Remission
According to Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New
Testament Words the term “remission” refers to “dismissal, release” and
“is used of the forgiveness of sins…” Most Christians have heard the
term “remission” used in passages like Acts 2:38 or Hebrews 9:22. Yet,
many religious people often have a vague idea of when this “remission
of sins” takes place.
We first begin to see the hope for “remission of sins” in the
prophecy of Zacharias about his son, John the Baptist. Zacharias says in
Luke 1:76,77, “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the
Highest…to give knowledge of salvation to His people by the remission of
their sins.”
John the Baptist, as his father Zacharias and Isaiah foretold, did
prepare the way of the Lord (Isaiah 40:3-5). This included “preaching
a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins…” (Mark 1:4; Luke
3:3). This “baptism of repentance” had a purpose in preparing the
way for Christ. Yet, its purpose was only temporary. In fact, Apollos
had to be corrected by Aquila and Priscilla because “he knew only the
baptism of John” (Acts 18:26).
This “baptism of repentance” was only temporary because it was
offering the “remission of sins” without the purifying blood of
Christ. Hebrews 9:22 says, “And according to the law almost all
things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is
no remission.” Later in Hebrews we learn that Christ’s shedding of
blood is so complete that it is the final offering for our sin (Hebrews
10:18). In using our previous definition, it completely releases and
dismisses our past sin. Yet, our sins are not remitted without some
obedience on our part.
In the same book of Hebrews we read of Christ, “…though He was a Son,
yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having
been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who
obey Him…” (Hebrews 5:8,9). Just as Christ had to obey His Father in
heaven, so we must obey Jesus Christ. What does Christ ask of us? Let
Him and His apostles tell you His conditions for “remission of sins.”
Jesus said in Luke 24:46,47, “Thus it is written, and thus it was
necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third
day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His
name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”
Once we go to Jerusalem we find, “Repent, and let every one of you be
baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you
shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).
The Gentiles were taught, “… through His name, whoever believes in
Him will receive remission of sins” (Acts 10:43).
Clearly, some conditions include Christ’s shed blood, belief,
repentance, baptism in the name of Jesus Christ and our Christ-like
obedience! Just believing in a doctor will not put one’s cancer into
remission. It will take obeying and being treated by him. Remission of
sins requires more than a knowledge of the Great Physician…we must obey
Him.