Forgiveness and the life everlasting

In a minute

The creed ends with three great hopes: "The Forgiveness of sins: The Resurrection of the body, And the Life everlasting."

Christians believe that every person falls short of the love of God and neighbour; the Bible calls this sin, a word that means "missing the mark". They also believe that God, through Jesus, offers forgiveness to everyone who turns back to him: a fresh start, freely given. And they believe that death is not the end: God will raise the dead and bring all who are his into eternal life, in a renewed creation where "Death will be no more" (Revelation 21:4, WEBBE).

What it is and how it's lived

Sin and repentance

Christians speak honestly about wrongdoing, including their own. Most services include a confession: a short prayer saying sorry to God, followed by words of forgiveness (an absolution). The New Testament word for turning back is metanoia, repentance, literally "a change of mind": not only feeling sorry but turning round.

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9, WEBBE)

Grace: a free gift

At the heart of Christian forgiveness is grace: God's love given freely, not earned. "for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God," (Ephesians 2:8, WEBBE). Jesus told three stories of lost things found, a sheep, a coin and a son, and said there is "more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents" (Luke 15:7, WEBBE).

Forgiving others

Forgiveness received is meant to be passed on. In the Lord's Prayer Christians ask: "Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors" (Matthew 6:12, WEBBE). When Peter asked whether he should forgive seven times, Jesus said "until seventy times seven" (Matthew 18:22, WEBBE): without counting. Christians admit this can be the hardest thing in the faith, and many say forgiving does not mean pretending harm did not happen, or that justice does not matter.

Death and resurrection

Christians do not believe only that the soul survives death. The creed says "the resurrection of the body": God will one day raise the dead to a new, transformed, bodily life, as he raised Jesus. Until then, Christians believe the faithful departed are "with Christ", at rest and at peace. To the thief crucified beside him Jesus said: "today you will be with me in Paradise" (Luke 23:43, WEBBE).

Judgement, heaven and hope

The creed says Christ "shall come to judge the quick and the dead". Christians believe God's judgement is just and merciful, and that it sets wrongs right. Heaven is being fully in God's presence; Christians describe it with images (a city, a banquet, a home with many rooms) because it is beyond description. The Bible also speaks of the possibility of final separation from God, which Christians call hell; churches describe and interpret this in different ways, and many stress that it is a choice God respects rather than his wish for anyone.

At a Christian funeral

A Christian funeral gives thanks for a life, commends the person to God, comforts the grieving and proclaims the hope of resurrection. Many begin with Jesus' words "I am the resurrection and the life" (John 11:25, WEBBE).

Its inner meaning

Forgiveness means the past need not define anyone. Christians speak of being made new: "if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17, WEBBE).

Eternal life, in John's Gospel, is not only life after death but a quality of life that begins now, in knowing God. And Christian hope is wide: not just for individuals but for "new heavens and a new earth" (2 Peter 3:13, WEBBE). So Christians grieve, but "don't grieve like the rest, who have no hope" (1 Thessalonians 4:13, WEBBE).

Key texts

"Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will still live, even if he dies. Whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?'" (John 11:25–26, WEBBE)

Greek (John 11:25): Ἐγώ εἰμι ἡ ἀνάστασις καὶ ἡ ζωή — Egō eimi hē anastasis kai hē zōē.

"In my Father's house are many homes. If it weren't so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you." (John 14:2, WEBBE)

"He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; neither will there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain any more. The first things have passed away." (Revelation 21:4, WEBBE)

"For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from God's love which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38–39, WEBBE)

"As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us." (Psalm 103:12, WEBBE)

From the Christian tradition

Julian of Norwich, the 14th-century English mystic, heard in prayer that "all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well" (Revelations of Divine Love, chapter 27; Middle English modernised).
John Donne's sonnet "Death, be not proud" (Holy Sonnet 10, published 1633) ends with death itself dying (paraphrased).

Common misunderstandings, answered gently

"Christians think they're better than other people." Christian teaching says the opposite: everyone needs forgiveness, Christians included. Many describe the Church as a hospital for sinners, not a museum for saints (common saying, origin uncertain).
"Forgiveness means anything goes." Christians believe forgiveness is free but not cheap: it calls for honest repentance and a changed life. Jesus told a forgiven woman, "Go your way. From now on, sin no more" (John 8:11, WEBBE).
"Heaven is clouds and harps." That is cartoon imagery. Christian hope is of a renewed creation and the presence of God, beyond what can be pictured.
"Christians believe all non-Christians go to hell." Churches teach different things here. Many, including the Catholic Church since the Second Vatican Council, teach that God's grace can reach those of other faiths and none who seek God sincerely, and that judgement belongs to God alone.

Across the churches

Catholic and Orthodox Christians, and some Anglicans, make confession to a priest, who pronounces God's forgiveness; this is the sacrament of Reconciliation (Penance). Protestant Christians usually confess directly to God, often together in worship. Catholics teach purgatory, a final purifying before heaven, and pray for the dead; Orthodox Christians also pray for the departed, without defining purgatory; most Protestants do not hold this teaching. Christians differ, too, on how to speak of hell and on the timing of Christ's return.

Reflection

Is there something you need to forgive, or to be forgiven for? What would a fresh start look like?

In the other traditions

Judaism: teshuvah (return, repentance) is central, above all at Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement; Jewish teaching holds that wrongs against another person must be put right with that person, and many Jews believe in olam ha-ba, the world to come, and the resurrection of the dead.
Islam: Muslims believe God is al-Ghafur, the Forgiving, and that sincere repentance (tawbah) is always accepted; they believe in the Last Day, resurrection, judgement with justice and mercy, and Paradise and Hell.

Watch