“I believe in… the forgiveness of sins”
This article of the creed affirms God’s willingness to forgive repentant sinners for Christ’s sake.
Sin is what separates man from the loving fellowship of God. It consists in any lack of conformity unto, or transgression of, God’s commandments. Because God is holy, he hates all sin and sinners (Psalm 5:5).
Christ came into the world to remove this enmity by becoming sin for us, and by bearing God’s full wrath against it on the cross. He cried out, “It is finished” that all might know: the debt of our sin had been paid in full.
While Christ’s death was more than sufficient to atone for the sins of all humanity, not all men experience the forgiveness of their sins. Many will pay for their own sins in Hell as they suffer in body and soul for all eternity.
Those who wish to be forgiven are shown a very clear path in scripture: Repentance. It is a saving grace that involves a two-fold and simultaneous action: (1) Turning from sin and (2) trusting in Christ.
Confess your sins today, rest in Christ’s finished work, and the joy that David expressed so long ago will also become yours: “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered!” (Psalm 32:1)