God forgave (past tense) long before Jesus died. Many texts could be listed. The following are just a few:
“If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and WILL FORGIVE their sin.” 2 Chronicles 7:14
“I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and YOU FORGAVE the iniquity of my sin.” Psalm 32:5
“Their heart was not right with him, neither were they steadfast in his covenant. But he, being full of compassion, FORGAVE their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath. For he remembered that they were but flesh.” Psalm 78:37-39
“YOU FORGAVE the iniquity of your people; you covered all their sin.” Psalm 85:2
“LORD our God, you answered them; you were to Israel a FORGIVING God, though you punished their misdeeds.” Psalm 99:8 NIV
“Who is a God like you, PARDONING iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love.” Micah 7:18
“Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly PARDON.” Isaiah 55:7
Jesus taught, “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Matthew 6:14-15
The Bible explicitly lists numerous reasons for Christ's death and resurrection. Paying off sins is not one of those, because God is a righteous Father who forgives. He does not need to be bribed into forgiving.
I came here to say something very similar. It always gives me pause when people say Christ died for our sins (which is widely preached in our churches today and believed by many) because to me when I read the Bible, God has been forgiving our sins since the beginning of time. It’s all throughout the Old Testament, as you note above.
Yes. I dedicated several years to studying the topic of atonement to figure out what the original view was. Primarily for myself, because questions like this kept telling me that something was off. In the end, I compiled my answers into a book titled Atonement and Reconciliation. I don't claim to have all the answers, but I found enough to satisfy myself and many others who have thanked me.
It depends on the definition of the word "for." 1 Cor. 15:3 "Christ died for our sins..." Here, the word “for” is the Greek word “hyper,” indicating causation, not replacement or substitution. He died “because of our sin” or “on account of our sin,” not “as an exchange for our sin” and not “instead of our sin.” The Greek grammar does not allow substitution in this sentence.
In English, the word "for" can mean anything from an exchange to a reason. In the original Greek, however, the authors were far more precise, using three distinct terms: dia (because of), peri (regarding), and hyper (on behalf of).
Notably, the Greek word for a direct exchange or substitution, "anti" (as in "an eye for [anti] an eye"), is never used in reference to Christ dying for our sins. The biblical authors seem to deliberately avoid anti, as if to ensure that his death was not mistaken for a transactional or swap. If penal substitution is what the biblical authors intended to convey, they would have frequently used "anti" to avoid falling into a "lesser" meaning of the other terms.
Thanks for your thoughtful analysis. The vision of a God waiting to get paid (or repaid) seems to harken back to the very ancient view of gods, that they were like humans, but bigger.
As I have come to understand things, God is in need of nothing from me. God does not need my gratitude, praise, goodness, or sorrow, or repentance. Only I do. I can pray for or innovate nothing that would move God one way or another. What God requires of me are the things that heal my brokenness. If God wants anything, it is that I become more like God. God might inhabit my praise, my gratitude, my love, my good deeds - but God does not need them. If God should put me again into my hell, God will inhabit that too. If I descend into Sheol, You (God) are there.
For me, it isn't that Jesus had to die for our sins. He more so died because of our sins, and through his death a victory was made. The story of Jesus' death reminds me of the story of Joseph back in Genesis. All the brothers of Israel ganged up on Joseph and sold him into slavery (they also passed around the idea of killing him). However, though Joseph went through multiple trials, God brought a blessing not only to the Israelites but to the entire Nation. Joseph said this when his brothers came and asked for forgiveness. "But Joseph said to them, "Do not be afraid! Am I in the place of God? Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today. So have no fear; I myself will provide for you and your little ones." In this way he reassured them, speaking kindly to them." Gen 50:19-21
I ended up deciding that a God who is extemporal doesn’t look at time the way we do.
I have been struggling with identity. I came out as lesbian after the death of my husband, and know that the faith tradition I was raised in will excommunicate me even if I am celibate because I am “identifying” as my “sin.”
I struggle more with *their* condemnation than I do with Jesus. But then I worry that maybe I don’t know enough and I am deluded (the conservative spaces, and my family, worry that I am not brokenhearted enough over my “sin”).
