This we confess in the Apostles' Creed. But what are we to believe or understand concerning the "the forgiveness of sins"? The Heidelberg Catechism answers that question as follows: "That God, for the sake of Christ's satisfaction, will no more remember my sins, nor the sinful nature with which I have to struggle all my life long; but graciously imputes to me the righteousness of Christ, that I may nevermore come into condemnation." In order to grow in our understanding of "the forgiveness of sins" and the Catechism's answer, let us focus on the words of forgiveness uttered from the cross by our Lord Jesus Christ: "Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34).

Note first the context of the word with which the above verse begins: "Then." "And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand and the other on the left" (Luke 23:33). "THEN," when man had done his worst, "THEN," said Jesus, "Forgive them." The One by whom the world was made had come into it, but the world knew Him not. The Lord of Glory had tabernacled among men, but He was not wanted. The eyes which sin had blinded saw in Him no beauty that they should desire Him. Shortly after His birth the wicked Herod sought to kill Him, foreshadowing the hostility He would face throughout His life. Again and again His enemies attempt to destroy Him. Finally their vile desires are granted them. The Son of God yields Himself up into their hands. A mock trial is held, and though His judges could find no fault in Him, they give in to the insistent clamoring of those who hate Him and cry again and again, "Crucify Him! Crucify Him?" "THEN," when the vileness of the human heart was displayed in all of its evil, "THEN," when with wicked hands the creature had dared to crucify the Creator, "THEN," when man had done his worst, "THEN," Jesus said, "Father, forgive them." How justly He might have let loose the thunderbolts of righteous wrath and slain all of them! How justly He might have caused the earth to open her mouth so that they had gone down alive into the pit! But no! Though subjected to unspeakable shame, though suffering excruciating pain, though despised, rejected, hated, and scorned, nevertheless He prays, "Father, forgive them." That was the triumph of redeeming love that would result in the forgiveness of sins, your sins and mine!

Next, let us note why Jesus prays for His enemies to be forgiven: "For they know not what they do." What does this mean and to whom does it refer? First, what does this mean? It does not mean that the enemies of Christ were ignorant of His crucifixion. They knew full well that they had cried out, "Crucify Him." They knew full well that their vile request had been granted them by Pilate. They knew full well that He had been nailed to the tree, for they were eye-witnesses to the crime. What Jesus meant is that they were ignorant of the enormity of their crime. They did not know that it was the Lord of Glory they were crucifying. The emphasis is not on "they know not," but on "they know not what they do." And yet they ought to have known. Their blindness was inexcusable.

The Old Testament prophecies which they had access to were very plain to identify Him as the Holy One of God. His teaching was unique, for even His critics were forced to admit, "Never man spake like this man" (Jn. 7:46). He had lived a life before men which had never been lived before, a life on which was stamped Heaven's approval, for at His baptism the Father's voice testified for all to hear: "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him" (Matt. 17:5). No, there was no excuse for their ignorance. It only showed the blindness of their hearts and that "the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be" (Rom. 8:7), a description which is all-inclusive and answers the question, "To whom does it refer?"

The apostle Peter, preaching about the crucifixion, says: "And now brethren, I know that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers" (Acts 3:17). Note here that Peter uses the word "ignorance," which corresponds with our Lord's "they know not what they do." Here is the Divine explanation of the 3,000 converted under a single sermon. It was not Peter's eloquence which was the cause, but the Savior's prayer. The same is true of you and me. Christ prayed for you and me long before we believed in Him. So we read in Jesus' high priestly prayer: "Neither pray I for these alone [apostles], but for them also which shall believe on me through their word" (Jn. 17:20). Recall also the words of the apostle Paul: "For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life" (Rom. 5:10).

How sad that still today the masses of people little know what they are doing in failing to see the greatness of their sin and misery and neglecting God's great salvation. They little know how awful is the sin of slighting the Christ of God and spurning His mercy. They little know how fearful is the crime of saying: "We will not have this man to reign over us" (Luke 19:14). "They know not what they do." The question comes today as it did of old: "What shall I do with Jesus which is called Christ?" (Matt. 27:22) Something has to be done with Him. Either He is despised and rejected or received as Savior and Lord. But today it seems of little importance whether He is despised or received. Men try to shelve this all-important consideration, steel their hearts against Him, close their ears to His call, and shut their eyes to His beauty. "They know not what they do!" Let us examine our hearts and lives, and make sure that we are not guilty of "knowing not what we do." What have you done with Jesus who is called the Christ?

The first and most important thing we all need to learn is that we are sinners. It is of no avail that we attempt to develop a beautiful character and aim to do that which will meet with God's approval while there is sin between Him and our souls. Of what use are shoes if the feet are paralyzed? Or glasses if the eyes are blind? The question of forgiveness of sins is basic and vital. It matters not if a man is highly respected by a wide circle of people if he is yet in his sins. It matters not that a man makes good in this world if he is an unpardoned transgressor in the sight of God. What will matter most in the hour of death is this: Have my sins been put away by the blood of Christ? It is to this question that the glorious words of this verse come with the answer: "Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."

In conclusion, it only remains to add a word on the blessed completeness of Divine forgiveness. Many of God's people can become unsettled and troubled at this point. They understand how all the sins they had committed before they knew Christ as their Savior have been forgiven them, but oftentimes they are not clear concerning the sins which they commit after they have been born again. They suppose it is possible for them to sin away the pardon which God had bestowed upon them. They suppose that the blood of Christ dealt with their past only, and that so far as the present and future are concerned, they have to take care of that themselves. But of what value would be a pardon which might be taken away at anytime? Surely there can be no settled peace when my acceptance with God and my going to heaven is made to depend upon my holding on to Christ, or my obedience and faithfulness.

Praise God that the forgiveness He bestows covers all sins-past, present, and future. Do not the Scriptures say that Christ bore "our sins in his own body on the tree"? (1 Pet. 2:24) And were not all your sins still future sins when He died? Absolutely, for at that time, you had not been born, and so had not committed an actual sin. Christ bore your future sins as truly as your past sins, God's elect are a forgiven people. The Bible says: "Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin" (Rom. 4:8). The believer is in Christ, and his sin will never again be imputed to him. This is his standing before God. In Christ is where God beholds His own. Because I am in Christ I am completely and eternally forgiven, so much so that never again will sin be laid to my charge as touching my salvation, even though I were to remain on this earth a hundred years. Hear the testimony of Scripture: "And you being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath [God] quickened together with [Christ] having forgiven you all trespasses" (Col. 2:13). And again: "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 8:1). How could there be if "all trespasses" have been forgiven? "Who shall anything to the charge of God's elect?" (Rom. 8:33)

All of this is true because Jesus came "to give his life a ransom for many" (Matt. 20:28). "Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." God grant that we who confess the forgiveness of sins do know what we have done; that it was our sins that nailed Jesus to the cross and that we know Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord who has fully satisfied for all our sins.

Rev. Vernon Pollema, Shafter, CA