9. THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS- Part One

What a wonderful topic !! Yet, as new generations grow up, there is a need to refresh the mind, re-teach the pupil and re-think the whole matter through again and again. A good illustration is the progress of thought that comes over time. The 'old Scofield' reference Bible notes are changed in spots from the 'new Scofield' reference Bible in the dispensational teachings concerning this matter of the forgiveness of sins.


The note on forgiveness of the old Scofield (page 1002), says, "This is legal ground."

This note comes from Matt. 6:12, " And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors."

Emphasis is made concerning the conditional nature of this type of forgiveness, as seen here, and also as characteristic of being under Law.

The 'new Scofield' eliminates the teachings of Dr.Scofield in the old Scofield and re- writes the note by saying almost the same thing as the notes on pages 1038 and 1039 of the old and new Scofields, respectively. This is good progress because in these notes (on pages 1038 of the old ) Dr. Scofield and the contributors were inconsistent and changed their view (and not realizing it) in contrast to their analysis of Matt. 6:12.

In the context of Matt. 18, Peter asks about forgiveness. Cf. 18:21-35. The Lord states the basis of forgiving as being the fact of already being forgiven.. "…O thou wicked servant, I FORGAVE THEE ALL THAT DEBT, ….Shouldest not thou ALSO have compassion on thy fellow servant, EVEN AS I HAD PITY ON THEE ? Matt. 18:32-33.

This is the SAME basis that Paul exhorts the Ephesians to forgive-'forgiving one another, EVEN AS GOD, for Christ's sake HATH FORGIVEN YOU. Paul says, forgive because you have been forgiven. Jesus states, in the parable of the kingdom, Matt. 18:32-33, "Shouldest not thou also have compassion on thy fellow servant,( that is, you should have forgiven him ) even as I had pity on thee ?"( and forgave you) In other words, forgive as you have been forgiven.

Even though Paul has alone, the teachings concerning the church, the Body of Christ, we must remember that Paul does not, then, eliminate all other teachings on a subject like forgiveness nor does this mean other Scripture has nothing to offer. If we rightly divide the word of truth, we must not forget that it is all truth. Also, we must remember that all Scripture is profitable for doctrine, that is teaching. Just as the Law dispensation had a beginning, it DID NOT close the dispensation of Promise, but was added to it. Gal. 3:19; Romans 5:20. The thought not expressed in the KJV, has the idea of the Law being added alongside (para) in Rom. 5:20. Paul in his dispensational emphasis, moves (in Rom. 5:14) from Adam to Moses. He does not mention Mr. In-between, Abraham and his promise, there. But it has the idea of the Law being added to Promise (to me).

We may be operating on a dispensational tilt, if we do not take all of Jesus' teachings on forgiveness, (Jesus' teachings in the Gospels and Jesus' teachings through Paul) when we are making a point of contrast.

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