"Forgiven" O.T. & N.T.
There is a need to understand the difference of the forgiveness offered by the blood sacrifices of the Old Testament and that of the blood offering of Jesus the Christ. The following, Strong's G863, does muddy the water a bit with its definition. This indicates that followers of Jesus sins have been "laid aside" or "sent away".
1Jn 2:12 I writeunto you, little children, because your sinsG266 are forgivenG863
G863 af-ee'-ay-mee From G575 and ἵημι hiēmi (to send; an intensive form of εἶμι eimi (to go)); to send forth, in various applications: - cry, forgive, forsake, lay aside, leave, let (alone, be, go, have), omit, put (send) away, remit, suffer, yield up.
Total KJV occurrences: 147
Whereas G851 is much more direct in stating that sins are taken away (through the blood of Jesus).
Rom 11:26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "THE DELIVERER WILL COME OUT OF ZION, AND HE WILL TURN AWAY UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB;
Rom 11:27 FOR THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM, WHEN I
TAKE AWAYG851 THEIR SINS."
Heb 10:4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could
take awayG851 sins.
Heb 10:11 And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take awayG851 sins.
G851 af-ahee-reh'-o From G575 and G138; to remove (literally or figuratively): - cut (smite) off, take away.
Total KJV occurrences: 10
In Psalm 103 verse 12 David gives a dramatic picture of how far our sins may be taken away. But we know it can only happen when we accept the sacrifice of Jesus, repent and be baptized.
Psa 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
There is a wonderfully revealing contrast provided in Hebrews 9:13&14. Verse 13 speaks of the covering of sins whereas verse 14 reveals that our "spirit" can be changed through the blood of Christ.
Heb 9:13 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, --- (an atonement)
Heb 9:14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscienceG4893 from dead works to serve the living God?
G4893 soon-i'-day-sis
From a prolonged form of G4894; co-perception, that is, moral consciousness: - conscience.
Total KJV occurrences: 32
In Hebrews 9:14 the term consciousness may be equated to our spirit. When we die we loose consciousness as our spirit returns to God
Ecc 12:7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
Hebrews 9:14 is relating to a conscious spirit that has been cleansed through the blood of Christ.
The following provides the understanding that the "sin offering", of the Old Testament, is a "covering", and that "forgiveness" is included
Lev 4:20 And he shall do with the bull as he did with the bull as a sin offering; thus he shall do with it. So the priest shall make atonementH3722 for them, and it shall be forgivenH5545 them.
H3722 kaw-far' "atonement"
A primitive root; to cover (specifically with bitumen); figuratively to expiate or condone, to placate or cancel: - appease, make (an) atonement, cleanse, disannul, forgive, be merciful, pacify, pardon, to pitch, purge (away), put off, (make) reconcile (-liation). Total KJV occurrences: 102
H5545 saw-lakh' "forgiven"
A primitive root; to forgive: - forgive, pardon, spare. Total KJV occurrences: 46
But what does the "forgiveness" (H5545) in that verse represent compared to the forgiveness offered by Jesus.
We understand the forgiveness of sin offered by Jesus is complete. The sin is taken away not covered over.
The Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon shows that (H5545) may be translated as to forgive or to pardon. When we look at the definition of the word pardon we see the following.
Merriam-Webster Definition of pardon .
1a : to absolve from the consequences of a fault or crime
b : to allow (an offense) to pass without punishment
This is the result of offering the blood sacrifices of bulls and goats. It only "covers over" ones sins. This does not provide for an avenue toward eternal life. It's just a temporary condition.
There is another word in the New Testament that has great meaning. It's "propitiation".
Rom_3:25 Whom God2316 (the Father) hath set forth to be a propitiationG2435 through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
1Jn_2:2 And he is the propitiationG2435 for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
1Jn_4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God2316, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiationG2435 for our sins.
G2435 hilastērion
Thayer Definition:
1) relating to an appeasing or expiating, having placating or expiating force, expiatory; a means of appeasing or expiating, a propitiation
1a) used of the cover of the ark of the covenant in the Holy of Holies, which was sprinkled with the blood of the expiatory victim on the annual day of atonement (this rite signifying that the life of the people, the loss of which they had merited by their sins, was offered to God in the blood as the life of the victim, and that God by this ceremony was appeased and their sins expiated); hence the lid of expiation, the propitiatory
1b) an expiatory sacrifice
1c) a expiatory victim
The verses dealing with the propitiation of Jesus show us God the Father's abhorrence of sin. There are two distinct factors when receiving the forgiveness that comes through the sacrifice of Jesus. The first is that God's anger against sin (including our sin) is appeased. Then our sins are completely removed (at baptism), if our repentance is thorough.
Romans 2:13 For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
1John 2:3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
The forgiveness provided by an atonement through the sacrificial blood of animals does not provide for a change in our carnal nature. After true repentance and having been baptized, hands may be laid upon a person to receive the Spirit of God. That person begins the process of becoming a new person. Our carnal thoughts and ways have the true potential of being a thing of the past.