Does our forgiveness depend on anything we do, or only on Christ's work?
Forgiveness depends solely on Christ's finished work, not on anything we do. The Gospel declares Christ died for the sins of the world, was buried, and rose again. When we come under that forgiveness, we are forgiven everything—past, present, and future—because it has all been paid for by His accomplishment on our behalf.
Les explains from Galatians 2:20 that Paul makes the classic statement of being crucified with Christ. The very function of the Gospel is that Christ died for the sins of the world, was buried, and rose from the dead. Les emphasizes that when we come under that forgiveness, we are forgiven everything—past, present, and future. We will never come into God's presence with sin on our back, so to speak, because it has all been paid for. This is beyond human comprehension, but it is believed because that is what the Book teaches: we have been forgiven all our trespasses, not because of anything we have done, but all because of what Christ accomplished on our behalf. That makes the Gospel simple, yet complex, and it will not be fully understood this side of glory. Paul then says that even though he is crucified by identification with Christ's death, yet he lives, and the life he now lives in the flesh is lived by the faith—or, as Les prefers, the faithfulness—of the Son of God.
Are we forgiven because of what we do or because of what Christ did?
We are forgiven not because of anything we have done, but entirely because of what Christ accomplished on our behalf. His death for sins, burial, and resurrection provide complete forgiveness—past, present, and future—so no one will come into God's presence with sin still charged to them.
Are we forgiven because of our own works or because of what Christ accomplished?
Forgiveness is not earned by our own works or anything we have done. It rests entirely on what Christ accomplished on our behalf. Scripture teaches that all trespasses—past, present, and future—have been paid for, so believers will never come into God’s presence with sin on their account.