Episode 27: The Forgiveness of Sins pt. 2 | We Believe: A Study of the Apostles Creed

The Forgiveness of Sins: What We Really Need
Part 2 of our Apostles’ Creed Journey

As we continue our walk through the Apostles’ Creed, we’ve come to a profound truth—one that’s not just theological but deeply personal and essential to our faith: the forgiveness of sins. This isn’t just a line in a creed; it’s the very heartbeat of the gospel. In part two of our podcast, we explored why this matters so much—and how two cultural currents, Pelagianism and the prosperity gospel, subtly pull us away from it.

Let’s unpack this together.

Recognizing the Real Problem

We began by returning to the core truth we discussed last time: the good news of Jesus only makes sense when we understand the bad news. We are sinners. We cannot save ourselves. And that’s why the forgiveness of sins is not just a doctrine—it’s our deepest need.

But in today’s world, that message often gets blurred. Two ideologies are still alive and well: Pelagianism and the prosperity gospel. While they wear different clothes today, they offer the same message in disguise—you’re basically good, and you can fix yourself.

Pelagius, a third-century Roman priest, believed that we’re born innocent and only become sinners through our environment or choices. That thinking has crept into modern culture, telling us that with enough therapy, positive thinking, or behavior change, we can redeem ourselves.

Don’t get us wrong—therapy can be a good and helpful tool. But it can’t deal with the root problem. At best, it helps us cope. At worst, it becomes a substitute savior. Only Jesus can truly heal us—at the soul level. Without His forgiveness, we’re still stuck in our sin, no matter how self-aware or “whole” we feel.

Beware of New Truths

We also looked back at history. When Pelagius first introduced his ideas, it was Augustine of Hippo who stood up and said, “Time out.” The early church affirmed what the Bible has always taught—we are sinners from birth (Psalm 51:5), and we need a Savior, not just a self-improvement plan.

In our cultural moment, we’re always chasing the next “new” thing, whether it’s the latest iPhone or spiritual idea. But truth doesn’t change. As we reflected, “If it’s new, it’s probably not true. And if it’s true, it’s not new.”

We need to be on guard against ideas—even in church—that sound good but leave out the gospel. Whether it’s Pelagian thinking or a therapy-only solution, if it doesn’t bring us to the foot of the cross, it can’t save us.

The Prosperity Gospel’s Half-Truths

The other “P” we tackled was the prosperity gospel—the message that God just wants you to be happy, healthy, and successful. That sounds nice. But it’s missing something huge: our need for forgiveness.

Prosperity preachers love to say things like, “Discover the champion in you.” But Jesus didn’t come to reveal a champion. He came to rescue a sinner. He came not to affirm our goodness, but to offer His righteousness in exchange for our guilt.

Yes, God cares about our bodies and our needs. Yes, He can heal and bless. But as we saw in Mark 2, when Jesus healed the paralyzed man, His first words weren’t, “Get up and walk.” They were, “Your sins are forgiven.” Jesus goes after the soul first, because that’s where the deepest brokenness lives.

When we add anything to the gospel—like material blessing, personal success, or self-esteem—we lose the power of the gospel itself. Forgiveness is not a side benefit; it’s the foundation.

True Healing Starts at the Cross

So where does that leave us? We believe therapy has value. We believe God blesses. But more than anything, we believe that Jesus forgives sins. That is what liberates us. That is what heals us.

We are not victims of our environment—we are guilty of sin. And yet, in Christ, we are made righteous (2 Corinthians 5:21). That’s why the Apostles’ Creed includes this line. It reminds us that no matter what culture teaches or what our hearts want to believe, the gospel is clear: Our greatest need is forgiveness, and our greatest gift is grace.

Let’s run to the cross, church. Let’s cling to Jesus. Let’s celebrate that in Him, we are forgiven.

"I believe in... the forgiveness of sins."
Let that never become a throwaway line. It’s everything.

As we reflect on the call to live out our faith in this world, we're reminded that being an ambassador for Christ isn't about perfection—it's about participation in God’s ongoing work of reconciliation. This ministry, grounded in 2 Corinthians 5:21, invites us to share the message that Christ became sin for us so that we might become the righteousness of God.

Paradoxically, the more we grow in holiness, the more we become aware of our brokenness. But this isn’t a reason for despair—it’s an invitation to grace. The Holy Spirit continues to refine us, not just in behavior, but in heart and motive. In that conviction, we are reminded again and again of God’s love and calling.

We also recognize that the gospel doesn’t promise earthly prosperity but offers something far greater—salvation, forgiveness, and eternal hope. If we have Jesus, we have everything. As Psalm 23 reminds us, even in the valley of the shadow of death, we are never alone. And that is the greatest hope we carry.