The gospel reveals the purpose and power of God to deal with sin and all of its effects. Scripture uses a range of images to express the comprehensiveness of salvation.
God's removal of sin
Atonement for sin
Isaiah 6:7 See also Exodus 32:30; Leviticus 4:27–31; Proverbs 16:6; Romans 3:25; Hebrews 2:17
And with it he touched my mouth and said: “Now that this has touched your lips, your iniquity is removed and your sin is atoned for.”
Forgiveness of sin
Micah 7:18; Acts 13:38 See also 1 Kings 8:35–36; 2 Chronicles 30:18–20; Psalm 103:2–3; Isaiah 33:24, Isaiah 55:7; Joel 3:21; Matthew 26:27–28; Luke 24:46–47; Ephesians 1:7; 1 John 1:9
Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity and passes over the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance — who does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in loving devotion?
Therefore let it be known to you, brothers, that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.
Cancellation of a debt
Matthew 6:12 See also Matthew 18:21–35; Luke 7:41–50
And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
A covering over of sin
1 Peter 4:8 There is a close relation between “covering over sin” and “atoning for sin”. See also Psalm 32:1, Psalm 85:2; James 5:20
Above all, love one another deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
The taking away of sin
Psalm 103:12 See also 2 Samuel 12:13; Isaiah 6:6–7; Zechariah 3:4; John 1:29; Hebrews 9:28; 1 John 3:5
As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.
Remembering sin no more
Isaiah 43:25 See also Psalm 25:7; Jeremiah 31:33–34; 2 Corinthians 5:19
I, yes I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake and remembers your sins no more.
God's deliverance for the sinner
The salvation of the sinner
1 Timothy 1:15 See also Psalm 28:8–9; Matthew 1:21; Luke 19:9–10; John 3:17; Hebrews 7:25
This is a trustworthy saying, worthy of full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the worst.
The image of healing
Luke 5:31–32 parallels Matthew 9:12, Mark 2:17 See also 2 Chronicles 7:14; Isaiah 53:5, Isaiah 57:18–19; Hosea 14:4; 1 Peter 2:24
Jesus answered, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”
The image of cleansing
Psalm 51:2 See also Leviticus 16:30; Ezekiel 36:25; John 13:1–11; Acts 22:16; Hebrews 10:22; 1 John 1:9
Wash me clean of my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.
Redemption by God
Psalm 130:8 See also Isaiah 44:22; Titus 2:14; 1 Peter 1:18–19
And He will redeem Israel from all iniquity.
Justification before God
Galatians 2:16 See also Isaiah 53:11; Romans 3:24–26, Romans 4:5, Romans 4:25, Romans 5:16–19, Romans 8:33
know that a man is not justified by works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.
Freedom from condemnation
Romans 8:1 See also John 3:18, John 8:3–11; Romans 8:34
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Peace with God
Romans 5:1 See also Isaiah 53:5; Luke 2:14; Ephesians 2:17
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
Reconciliation with God
2 Corinthians 5:18 See also Romans 5:9–11; Colossians 1:19–20
All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:
Sanctification to God
Hebrews 10:10 See also 1 Corinthians 6:11; Ephesians 5:25–26; Colossians 1:22
And by that will, we have been sanctified through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Freedom from sin and the sinful nature
Romans 7:24; 1 Peter 2:24 See also Romans 6:1–18, Romans 8:1–9; Galatians 5:24
What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?
He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. “By His stripes you are healed.”
A transition from death to life
Colossians 2:13 See also Luke 15:22–24; Ephesians 2:4–5
When you were dead in your trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our trespasses,
Receiving eternal life
Romans 6:23 See also John 3:16, John 3:36, John 5:24
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.