I wonder how it is ethical to live a lie by marrying and being a submitted wife, but it is a sin for me to be honest. It seems that marrying some innocent man and giving him a wife who endures intimacy rather than welcoming it seems like it is should be worse, because it hurts an innocent party.
I also don’t look forward to struggling in poverty alone until I die, but I am not going to have another relationship with a man.
Very insightful, thank you. I will think more about this. I wonder if you might also be so kind as to answer this thought of mine, please: what about Jesus' words in the Sermon on the Mount, saying 'if you do not forgive others their sins, you will not be forgiven' ? I struggle to forgive people in my life who are not sorry for what they've done. I have reached a place of partial understanding of them and a lack of malice, i.e. I want them to be well, but I am still occasionally bitter and angry. I know forgiveness and reconciliation are different; I don't want reconciliation, but it is hard to know what forgiveness looks like with someone who hurt you, but doesn't acknowledge that they did. Especially in light of the passage I quoted.
Beau, I usually love your writing (still do really). This piece is a bit shallow though IMHO. Jesus death did more than just prove God's love and man's fear/hate. There is a greater purpose, and it is a mystery, but death, sin and the devil were defeated by Jesus' work on the cross. Here is a quote from Bradley Jersak: In his book A More Christlike God, Bradley Jersak puts it this way: “…Jesus himself absorbs the curse of sin and death for all of us, sucking the darkness of the world into himself, where his own blood is the all-powerful, spiritual anti-venom that cleanses sin and overcomes death. Assuming the likeness of fallen humanity, he is able to heal it.”
Of course Jesus’ death was more than this. If I were to write a piece that fully explains the cross, it would have been much much longer. I was just sharing my quick answer to this question.
God forgave (past tense) long before Jesus died. Many texts could be listed. The following are just a few:
“If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and WILL FORGIVE their sin.” 2 Chronicles 7:14
“I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and YOU FORGAVE the iniquity of my sin.” Psalm 32:5
“Their heart was not right with him, neither were they steadfast in his covenant. But he, being full of compassion, FORGAVE their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath. For he remembered that they were but flesh.” Psalm 78:37-39
“YOU FORGAVE the iniquity of your people; you covered all their sin.” Psalm 85:2
“LORD our God, you answered them; you were to Israel a FORGIVING God, though you punished their misdeeds.” Psalm 99:8 NIV
“Who is a God like you, PARDONING iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love.” Micah 7:18
“Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly PARDON.” Isaiah 55:7
Jesus taught, “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Matthew 6:14-15
The Bible explicitly lists numerous reasons for Christ's death and resurrection. Paying off sins is not one of those, because God is a righteous Father who forgives. He does not need to be bribed into forgiving.
I came here to say something very similar. It always gives me pause when people say Christ died for our sins (which is widely preached in our churches today and believed by many) because to me when I read the Bible, God has been forgiving our sins since the beginning of time. It’s all throughout the Old Testament, as you note above.
Yes. I dedicated several years to studying the topic of atonement to figure out what the original view was. Primarily for myself, because questions like this kept telling me that something was off. In the end, I compiled my answers into a book titled Atonement and Reconciliation. I don't claim to have all the answers, but I found enough to satisfy myself and many others who have thanked me.
so tl:dr Jesus didn’t die for your sins.
It depends on the definition of the word "for." 1 Cor. 15:3 "Christ died for our sins..." Here, the word “for” is the Greek word “hyper,” indicating causation, not replacement or substitution. He died “because of our sin” or “on account of our sin,” not “as an exchange for our sin” and not “instead of our sin.” The Greek grammar does not allow substitution in this sentence.
In English, the word "for" can mean anything from an exchange to a reason. In the original Greek, however, the authors were far more precise, using three distinct terms: dia (because of), peri (regarding), and hyper (on behalf of).
Notably, the Greek word for a direct exchange or substitution, "anti" (as in "an eye for [anti] an eye"), is never used in reference to Christ dying for our sins. The biblical authors seem to deliberately avoid anti, as if to ensure that his death was not mistaken for a transactional or swap. If penal substitution is what the biblical authors intended to convey, they would have frequently used "anti" to avoid falling into a "lesser" meaning of the other terms.
