What Does It Mean to Be Forgiven by God?

Direct Answer

To be forgiven by God means every sin is wiped clean through the shed blood of Christ, once and for all.

Scripture and Les Feldick's teaching both point to the same truth: forgiveness is settled and complete through Christ's blood. A believer is forgiven the moment sin occurs, and God's ledger is wiped clean because Christ's righteousness is imputed to their account. No believer will ever face those sins again, and this forgiveness is received by faith in what God has promised.

Key Scriptures

Ephesians 1:7 — It states that forgiveness comes through redemption in Christ's blood, directly defining what forgiveness means.

Colossians 2:13 — It says God has forgiven all trespasses, showing that forgiveness is complete.

Hebrews 9:22 — It declares that without shedding of blood there is no remission, explaining the necessary basis for forgiveness.

Romans 4:7-8 — It describes believers as blessed because iniquities are forgiven and the Lord will not impute sin.

What Does the Bible Say About Forgiveness?

Scripture defines forgiveness as God's own act of canceling sin so that it is no longer held against the sinner. Ephesians 1:7 says, 'In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.' Colossians 2:13 is even more direct: 'And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses.' The Bible also explains that forgiveness required a sacrifice: Hebrews 9:22 says, 'And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.' Romans 4:7-8 confirms the result: 'Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.'

What Does Les Feldick Teach About Forgiveness?

Les Feldick explains that forgiveness is not something believers must beg for or earn. Since Christ went to the cross, God has already dealt with sin. Les says the moment a believer sins, they are forgiven — the ledger has been wiped clean and God's righteousness has been put to their account (Clip 1). He also teaches that Christ took on Himself the sins of every human being, so those sins were forgiven and buried in the deepest sea, never to be brought up again (Clips 4, 2). For Les, this means a believer will never face his or her sin at the judgment seat of Christ; sins are under the blood (Clip 2). Forgiveness, he stresses, comes only through the shed blood of Christ and is based on grace, not on what a person deserves (Clip 5). Because of the cross, believers do not have to beg to be forgiven—they already are (Clip 6). Believers know this by faith, not by any visible certificate, because God's Word promises it (Clip 0). This complete forgiveness is also the basis for forgiving other people (Clip 3).

Are Future Sins Already Forgiven?

Les teaches that forgiveness is not something believers must keep trying to obtain. 'We're forgiven the moment we sin,' he says. Even if a believer sins and does not have time to confess it before the Lord returns, God will not accuse them of a sin still on the ledger (Clip 1). He points to Colossians 2:13, which says all trespasses are forgiven, and reminds believers that because of the cross they do not have to beg to be forgiven—they already are (Clip 6).

Does God's Forgiveness Give Us a License to Sin?

Les immediately addresses the objection that being forgiven in advance gives Christians permission to sin. He responds, 'No, it isn't. That's not licensed. That's just simply the grace of God' (Clip 1). The grace that forgives is also the grace that changes a heart, enabling a person to forgive others in response (Clip 3).

Will God Confront Believers With Their Past Sins?

Les says never. Believers will not appear before the judgment seat of Christ to answer for their sins, because those sins are under the blood. Hard circumstances should not be interpreted as God punishing unconfessed sin—'having sin on your back. It's gone.' He repeats the picture of sins buried in the deepest sea with a 'No Fishing' sign over them (Clip 2).

How Do We Know We Are Forgiven?

Les teaches that forgiveness is known by faith. There is no physical plaque on the wall and no decree from an authority saying, 'Les, you are justified.' The believer has the promises of Scripture, and because the Book says forgiveness has happened, the believer knows it has happened. When doubts come, Les tells believers to go back to the verses, claim them out loud before God, and watch God increase their faith (Clip 0).

Why Is the Shed Blood of Christ Necessary for Forgiveness?

Forgiveness is not something God did casually. God determined that there would be no forgiveness without the shedding of blood (Clip 5; Hebrews 9:22). Redemption is through Christ's blood, and forgiveness is according to His grace, not according to what the sinner deserves (Clip 5). Through faith in His blood, God declares His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past (Clip 7).

Did Christ Take the Sins of Every Human Being?

Les says that when Christ died, He took on Himself the sin of every human being who has ever lived. Because He took every human being's sin, He could cry to the Father that those sins were forgiven and buried in the deepest sea, never to be brought before us again. This includes even those who die lost; their sins are already forgiven in the sense that Christ paid for the sin of the whole world (Clip 4). Les then points to 2 Corinthians 5's subject of reconciliation as the next step.

From the Teaching

Knowing Forgiveness by Faith

Les shows that forgiveness is not certified by any visible plaque or decree; it is known by faith because the Bible promises it, and faith grows as believers claim those promises.

Forgiven the Moment We Sin

Les teaches that a believer is forgiven at the instant of sin; God will never point back to sin on their ledger because the ledger has been wiped clean and Christ's righteousness is on account.

Sins Under the Blood

Les teaches that believers will never stand at the judgment seat of Christ to answer for their sins; their sins are under the blood and buried in the deepest sea with a 'no fishing' sign.

Forgiven to Forgive

Les describes how being forgiven by God's grace changes the believer's heart, making it possible to forgive others even when they have done far less against us.

All Sin Taken at the Cross

Les teaches that Christ took on Himself the sin of every human being, so those sins were forgiven and buried, never to be brought against anyone again.

Forgiveness Through the Blood

Les explains that God has decreed forgiveness only through shed blood, and in that redemption believers are forgiven according to His grace, not what they deserve.

Already Forgiven

Les teaches that believers do not have to beg to be forgiven because they are already forgiven; the cross changed everything.

Righteousness Declared Through Faith in His Blood

Les shows that through faith in Christ's blood God declares His righteousness for the remission of past sins and justifies those who believe.

Bible Verses

Ephesians 1:7: In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

This verse links redemption, blood, and forgiveness, giving the central scriptural definition of what forgiveness means.

Colossians 2:13: And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

It states that God has forgiven all trespasses, showing forgiveness is complete for those who are in Christ.

Hebrews 9:22: And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

It explains why the cross was required for forgiveness: no shedding of blood means no remission.

Romans 4:7-8: Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

It echoes the removed nature of sin; the Lord will not count it against the forgiven person.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are believers forgiven even before they confess a sin?

Les says yes. A believer is forgiven the moment they sin, and God will never point back to sin still on their ledger. This is grace, not a license to sin.

Will I face my sins at judgment?

No. Les says believers will never stand before the judgment seat of Christ to answer for sin. The sins are under the blood and buried in the deepest sea, never to be brought up again.

What does 'under the blood' mean?

It means the sin has been covered by the death of Christ. Because the blood was shed, God sees the believer as forgiven, and sin is no longer held against them.

How can I get rid of doubts about being forgiven?

Go back to the promises of Scripture. Claim them out loud to God, and as you do, God will increase your faith.

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Source Video

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