Fallacies of Forgiveness (04/27/2003)

And I've often said that 1 John 1 ,9 is the most unbelieved verse in the Bible. And I believe that. The most unbelieved verse in the Bible. I want to speak to you this morning. And what we're going to do is we're going to take 1 John 1 ,9 and its context and study the context a little bit this morning and see how God handles these fallacies very clearly in the scriptures.

The problem is we're so used to just plucking one verse out that we like. And using it as a promise or using it as this or that or the other. And we can quote those verses often times. We don't know sometimes what's in the context around the verse.

And the Lord always leaves things clear. And so I think we'll see how he himself as he authored this passage did away with many fallacies of forgiveness right here in the passage right around 1 John 1 ,9.

Positional Forgiveness and Experiential Forgiveness in Psalm 32

So let's pray and we'll get started. Father, we thank you for your forgiveness. We know that it's all by the finished work of Jesus Christ. Because of his blood given on the cross. Because of his life that he gave for us.

Lord, we know that forgiveness is because his death not only paid for our sins but propitiated your justice. Made you satisfied that the debt had been paid. We thank you that forgiveness means that the sin has been removed from the sinner.

We thank you that all of this took place almost 2 ,000 years ago. So therefore it includes not only the sins we've done but our future sins. For they were all future when you died for them. And we thank you for that.

We thank you for the complete salvation you give us. Because of the blood of Jesus Christ. And we pray in his name. Amen. Well, I'm going to read to you the last couple of verses in our passage in Psalm.

You don't have to turn there. The passage we've studied for several weeks in Psalm 32 ends this way. And if you remember a little bit of review, it talked about positional forgiveness. The fact that from the divine viewpoint we are already forgiven from all sins.

In fact, all of our sins have been removed as far as the east is from the west. We've been given a new nature which is the nature of God which will not sin and cannot sin. That's the new man. And from God's viewpoint when he looks at us he sees Jesus Christ's righteousness.

He does not see sin. That's the divine viewpoint. But Psalm 32 also talked about the human in time viewpoint. And it talked about how David must confess his sins. And so that's what we call sometimes experiential forgiveness.

So there's both. There's the God's divine viewpoint of forgiveness which is wonderful to know. Because it gives you an understanding of how you're God's child. And you cannot cease to be his child. But it's also important to know the in time part of forgiveness.

The fact that he gives us this. 1 John 1 .9 for example. As a means to help us psychologically for one thing when we sin. Because we have the need that a little child has when he does wrong in the home.

To come to the parents and fess up and get right and even receive a spanking sometimes. But then so that his fellowship can go on unhindered. We have that need in time. And God gives us that as well. So Psalm 32 goes from the divine viewpoint to the human viewpoint back to the divine viewpoint.

And then ends with the human viewpoint again. And let's read. Well you can't read it because I didn't tell you to turn there. But I'll read it to you. Psalm 32 .9. Be ye not as the horse or as the mule which have no understanding.

Whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle. Lest they come near unto thee. This Hebrew word understanding means to mentally separate. It means to be able to separate right from wrong. And as we go into 1 John 1 .9 and the verses around it.

We're going to see that one of the problems that some people have. Even born again people who are saved. And whose sins are forgiven. If they're not in the word. They have a bit of problem discerning right from wrong.

Separating. The difference between white and black. They have too many gray areas. And it creates a problem. That God solves in a similar way to the way that the horse or the mule has a bridle. God just simply has to pull the rein in.

And sometimes chasten more. In order to get those people at that time in their lives. That's us people. We people. In order to get us people to sometimes come and confess. And so that then led me to 1 John 1 .9.

Now we're where you are. So let's look at this together. If we confess our sins. He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins. And to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. The first fallacy that I want to mention this morning.

Is the fallacy that you have to ask forgiveness. Of your sins. Now listen to me. Think about it. How many times in your prayer life you say. Lord forgive me of my many sins. That's a fallacy. You don't have to do that.

Do you know why? Because of the finished work of Jesus. If you are in Christ. Your sins are gone. The New Testament word for forgiveness. Doesn't mean they're covered up or covered over. Or that it's okay now.

What it means is. You don't have them. They're gone. They have been removed from you. They've been literally placed upon Jesus. Your sins have. All of your sins have been imputed. Is the Bible word for it.