Tl;dr Jesus died because of your sins
Thanks for your thoughtful analysis. The vision of a God waiting to get paid (or repaid) seems to harken back to the very ancient view of gods, that they were like humans, but bigger.
As I have come to understand things, God is in need of nothing from me. God does not need my gratitude, praise, goodness, or sorrow, or repentance. Only I do. I can pray for or innovate nothing that would move God one way or another. What God requires of me are the things that heal my brokenness. If God wants anything, it is that I become more like God. God might inhabit my praise, my gratitude, my love, my good deeds - but God does not need them. If God should put me again into my hell, God will inhabit that too. If I descend into Sheol, You (God) are there.
As I got to know the heart of God more personally, that’s when I started questioning penal substitution theory.
It doesn’t make any logical sense.
Jesus and God are the same person… and that’s when I realized something is off with how I was taught.
I’m still working it out— but thank you for this article.
The more someone gets to know Jesus, the more that person starts questioning religion.
Beautifully written Truth! Thank you 🙏🏻
For me, it isn't that Jesus had to die for our sins. He more so died because of our sins, and through his death a victory was made. The story of Jesus' death reminds me of the story of Joseph back in Genesis. All the brothers of Israel ganged up on Joseph and sold him into slavery (they also passed around the idea of killing him). However, though Joseph went through multiple trials, God brought a blessing not only to the Israelites but to the entire Nation. Joseph said this when his brothers came and asked for forgiveness. "But Joseph said to them, "Do not be afraid! Am I in the place of God? Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today. So have no fear; I myself will provide for you and your little ones." In this way he reassured them, speaking kindly to them." Gen 50:19-21
I ended up deciding that a God who is extemporal doesn’t look at time the way we do.
I have been struggling with identity. I came out as lesbian after the death of my husband, and know that the faith tradition I was raised in will excommunicate me even if I am celibate because I am “identifying” as my “sin.”
I struggle more with *their* condemnation than I do with Jesus. But then I worry that maybe I don’t know enough and I am deluded (the conservative spaces, and my family, worry that I am not brokenhearted enough over my “sin”).
I wonder how it is ethical to live a lie by marrying and being a submitted wife, but it is a sin for me to be honest. It seems that marrying some innocent man and giving him a wife who endures intimacy rather than welcoming it seems like it is should be worse, because it hurts an innocent party.
I also don’t look forward to struggling in poverty alone until I die, but I am not going to have another relationship with a man.
Very insightful, thank you. I will think more about this. I wonder if you might also be so kind as to answer this thought of mine, please: what about Jesus' words in the Sermon on the Mount, saying 'if you do not forgive others their sins, you will not be forgiven' ? I struggle to forgive people in my life who are not sorry for what they've done. I have reached a place of partial understanding of them and a lack of malice, i.e. I want them to be well, but I am still occasionally bitter and angry. I know forgiveness and reconciliation are different; I don't want reconciliation, but it is hard to know what forgiveness looks like with someone who hurt you, but doesn't acknowledge that they did. Especially in light of the passage I quoted.
How about, the cross was about making covenant, and therefore a death and the shedding of blood were necessary to make it.
The father sprinting down the road before the speech is finished. That image wrecked me the first time I saw it clearly.
The courtroom God requires a transaction. The Jesus we meet in the text never did.
Beau, I usually love your writing (still do really). This piece is a bit shallow though IMHO. Jesus death did more than just prove God's love and man's fear/hate. There is a greater purpose, and it is a mystery, but death, sin and the devil were defeated by Jesus' work on the cross. Here is a quote from Bradley Jersak: In his book A More Christlike God, Bradley Jersak puts it this way: “…Jesus himself absorbs the curse of sin and death for all of us, sucking the darkness of the world into himself, where his own blood is the all-powerful, spiritual anti-venom that cleanses sin and overcomes death. Assuming the likeness of fallen humanity, he is able to heal it.”
Of course Jesus’ death was more than this. If I were to write a piece that fully explains the cross, it would have been much much longer. I was just sharing my quick answer to this question.