You Are Forgiven

Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.” Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” (Luke 7:47–49; NKJV)

Jesus began His earthly ministry by teaching with authority and performing miracles. And people had questions. Jesus did not rise through the ranks of one of the major Jewish sects. Who is He? Is he a prophet of God? A messenger from Satan? God’s promised Messiah?

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The Remission of Sins

The word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. And he went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. (Luke 3:2–3; NKJV)

God fulfilled His promise to Zacharias. The Holy Spirit was upon John, and now “the Word of God came to John” in a mighty way. Luke does not tell us how the Word of God came upon him. But the message John preached reveals at least some of what this Word of God to John contained. It was the message of repentance for the remission of sins and the announcement that Israel’s Messiah was coming very soon (vv. 15–17).

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