorced. Like many children in similar situations, he carried an overwhelming sense of responsibility: “If only I had been a better son, my parents wouldn’t have divorced. It’s my fault.”
Over the following years, he lived between households, often being asked to relay information or mediate conflicts between his parents. He developed patterns of shame, guilt, and self-protection. Sometimes he would take the blame for his younger brother to shield him, compounding the weight he carried.
“For years, I lived believing that it was all my fault. I carried anger, bitterness, and shame like a chain around my neck.”
It wasn’t until age 19 that Jai experienced the life-changing gift of God’s forgiveness:
“The guilt and the shame that hung around my neck, that chained my heart, my thoughts, my life were now broken. I was free in that moment as I received forgiveness from God because of what Jesus had done on the cross.”
This forgiveness didn’t erase consequences, but it freed him to forgive others — including his parents — and to live unchained by bitterness. It also gave him a new perspective on life, love, and relationships, rooted in the knowledge that Jesus had already paid the cost for his sins.
Forgiveness Changes Everything
The gospel teaches that forgiveness is both free and costly. It costs us nothing, yet cost Jesus everything — rejection, mockery, suffering, and ultimately His life on the cross. Every sin, big or small, has been accounted for.
Forgiveness also calls us to action: it changes our relationships with others. Jesus taught His disciples to pray: “Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us” (Matthew 6:12). Forgiveness isn’t always easy; it can hurt, it can be painful, and sometimes it requires setting boundaries. But releasing bitterness and resentment frees our hearts and allows the grace we’ve received to flow outward.
Living as Forgiven People
To believe in the forgiveness of sins is to embrace both honesty and hope:
Honesty: we no longer deny our sin.
Hope: no sin is too great for Jesus to forgive.
This freedom transforms our lives. It allows us to love God more fully, love others more freely, and extend grace to those around us. Forgiveness is not abstract theology; it is a lived reality that meets us at our lowest point and sets us on a path of restoration and wholeness.
In this sermon, Jai shares a very personal story which may be triggering for some people. We encourage you to chat with a pastor or trusted Christian friend if it has raised any concerns for you.