It's an accounting term. It means God took your sins out of your account. And put them in Jesus' account. And when he was on the cross. And he said. My God. My God. Why have you forsaken me? Your sins were in his body.

And that's why God had forsaken him. He had no sins of his own. Your sins and mine. Were imputed to Jesus Christ. And just as that is true. It is also true. According to 2 Corinthians 5. 17 through 21.

And many other places. That if you're born again. His righteousness is imputed to you. So when God saw Jesus. He saw your sin and mine. And he died because of it. For it. Now when he looks at you. The born again one.

He sees Jesus' righteousness. And you live because of it. And you have no sin. So you don't have to ask forgiveness of your sin. Notice this verse doesn't say. Ask forgiveness of your sins. It says confess your sins.

That's different. Confess. Is a word that. Comes from two little Greek words. So many of the Greek words are just built. On little building blocks. But the word for confess. Is homologeo. Which comes from a little Greek word.

Homou. Which means at the same place. To be at the same place. And logos. Who knows what that means. Word. Jesus is the word. He's the logos. It means something said. The word. So when you put those two little words together.

What it means is. You come to the same place with God. And with what God has said. In other words you agree with God. That you did a sinful act. And that what you did was exceedingly sinful. And you try to see the act.

Through God's eyes. Through the Lord's eyes. As sinful. And as that which was placed upon his body. And which contributed to the fact. That he died on the cross. And you see it that way. Confess it. It means to agree.

To come to the same place with God. About your sin. Does that make sense? You cannot do that. And be general. It never. Two reasons it doesn't work. To say forgive us of our many sins. One is this. You don't need to be forgiven.

And secondly is this. It's too general. Confess and agree means. To agree with that specific sin. That you just did. And so therefore confession should take place. Instantly. After the sin takes place.

In the life of a Christian. We're talking about Christians now. This morning. This doesn't apply to a lost person. 1 John 1 verse 9 cannot be used by a lost person. Because his sins are not forgiven. But it can be used.

By the born again one. Now. To agree. Or to come to the same place. With God about a sin. Means that it's a specific sin. So when we find ourselves. In the flesh. Which is. The worst sin in the first place.

Because the Bible teaches us to be. Filled with the Holy Spirit. That's a command. So we break that commandment. Anytime we're in the flesh. But immediately we should come to our good senses. Like the prodigal son did.

Come to our good senses. Realize we are not living the abundant life. That Jesus Christ died for us to live. And come before him as a little child. And confess the sin. And just agree with God that it's sinful.

And name it. Name the specific sin. You'll find that that in itself. Will help you not to do that sin next time. The fact that you have to name the word that you did. To a holy God. Who died for you. To free you from that thing you just did.

Name it. And agree with him that it's sinful. So the first fallacy that we see. That is obliterated. Is the fallacy that we have to. Ask forgiveness of sins. And that we're too general. We must confess our sins.

As a Christian. We must come to the place. The same place God is. About that sin. And agree with him. If we confess our sins. He is faithful. And just to forgive us our sins. Now the fact is. He has already forgiven the sin.

Because God does not live in time. He lives in now. So it's not that he forgives you. After you confess. The verse has never meant that. It cannot mean that. And go along with every other verse in the Bible.

That deals with positional forgiveness. What it does mean is. That God is faithful. Which means he will do it every time. Because it's already done. That is the greatest definition of faithfulness. You will ever find.

It's something that's already done. It can't fail. Totally faithful. To forgive us our sins. But not only that. It says he is just to forgive us the sins. Why is he just? Because Jesus has already died.

The finished work has taken place. And God is pleased. He is satisfied. That the payment for the sin debt. Of his elect has been made. In full. It is a satisfied obligation. Therefore. God is just to forgive us.

Because Jesus died. And took our place as our substitute. As the substitutionary. Perfect plan. That the Old Testament. Sacrifices all pictures so beautifully. So if we confess our sins. He is faithful.

And he is just to do it. He will do it every time. And has done it already. And is doing it since he is in the present tense. To forgive us our sins. And to cleanse us. From all unrighteousness. This little word cleanse has to do with.

Our psychology. A great deal. When we understand that the sins are already removed. It doesn't mean that he is cleaning us up. From the sin. But it does mean he is cleaning our mind up from it. He is freeing us to understand.

That it is behind us now. It is forgiven. It has been paid for. Now that you have agreed with me. That you shouldn't have done it. We walk together as a father and child. In full fellowship again. The full fellowship has been restored.

