"Judicial" and "Relational" Forgiveness

When you do not understand the Gospel of Jesus Christ, you end up adding to it to make up for what you don’t understand. The problem is that many people do not realize that they do not have a full understanding of the Gospel. This is especially the case when it comes to forgiveness. Have you ever heard the terms “judicial” and “relational” forgiveness? Judicial forgiveness is said to be the forgiveness we receive at salvation in which God removes our sins, past, present and future to the point where we will not receive eternal judgment for our sins. Relational, or sometimes called “familial,” forgiveness is said to be like that of a father and a son. For example, if a son does something wrong to his father—falling short of his expectations or rules—the son has hindered his fellowship with his father. He remains the son of his father, but the relationship suffers. Their fellowship will be hindered until the son admits to his father that he has done wrong. It is believed that our relationship with God is hindered until we confess our sin to God and restore our fellowship with Him. I totally reject this notion of “judicial” and “relational” forgiveness. It is nowhere to be found in the Bible. We are not the standard by which to judge God’s relationship with His people; He is. A son may hinder his fellowship with his father by what he does, but that is not how God is with us. You will not find forgiveness defined in terms of “judicial” and “relational.” These are manmade terms accepted in Christianity because of continued usage not because of the clear teaching of scripture. 

What does the Bible say about forgiveness? “God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them (2 Corinthians 5:19).” I agree that God has removed our sins, past, present and future. In fact, the Bible clearly states that God is not counting anybody sins against them. Therefore, how could our fellowship with Him be hindered if we don’t confess sins to Him that He is not counting? Furthermore, “Then he adds: “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.” And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary (Hebrews 10:17-18).” The way confession is often taught is as an “apology” to God. I see it as a “sacrifice” to God that He no longer requires and even more, does not accept because, “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness (Hebrews 9:22).” Using confession as a means of restoration between man and God is a bloodless sacrifice that does not obtain forgiveness. Finally, “God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful (1 Corinthians 1:9).” There is no in and out of fellowship with God based on our willingness and ability to confess every sin we ever commit. If that were the case, when would we ever be in fellowship with Him? We are in fellowship with God because of His faithfulness to us, not ours to Him. Jesus Christ took away the sins of the world forever, so that through faith in Him, the Spirit of God would indwell us for eternity. You cannot get any closer to God than Him indwelling you. He does not remove His Spirit from us causing us to lose fellowship with Him nor, as some say, does He “turn His face from us.” Through your faith in Jesus Christ you are completely forgiven by God and in constant fellowship with Him! Anybody that says different does not know the fullness of the Gospel and, definitely, does not understand forgiveness. It is these individuals you might consider not being in fellowship with.