Why does Les believe in complete forgiveness even though it is beyond comprehension?
Complete forgiveness is accepted by faith because Scripture teaches that all trespasses—past, present, and future—have been paid for by Christ’s finished work, not by human effort. Though it surpasses human comprehension and cannot be fully understood this side of glory, it is believed on the authority of the Book.
Les explains from Galatians 2:20 that Paul’s classic statement—crucified with Christ—reflects the Gospel’s function: Christ died for the sins of the world, was buried, and rose again. Because of that finished work, the believer is forgiven everything, past, present, and future, and will never come into God’s presence with sin on their back, since it has all been paid for. Les admits this is beyond human comprehension; he cannot understand it but believes it because the Book teaches that all trespasses are forgiven, not because of anything we have done, but because of what Christ accomplished. This makes the Gospel simple yet complex, never fully understood this side of glory. Paul then says that though crucified by identification with Christ’s death, he still lives, and that life in the flesh is lived by the faith—or, as Les prefers, the faithfulness—of the Son of God.