So many examples in the family. With the father and the little children. As they come in. That haven't done something wrong. And they confess it. Sometimes they get a spanking. Sometimes if they confess it ahead of time.

They don't have to get a spanking. So many examples. Now where it says. Confess our sins. The word sin here. Comes from a Greek word. Which means to miss the mark. It means to fall short of the glory.

Of God. That's what we all have done. It holds up Jesus Christ. As the example. And it says we fall short when we sin. Because he never sinned. Now. If he is just to forgive us of our sins. This word forgive.

Is so interesting. Even in the New Testament concept. Especially I should say. In the New Testament concept. He is just to forgive us. Our sins. The word forgive. Comes from apo. Which means to send away.

And hyemi. Which means to send. I'm sorry apo means away. It means away from. And hyemi. Which means to send. You put it together. It means to send away. Forgiveness means that the sin. Has been sent away from the sinner.

It did not really mean that. In the mind of the Old Testament saint. Except for David. And David understood that. But the others thought of it as a covering. In the Old Testament. And sure enough it was a covering.

In the Old Testament. It was covered year to year. And passed forward year to year. In the Hebrew word. The word forgive even has the connotation. Of to pass forward. Until the cross. At which time even the sins.

Of the Old Testament saints were done away. That's why the Old Testament saints. Were in Abraham's bosom rather than in heaven. And Jesus went to get them. After the cross. And took them into the heavenlies.

Because for the first time in their existence. Their sin is removed away. Not just covered. It's all there. It's just amazing to see how this fits together. Now he cleanses us. From all unrighteousness.

Which is injustice. Or going against or missing the mark. Now let's go to verse 10 and we'll see. That there's another fallacy of forgiveness. That is dealt with in this passage. If we say that we have not sinned.

We make him a liar. And his word is not in us. There is a fallacy. Out there among certain groups. Not so much among the Baptist. Or anybody that I see that's represented. Any denomination. Represented by the folks with us.

In the congregation this morning. That I know of. But there are some groups out there. Who since about the year 1900. Up until now when that group was formed. They believe that you can come. To a state of sinlessness.

In this life. And they teach that you can become. Sanctified in this life. Where you don't sin anymore. It was funny. One time years ago. I went to a huge Bible conference up north. Near Chicago. And there were three or four.

Preachers that were just. Well known national preachers. Preaching big events all over the country. And they really could preach. They were just amazing preachers. We enjoyed getting to hear. The way they could just open the word.

To you. But it was held. In a basketball gym. Because it was the only place. Around that church big enough. To hold all the people that had come. And I mean there was a parking problem. There was everything.

It was difficult to find a seat. So John Abraham who was. One of the early members of this church. Back in 1980. And pastored this church for two years. Right before I became the pastor. He was with me.

And the two of us. And there's some others. But I remember John. He and I went up. We were looking for a place to sit. And we found two spots right up there. So we walked up. And we walked in front of the people.

And we sat down in the chairs. And we were ten minutes late. You can't imagine that with me. I know that you can't. But we were about ten minutes late. And there was a guy behind us. And it said. Those seats are taken.

And John said. Well who are they for? And they said well they're just for some friends. And John said well I'll tell you what. They're ten minutes late. They're probably not coming. If they come we'll give them the seats.

Would that be alright? The guy didn't say anything. He just kind of went like that. So we sat down. And we enjoyed this awesome. You're transported in the heavenlies. By the scriptures these men were preaching.

For about two hours. They had about two different preachers. And some singing in between. Oh it was glorious. When it was all over we stood up. We just didn't want to leave the place. We didn't want to go home.

Boy we were high. We turned around. And sitting behind us was this man. And he looked at me and said. You almost made me lose my sanctification. John looked at me and I looked at him. We just burst out laughing.

We didn't mean to. But he just lost it. If he thought we made him lose it. He lost it. But he was from one of these groups. That believed you could achieve. Complete sanctification in this life. He proved that they're not right.

Because he got angry with us. And so anyway. We felt so badly. That we caused someone to lose their sanctification that night. But this is a fallacy. Verse 10. God himself says. If we. Now this whole passage.

Especially with verse 9 and forward. Is talking to Christians only. It's only to born again people. Most of the Bible is that way anyway. It's written to God's people. If we as a Christian. Say that we have not sinned.

