Exposition of the Shorter Catechism, Question 105
Concerning forgiveness of Sins.
Quest. 105. WHat doth we pray for in the fifth Petition?
A. In the fifth Petition, which is [and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors] we pray that God for Christs sake would freely pardon all our Sins: which we are the rather encouraged to ask, because by this grace we are enabled from the heart to forgive others.
Q. 1. Why doth this Petition immediately follow the former?
A. To teach that all temporal and corporal good things; without special and Spiritual ones are little worth, Psal. 4.6. There be many that say, who will shew us any good? Lord lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us. Psal. 17.14, 15. From men which are thy hand O Lord, from men of the world which have their portion in this life and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes. As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied, when I awake with thy likeness.
Q. 2. Why is it annexed to the former with the Copulative, and?
A. To teach that to be one minute in the confluence of all earthly good things without the pardon of Sin, is a very dangerous and dreadful condition. Luke 12.16, 20. And he spake a parable unto them, saying, the ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully, but God said unto him, thou fool, this night shall thy soul be required of thee: then whose shall those things be which thou hast provided?
Q. 3. Why is forgiveness of Sins placed in the front of spiritual Blessings?
A. Because till sin be pardoned we are under wrath, and can have no special saving Grace applyed to us; till we are accepted; till we are in Christ we have no Covenant right to the blessings of Christ Matt. 11.28. come unto me all ye that labour, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest, ver. 30. for my yoke is easie, and my burden is light. John 15.4, 5. abide in me and I in you, as the branch cannot bear fruit of it self, except it abide in the Vine: no more can ye except ye abide in me. I am the Vine ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing— ver. 7. if ye abide in me and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. John 3. ult. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son, shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
Q. 4. Why do we pray for forgiveness, cannot we make amends for our sins, and be freed from their guilt without pardon?
A. No, all that we can ever do or suffer, can never expiate the guilt of the least sin, Psal. 49.7, 8. None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever.) 1 Sam. 2.25. If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the Lord, who shall entreat for him.
Q 5. Does God then freely, and out of meer Grace forgive us?
A. Yes, without any respect had to any thing we can do, or be, Isa. 43.25. I, even I am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for my own sake, and will not remember thy sins. Rom. 9.15. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. Ver. 18. Therefore hath he mercy, on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will be hardneth.
Q. 6. How doth God forgive sins?
A. (1.) Universally all sins, Exod. 34.6, 7. And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, the Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long suffering and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity, and transgression and sin. Jer. 33.8. And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me, and I will pardon all their iniquities whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against me. Hos. 14.2. Take away all iniquity and receive us graciously. (2.) Compleatly and perfectly, Isa. 43.25. I, even I am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for my own sake, and will not remember thy sins. Psal. 103.12. As far as the east is from the west: so fa… hath he removed our transgressions from us. Mic. 7.19. He will subdue our iniquities, and thou wilt cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. Isa. 38.17. For thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back. (3.) Everlastingly, Ier. 31.34. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. Heb. 8.12. and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
Q. 7. But doth not God punish them afterward whom he ha… justified and forgiven?
A. No, not with a proper and vindictive punishment; but he brings evil upon them for their sins, as a Father chastises his Child; and other sorts of afflictions for their spiritual good: He may be angry as a Father, with those he has pardoned, but never hate them as a condemning Judge, Psal. 89.28. My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him. Ver. 34. My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.
Q. 8. How can God be said freely to pardon all our sins; when we pray it may be done for Christs sake, does not that imply that Christ has satisfied God for our sins, and deserved our remission?
A. Yes, it does so; for the Lord Christ by his Life and Death did satisfie Divine Justice, and did merit our forgiveness; but if he did so, we did not so; our sins cost him dear, but their pardon cost us nothing; our pardon is perfectly free to us; though due to Christ, for God gave Christ freely for us; God accepts of his merits, and applyes them to us freely, Rom. 3.24. Being justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Iesus Christ.
Q. 9. But is there nothing required from us as the condition of pardon, and if so, how can it be absolutely free?
A. There are required Repentance from Sin, and Faith in the Lord Christ, Luke. 13.3. But except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Joh. 3. ult. And he that believeth not the son, shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. This is required from us towards our pardon; but yet 'tis free, (1.) Because God freely ordains thus to pardon. (2.) Because both these are the free gifts of God, Acts 11.18. Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life. Eph. 2.8. For by grace are ye saved, through faith; and that not of your selves; it is the gift of God.
