Forgiveness Explained

Let us muse today on Forgiveness Explained in the Language of Languages. There are four words used in the Bible and all are translated ‘forgive’ in English. Three of them are Hebrew words in the Old Testament. One is a Greek word used in the New Testament. One of the words means to cover, which we often see as the word ‘attonement’. It has the idea of a rug that covers the dirt on the floor. A second means to lift and carry it away. It has the idea of the removal of a stain by using a stronger solvent than the stain was. The third Hebrew word means to pardon or wipe the slate clean. The fourth word from the Greek means to set free a prisoner. God in the person of Christ did all four. He covers our sin with His blood. He removed the stain and made us white as snow. He gave us His righteous account which is perfect and released us from the prison of guilt. Pardoned us and set us free. He still forgives old sinners this day.