We make him a liar. And his word is not in us. It does away with the fallacy. Of complete sanctification in his life. Now let's move to the next one. Look at chapter 2 verse 1. And remember there are no chapter divisions in the original.

So it's just the same thing continuing here. So forget about chapter 2 verse 1. Still talking about the same concept. That's spoken of in verse 9. My little children. These things write I unto you. That you sin not.

Now he just got through saying. Now this by the way. Is the verse that the total sanctification. People like to use. But they don't like to look. At the verse right before it. He just got through saying.

If you say you don't sin you lie. But now he comes back. And God says my little children. I write these things to you. So that you sin not. What is he saying? I've written my whole word. But it's certainly this passage.

Starting with the earlier paragraphs. Before verse 9 even. I've written these things to you. As strength. To keep you from sin. The word of God. If you stay in it. Will help keep you from sin. There's no doubt about that.

It has a sanctifying effect. On the Christian. So I've written my word to you. So that you don't sin. This corrects those who think. That because we can confess. And be forgiven. At any time. It's therefore okay to sin.

Now you say well nobody thinks that way. You're wrong. And be careful lest you think that way. At any given moment. You may not even think it out loud. In your mind. But you may rationalize. And you may do a sin.

Thinking well I know I can confess it. Within a few moments. Because I'm already forgiven. My sins are really already gone. So you see how God brings you to balance. It is true that God's taught us. That our sins are already gone.

But if that's the only verse he gave us. You know what we'd be in a cult group. To be over here saying. Okay we can go do any sin we want to do. Because it's already gone. So let's just go sin together.

It's already gone. Did you know Paul had to deal with that. That very thought. Paul. The Apostle Paul dealt with that. In his day. Let me read that to you. Romans 6 -1. What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?

God forbid was his answer. How shall we that are dead to sin. Live any longer therein. He had to answer this same problem. To bring it back into balance. He didn't say that it's not true. That our sins are gone.

It is true. He said the false psychology behind it. But it's for those Christians who say. Oh well then I'll just live like I want to. Because God has to forgive me. My little children. These things right out of you.

That you sin not. The purpose is for you not to sin. The purpose is not for you to go sin more. Because you're already forgiven. God tells you you are forgiven. But he says the whole reason I'm telling you this.

Is so you'll live like it. If I have sent my son to die for you. And he gave his life for you. And I as the father gave you the most dear thing. Everything. I gave everything for you. Then you should not want to sin anymore.

I didn't say this to you. So you can go think well I just sin all the time. Because I can confess it later. There are those who have that. There was a prominent pastor. In the Dallas area. That happened to be the son.

Of the man who held the big bible conference. I just told you about that. I was that. And. Excuse me Charlotte. Where I was. Don't end the sentence with a preposition. If you live in my house. But it was his son.

And he came back to pastor a church. His father had founded. And it had grown to 6 -8 thousand members. And he was a fornicator. And was spending time with women. Who were not his wife. And you know what he was telling them?

Saul came out of the deacon meeting. And he was telling them. Well we're really already forgiven. And God will forgive us. And he was giving them marriage counseling. Did you know. That the safest place to give marriage counseling.

Gentlemen is from this pulpit right here. Just preach the word. Preach the word. And let the husbands be able to answer the wives questions at home. That's what the bible says. But he was. Falling to this fallacy.

And bringing the women with him. Into this fallacy. We're already forgiven. We can do anything we want. And then confess it later. It will be ok. It's not what the bible says. The bible says my little children.

I've written all this to you. So that you don't sin at all. You don't sin in the first place. And then he moves on. In the same breath he says. And if any man sin. You see he's not teaching. Sinless sanctification.

Sinless perfection. Or some state we come to where we never sin. He's saying you ought not sin. You have the whole word of God. You have the holy spirit. You have your salvation. Salvation means you've been delivered.

From bondage of the world. The flesh and the devil. So you ought not sin. And he comes right back and says. Yes but when you sin. And when any man sin. Look at this. We have an advocate with the father.

Jesus Christ the righteous. Advocate. Paracletos the paraclete. An intercessor. A counselor. A lawyer. Who when you do sin stands before the throne of God. And says he is forgiven. Because my blood was shed for that one.

He's one of mine. He's innocent. That goes against the fallacy. It corrects those who believe. That once we sin. We lose our salvation. And there is that fallacy. There are many groups. That teach. That a born again.