Q. 10. When then are our sins forgiven?
A. Just upon our closure with Christ by Faith, in that very moment, Rom. 5.1. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Iesus Christ, Rom. 8.1. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.
Q. 11. Why do we pray in the answer for the forgiveness of all our sins?
A. Because if the least guilt should remain upon us, 'twould exclude from Gods favour, and lodge us in everlasting burnings, Rom. 6. ult. For the wages of sin is death.
Q. 12. What are the priviledges and blessings that accompany pardon?
A. Justification is accompanied with Adoption, John 1.12. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name. With the Spirit and Principle of all Grace and Holiness, 1 Cor. 6.11. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Iesus, and by the spirit of our God. With an infallible title to Eternal Glory, Iohn. 3.16. That whosoever believeth in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life. Rom. 8.30. Whom he justified, them he also glorified.
Q. 13. How may we know that we are pardoned and justified?
A. Ordinarily by our Sanctification, by our loathing of Sin, our contempt of the World, our valuing of Christ, our love and thankfulness to God, &c. 1 Cor. 6.11. But ye are sanctified. Rom. 7.24. O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death? Gal. 6.14. By whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. 1 Pet. 2.7. VntoUnto you therefore which believe he is precious. Luke 7.47. Her sins which are many are forgiven; for she loved much.
Q. 14. What is meant by [Our] is it only such sins as we have personally and actually committed?
A. No; but also Adams sin, which is ours by imputation, Rom. 5.19. By one mans disobedience many were made sinners. And original sin which is ours by inhesion, Psal. 51.5. Behold I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. And other mens sins which we have made ours, by exciting them to them, not hindering of them, silence at them, and other ways, 2 Sam. 12.9. Thou hast killed Vriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon. 1 Tim. 5.22. Neither be partaker of other mens sins.
Q. 15. Wherefore are sins called debts?
A. Because they are a non-payment of Gods dues, a non-performance of our duty, which makes us lyable to the arrest of Death, and to the prison of Hell.
Q. 16. Why do we plead our own forgiveness of others?
A. Not as any merit of our own pardon, but either as an incouragement to our selves to beg pardon; seeing such evil, envious and malignant persons are enabled to forgive others; much more may we hope the good and gracious God will forgive us: Or as a condition, without which we can have no pardon, and with which we shall, Mat. 6.14. For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
Q. 17. How do others trespass against us?
A. When they injure us either in our Persons, or Names, or Families, or Estates, or Souls, &c. 1 Sam. 2.25. If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him; but if a man sin against the Lord, who shall intreat for him.
Q. 18. Can we forgive our Neighbours freely, fully and perfectly, as God doth forgive us?
A. We cannot.
Q. 19. What then is the meaning of Gods forgiving us as we forgive others?
A. Not as to the quantity and perfection of forgiveness, bu… as to the sincerity and quality thereof, Mat. 18. ult. So likewis… shall my heavenly father do also unto you, if ye from yoar hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
Q. 20. Are we always bound to manifest outwardly our love and forgiveness to all our enemies; and to behave our selves towards them as friends?
A. No, if we have experienced them to be treacherous and false, and see no change, we are not bound to trust them, if they be and remain wicked and profane, we must not associate with them, Psal. 26.5. I have hated the congregation of evil doers: and will not sit with the wicked. Ver. 4. I have not sate with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers.
Q. 21. What then must we do to such?
A. We must heartily forgive them all their injuries; we must love them with the love of benevolence, pray for them, and be ready aud willing to do them all good both of Body and Soul, Mat. 5.44, 45. But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which dispitefully use you, and persecute you. That you may be the children of your father which is in heaven; for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil, and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just, and on the unjust.
Q. 22. If we forgive others shall we be forgiven our selves?
A. We shall, if out of obedience to God, and love to Christ we do it.
Q. 23. What is the first Inference from hence?
A. That except our sins be forgiven, we are lost and undone creatures, and therefore we must never be contented till we are pardoned.
Q. 24. What is a second Inference?
A. That God is a God of love, goodness and pardon; seeing he will not pardon us, if we do not pardon others; but will if we do so.
Q. 25. What is a third Inference?
A. That if we live in hatred when we pray the Lords Prayer, we pray for our own damnation, Mat. 18.22. Iesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, until seven times, but until seventy times seven. Ver. 35. So likewise shall my heavenly father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.