Yes—according to the New Testament, believers are forgiven of all their sins through faith in Jesus Christ.
1. COMPLETE FORGIVENESS THROUGH CHRIST
Verses like Colossians 2:13–14 say God “forgave us all our sins,” and 1 John 1:7 says the blood of Jesus “cleanses us from all sin.”
Col 2:13-14. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by cancelling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.
1 John 1:7-9. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.8 If we say 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.
This means:
- Past sins ✔️
- Present sins ✔️
- Future sins ✔️
All are covered by Christ’s sacrifice.
2. FORGIVENESS IS BASED ON THE CROSS, NOT ON WHAT WE CAN DO
- Jesus’ death paid fully for sin. That’s why He said, on the cross “It is finished” (John 19:30).
Forgiveness is not partial or temporary—it is complete and once-for-all.
- God promises not to remember our sins when He forgives us.
Heb 10:16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds,” 17 then he adds, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.”
- God says no other sacrifice is needed to deal with sin. Christ’s once for all sacrifice for sin secures an eternal redemption.
Heb 10:18 Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.
- Our forgiveness is now ours “in Him” [in Christ.]
Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,
Col 1:14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
- Christ’s righteousness is counted towards us. 1Cor 1:30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.
- The writer to the Hebrews wrote about Jesus’ “once for all” sacrifice taking away sin for ever.
Heb 9:12 he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.
Heb 9:26 for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
Heb 10:10 And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. “Sanctified” here is in the perfect tense meaning a past action with a present abiding result. We were sanctified or set apart to God at conversion and remain set apart to Him in His grace.
3 THEN WHY CONFESS SINS AS A BELIEVER?
Even though forgiveness is complete, believers still need to confess sin (see 1 John 1:9) 1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
because:
- It restores fellowship, not salvation
- It keeps the relationship with God open and honest
- It leads to growth and transformation
Think of it like a family relationship:
You don’t stop being a child when you do wrong, but you do need to restore closeness by admitting and confessing it.
4. NO CONDEMNATION REMAINS
Romans 8:1 says there is “no condemnation” for those in Christ. Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
That means:
- No guilt held against you
- No future judgment for sin
- A secure standing before God
Simple summary
Yes—believers are fully forgiven of all their sins in Christ.
But they still confess sins to maintain closeness in fellowship and to grow spiritually.
Blog No.590 posted on Saturday 21 March 2026
holbeck 