Blood bought person. Could lose his salvation. That's a fallacy. But they believe it. The fallacy means. Wrong logic. Wrong reason. It means it's not true. The reason it's not true. Is because it says if you're.

Being spoken to in this passage. You're born again already. And it says if any man sin. Any Christian man or woman sin. We have an advocate with the father. Jesus Christ the righteous. What does it mean the righteous?

He was the righteous one. Who died for us. If we confess our sins. He is faithful and what? Just. Forgive us. His justice has been met. By the blood of Jesus. And can be met by nothing else. But is met fully.

By the blood of Jesus. Therefore you cannot lose your salvation. If you ever once have it. It would be absolutely impossible. For the blood of Jesus. To fail. That one I will. Part ways with you on. I cannot abide a person.

I'm talking about. In church with me. Who believes you can lose your salvation. He's got. Too many scriptures. He's got a rip out of his Bible. He's got too many questions I can ask him. That he can't answer.

He's ignorant. I don't mean he's stupid. I just mean he hasn't studied. Or he's been led astray by a false prophet. This passage right in here. Where it talks about forgiveness. And confession. Gives the word of God.

Which corrects those who believe. You can lose your salvation. If any man sin we have an advocate. Perfect advocate with the father. Jesus Christ the righteous. Now look at verse 2 of chapter 2. He is the propitiation.

For our sins. Not for ours only. But also for the sins. There's another reason. You can't lose your salvation. He is the propitiation. Do you know that that means. The word the means there is no other.

And propitiation means. He is the only thing in the universe. That satisfies God's justice. Against sin. And his wrath against sin. And he has finished it on the cross that day. It is a finished work.

It's past tense. It's done. You can't add one thing to it. You can't take one thing away from it. It's finished. And God is. God stands. Propitiated. In his present tense. As he is. We picture him seated on the great white throne.

He is seated there. Standing in a state of propitiation. Having been satisfied. He is always and continually satisfied. That his. Elect. Have been. Taken care of. By the blood of Jesus. So how could you lose your salvation?

You cannot. Only if God became unsatisfied. With Jesus's blood. And he is not going to do that. I love these verses. Well you know this beautiful word. Propitiation. Elosmos. Kind of takes you back to the Hebrew.

Word for atonement. Reminds us of the. Passages in Leviticus. Where it talks about all the burnt offerings. And how. In 1624. The priest would wash his flesh. With water in the holy place. Before he put on the holy garments.

Which pictured the righteousness of Christ. That part pictured positional forgiveness. But the washing of the flesh. Pictured confession like 1 John 1 .9. It's all pictured in the Old Testament. It's very beautiful.

Walking in Obedience, Love, and Light

Now in 1 John chapter 2 verse 3. Let's look at it. And hereby we do know that we know him. If we keep his commandments. Now this does away. With the fallacy or corrects the error. That a saved person.

Would be able to continually sin. And then confess. And then sin again and confess. And then do the same sin again. And confess it again. And not have victory over specific sin. That's a fallacy. The Christian I've said many times.

That God shouldn't do the same sin. This year he did last year. And I don't mean that literally. But what I mean is. There are certain sins and weaknesses. That we have when we come into salvation. And we carry those with us.

And because of the deliverance. That Jesus gives us. Because we're no longer a slave to Satan. We're no longer a slave to our own flesh. No longer a slave to this world system. We can have victory over any sin.

So as we honestly as Christians. Look at our lives and say. Where is that weakness? Mine's different than anybody else's. What's my weakness? Where is it where Satan hits me the most. Or my flesh hits me the most.

Or the world allures me the most. And I tend to go into that sin. More easily than any other sin. That one is one I can have victory over. And this passage teaches it. It says. Hereby we know that we know him.

If we keep his commandments. Well if he says. Thou shalt not on any issue. Or thou shalt on other issues. And we find ourselves breaking that one. Then we need to understand. That we need to obey. And he's given us the power.

To be able to keep his commandments. In fact. Hereby we know that we know him. What does that mean? This is how I know I'm born again. This is how I know that I'm sealed by the Holy Spirit. Is that he is working in my life.

To move away. The sins and the weights. That so easily beset me. And it doesn't teach we get to a sinless state in this life. Because there will be another one that pops up. Trust me. There will be another one.

You know as well as I know. But we don't have to do the same ones. We can have complete victory. Over specific sin. Now that's not saying the same. As you become sanctified where you never sin. I'm not saying that.

