Forgiveness in the Old Testament
by Tommy Peeler
Were God’s people forgiven of their sins in Old Testament times, or were their sins simply “rolled forward”? Examining this question must begin with the Old Testament, not the New Testament Scriptures. I believe the Old Testament teaches that God forgave His people in the Old Testament.
First, the Old Testament pictures God as a God of forgiveness. In Exodus 34:6-7 God revealed Himself to Moses as One who is “forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.” In Numbers 14:18, Moses quotes this verse to the LORD, emphasizing how God abounds “in love and forgiving sin and rebellion.” The words of Exodus 34:6-7 are quoted or echoed in Psalms 86:5, Nehemiah 9:17, Daniel 9:9, and Jonah 4:2. The LORD God “forgives all your sins” (Psalms 103:3). “As far as east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” (Psalms 103:12). His worshippers praised Him, saying, “But with you there is forgiveness” (Psalms 130:4). Micah 7:18-19 presents a beautiful picture of God’s forgiveness, saying He treads our sins underfoot and hurls our iniquities into the sea. Isaiah 1:18 says, “Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they will be like wool.” In Isaiah 43:25, the LORD says, “I, even I, am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake, and I will not remember your sins.” The idea of God as forgiving was well-known in the Old Testament.
Second, several times in the Old Testament, God told people they would be forgiven if they surrendered to His terms of pardon. If the people brought the proper sacrifices to God and leaned in humble trust upon Him, God promised they would be forgiven (Leviticus 4:20, 26, 31, 35; 5:10, 13, 16, 18; 6:7; Numbers 15:25, 26, 28). II Chronicles 6 records Solomon’s prayer at the time of the dedication of the temple. Solomon asks God to forgive the people when they come to the temple to pray (II Chronicles 6:21, 25, 27, 30, 39). In II Chronicles 7, God assures Solomon He has heard his prayer (II Chronicles 7:12). He tells Solomon when the people turn to Him in time of calamity, He will forgive their sins (II Chronicles 7:13-14). God promised to forgive sins in the Old Testament. I Kings 8 is parallel to II Chronicles 6. I Kings 8 also begs God to forgive Israel’s sins (I Kings 8:30, 34, 36, 39, 50).
Third, God is said to have forgiven people in the Old Testament. David (II Samuel 12:13), Isaiah (Isaiah 6:7), and Hezekiah (Isaiah 38:17) were all said to be forgiven. The author of Psalms 32 spoke of himself as being forgiven by God (Psalms 32:5). His words describing the blessedness of the forgiven man in Psalms 32:1-2 are quoted in the New Testament in Romans 4:6-8. God forgave Israel in the wilderness (Psalms 78:38) and throughout their history (Psalms 85:2; 99:8).
Usually, the idea that sins were “rolled forward” is defended by an appeal to the New Testament, not the Old. Hebrews 10:3-4 is the passage that is appealed to most frequently. However, the “reminder of sins” in Hebrews 10:3 seems to have been in the worshipper's mind (Hebrews 10:2), not God’s. Animal sacrifices couldn't take away sin (Hebrews 10:4). Please understand that there is no forgiveness without Jesus. However, people in the Old Testament were ultimately forgiven in the prospect of the cross of Christ (Hebrews 9:15).
If there was no forgiveness prior to the cross, how could John’s baptism be said to be for forgiveness of sins (Mark 1:4; Luke 3:3-4)? Before His death, Jesus told certain ones their sins were forgiven (Matthew 9:2; Luke 7:48). Were their sins actually forgiven? If so, obviously, there was forgiveness before the cross.
Some of God’s most beautiful promises of forgiveness are in the Old Testament -- Psalms 103:12; Isaiah 1:18; 43:25; Micah 7:18-20. If those people were not really forgiven, how can God’s people today have assurance of forgiveness?
