Forgiveness of Sins before Jesus’ Death and Resurrection

Today, we receive forgiveness of sins from God because Jesus Christ died for our sins. However, what about people who lived and died before Jesus’ death and resurrection?

In the Jewish Scriptures (the “Old Testament”), we find that pre-Christian believers enjoyed forgiveness of sins from God (Psa. 32:1–2; 103:11–12). They recognized that they could not stand before God if he held their sins against them, yet they knew that God will forgive them of their sins if they turned back to him (Psa. 32:5, 130:3–4).

Pre-Christian believers received forgiveness of sins from God on the same basis as Christians today: Jesus’ death in our place. When Jesus died, he paid the penalty of sin for all those who believe in him—including believers who lived before his death and resurrection (Rom. 3:25; Heb. 9:15).