I am saying this. You can have sins that you used to do. That you never do again. Ever. You can have complete victory over specific sin. Smoking is a good example. You don't have to ever smoke again. I like to pick on that one.

Because I don't smoke. I'm not going to talk about gluttony now. Okay. Hereby we know that we know him. If we keep his commandments. Now let's go to verse 4. Verse 4 corrects another fallacy. He that saith I know him.

And keepeth not his commandments. Is a liar. And the truth. Is not in him. Now this word keepeth. Is interesting. Keepeth not his commandments. It comes from the Greek word. Tereo. Which means to guard.

Or to keep an eye on. He that does not guard. And keep an eye on his commandments. You know who that is? That's a person who's never in the word. He just never studies. He never has a need to read. He's not interested in the Bible.

That person needs to. Check out his own salvation. He that says I know Jesus. But he doesn't keep the commandments. Is a liar. And the truth is not in him. The Bible says. I call this the. The fallacy of.

The lie of lasciviousness. A person says oh I know Jesus. And yet they're living a lascivious lifestyle. They're a fornicator perhaps. I don't know what they are. But they're doing all manner of sin. And they have no victory over it.

And they say but I know Jesus. God himself says you're lying. You don't know me. Because I give you deliverance. My salvation is spelled deliverance. So it destroys that fallacy. The next one. Verse five.

But whoso keepeth his word in him. Verily truly is the love of God perfected. Whereby know we. That we are in him. You know what. The person who says. I know him. And doesn't love others. With the gentle tender kindness.

That Jesus has as a liar. He's not born again. He can act like it. He can dress like it. He can do all the rules better than everybody else perhaps. But he's lost as a goose. Because the Bible says. Whoso keeps his word.

I'm sorry the Bible says. That a person. Who is not perfected in the love of God. Is not a person. Who keeps his word. He's not a person that's in the word. Or keeps his word. And if you go to the verse before it.

That verse says if you're not keeping his word. You're a liar. So this does away. Or this is more of a positive. Thing I suppose. Rather than a fallacy. It just simply says. If you are born again. Then there is the law of love in your life.

Because Jesus lives there. And he is love. God is love. So you have a new capability. Of loving others. That you never had as a lost person. And that means it has nothing to do. With what they're doing for you.

Or against you. Because a God made love. Comes from the inside from God. Not from the person you're loving. So it doesn't matter what they do. You can still love them. You can't have that unless you're born again.

It's a great. It's a fallacy. People that say I'm born again. But they don't love people that way. They're not really saved. They. And we're talking about fallacies of forgiveness. They're not really forgiven yet.

Now let's go to the next one. Verse six. He that saith he abideth in him. Ought himself also. So to walk. Even as he. Walked. He that saith he abideth. That's the little word meno. Which means to stay.

He that says he stays in Christ. Ought to walk. Like Christ. I call that the fallacy. Of saying I'm so forgiven. I can walk anywhere. I'm so forgiven I can walk anywhere. And do anything. And I don't believe that's true.

I suppose you could say. Yeah you can. But you won't. Because he that abides in Christ. Walks even as he walked. Another test. Of true forgiveness. Now let's go to verse eight. You'll see another one.

Again a new commandment I write unto you. Which thing is true in him. And in you. Because the darkness is past. And the true light now shineth. The first half of that verse. Shows that a person who's truly forgiven.

Has light in his life. There's light there. There's light on his countenance. I don't mean every day. If with me not before ten o 'clock. Certainly on any day. But in the general life of that person. There's light in that countenance.

What a great. Test of a. Forgiven person. True light. Now shineth. In verse nine points out. Last one. There's no contradiction between what the tongue says. And where the heart is. In a forgiven person.

He that saith. He is in the light. But he hates his brother. Is in darkness. The Lord clears up. All these fallacies about forgiveness. He tells us about forgiveness. The sin is totally removed. From the sinner.

God is totally propitiated. Once and for all and forever. He is satisfied that the sin debt is paid for. Therefore the sins are removed. They've been placed on the head of the scapegoat. The scapegoat has been sent into the wilderness.

Never to return. That's what Jesus did on the cross. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Your sins and mine were in his body. When he said that. They've been paid for. But God comes back and says.

But when we sin. Let's confess our sin. Agree with God. That that act was sinful. That specific act was sinful. And be cleansed from it. Emotionally and mentally. And in reality where you're in fellowship.