How could Jesus say, “Your sins are forgiven,” before He died on the cross?

Answer

We understand that God forgives sins through Jesus’ shed blood on the cross (Ephesians 1:7;1 John 1:7). However, before going to the cross, Jesus declared forgiveness of sins to two individuals. This situation may be perplexing to some. How could Jesus forgive sins prior to the sacrifice being made? After all, Hebrews 9:22 states, “Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.”

Let’s identify the two individuals to whom Jesus said, “Your sins are forgiven,” before His crucifixion. The first person is the paralyzed man brought to Jesus by friends and lowered through a roof for healing. “When Jesus saw their faith, he said, ‘Friend, your sins are forgiven’” «And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee. », (Luke 5:20). The second individual is the sinful woman who approached Jesus while He dined at Simon the Pharisee’s house. Observing her reverence, the Lord contrasted her love with Simon’s lack of love. “Then Jesus said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven’” «And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. », (Luke 7:48). In both instances, Jesus’ words stirred significant reactions among the listeners (Luke 5:21;Luke 7:49).

When Jesus declared, “Your sins are forgiven”—even before His crucifixion—He was not uttering empty words. He possessed the authority to forgive sins, just as He had the power to heal paralysis. In fact, Jesus utilized physical healing to validate His ability to provide spiritual healing: “‘I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.’ So he said to the paralyzed man, ‘I tell you, get up, take your…

Mat and go home.’ Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on, and went home praising God” (Luke 5:24-25).

Turning to the Old Testament, we find other people whose sins were forgiven before Jesus died on the cross. David prayed for forgiveness «Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin.», (Psalm 51:2) and received it. “Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven” «Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered.», (Psalm 32:1). As he touched Isaiah with a coal from the altar, an angel declared the prophet’s forgiveness: “Your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for” «and he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.», (Isaiah 6:7). The atonement provided by the animal sacrifices resulted in forgiveness «And he shall do with the bullock as he did with the bullock for a sin offering, so shall he do with this: and the priest shall make an atonement for them, and it shall be forgiven them.», (Leviticus 4:20,26, 31, 35).

The principle found all through the Bible is that forgiveness is God’s business. “With you, there is forgiveness, that you may be feared” «But there is forgiveness with thee, That thou mayest be feared.», (Psalm 130:4, ESV). “You, Lord, are good and ready to forgive” «For thou, Lord, art good and ready to forgive; And plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.», (Psalm 86:5).

(Psalm 86:5, NASB). “To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness” «To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him; », (Daniel 9:9, ESV). When Jesus displayed His power to forgive sins, He clearly showed that He was the Son of God wielding God’s authority in this world. “Who can forgive sins but God alone?” «And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone? », (Luke 5:21). No one; Jesus is God Incarnate.

Forgiveness of sin in every dispensation has always been based on Jesus’ death on the cross see Hebrews 9:15. In the Old Testament, sins were forgiven on the basis of Jesus’ death on the cross, of which the animal sacrifices were but a foreshadowing. During the life of Christ, sins were forgiven on the basis of His yet-future death on the cross—the benefits of that sacrifice were granted to those who had faith in Jesus. Now, by faith, we look back on the death and resurrection of Christ and receive God’s forgiveness. The good news is as Paul preached, “My friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you” «Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: », (Acts 13:38). When we trust Christ, the word to us is the same as that spoken to the forgiven woman in Simon’s house: “Your faith has saved you; go in peace” «And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.», (Luke 7:50).