One of the most liberating and foundational doctrines of the Christian faith is that your sins—past, present, and future—have already been paid in full. That payment did not occur when you believed, or when you were baptized, or when you turned over a new leaf. The payment happened on the cross, when Jesus Christ, the sinless Lamb of God, took your place and bore your penalty.
In this Bible study, we will examine the timing, means, and results of your sins being paid, focusing on four major truths:
- Your sins were nailed to the cross.
- You have been washed by the blood of Jesus.
- You are saved by His death, burial, and resurrection.
- His sacrifice is once for all—complete and sufficient.
1. Your Sins Were Paid on the Cross
1 Peter 2:24 (KJV) “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”
This verse is powerful: Jesus bore your sins in His body on the tree, a clear reference to the cross. The Greek verb for “bare” (ἀνήνεγκεν anēnenken) denotes a sacrificial offering. Christ didn’t just sympathize with us; He substituted Himself for us.
Colossians 2:13–14 (KJV) “And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross.”
The record of sin that was against us was nailed to the cross. Jesus absorbed the judgment our sins demanded. The debt was canceled because it was fully paid at the moment of His death.
I don’t think we consider this enough. The finite sins of a finite people were paid at this single point in time by an infinite God suffering an infinite wrath. This resolves the sin question. Now, it’s a Son Question. What do you think of the Son of God?
Mathew 16:13-16 (BSB) When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He questioned His disciples: “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
“But what about you?” Jesus asked. “Who do you say I am?”
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
When Were Your Sins Paid?
At the moment Jesus was crucified, your sins were nailed to the cross—not when you believed, not when you repented, not when you were baptized, but when Christ died. The payment was made objectively and historically at Calvary.
2. You Have Been Washed by the Blood of Jesus Christ
Revelation 1:5 (KJV) “Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood.”
The word washed here (Greek: λούω louō) indicates a full cleansing. This isn’t just a symbolic or partial cleaning—this is total forgiveness, spiritual purification, made possible through Christ’s shed blood. You do not need to keep “re-washing” yourself spiritually; the blood of Jesus completely purifies the believer.
Hebrews 9:22 (KJV) “Without shedding of blood is no remission.”
From the Passover in Exodus to the Day of Atonement in Leviticus, the shedding of blood was required for the forgiveness of sins. These Old Testament sacrifices pointed forward to the once-for-all sacrifice of Christ.
At the cross, Jesus’ blood was not spilt in vain, it was the means of cleansing, fulfilling God’s righteous requirement for justice and mercy.
Isaiah 53:4–6 (KJV) “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows…
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities:
the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way;
and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
This prophecy, written 700 years before Christ, vividly describes what Jesus accomplished on the cross. He did not die as a martyr, He died as a substitute, carrying your sin. The Hebrew word for “laid” (פָּגַע pāgaʿ) implies a violent encounter. God’s wrath collided with Christ on your behalf.
When Were Your Sins Washed?
You were washed the moment you trusted in the finished work of Christ. The payment was made at the cross, but the cleansing is applied to the believer personally when they receive Christ by faith.
Titus 3:5 KJV “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.”
3. You Are Saved by the Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ
1 Corinthians 15:3–4 (KJV) “Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”
This is the core of the gospel. Jesus’ death satisfied divine justice. His burial confirmed that He truly died. And His resurrection validated that the payment was accepted, and death was conquered.
Romans 3:24–26 (KJV) “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood,
to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past…
that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.”
“Propitiation” (Greek: ἱλαστήριον hilastērion) means a satisfaction of wrath. God did not overlook sin—He poured out His wrath on His Son instead of you. That’s why He remains just (upholding holiness) while also being the justifier (offering grace).
When Were You Saved?
Your salvation was made possible at the cross and secured by the resurrection. You personally receive that salvation the moment you place your trust in the gospel. It’s not by works (Ephesians 2:8–9), not by law-keeping, and not by sacraments—but by grace through faith in the finished work of Christ.
- Faith and Works: Understanding Their Biblical Relationship
- More impossible ways to lose your salvation
4. The Superiority of Christ’s Sacrifice
Hebrews 9:12 (KJV) “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.”
Under the Mosaic law, sacrifices were continual. They had to be offered again and again. But Christ offered one sacrifice, once for all.
Hebrews 10:10–12 (KJV) “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
And every priest standeth daily ministering…
But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God.”
The Old Testament priest could never sit down because his work was never done. But Jesus sat down, because the work is finished. The Greek word τετέλεσται (tetelestai) in John 19:30 means “Paid in full.”
Conclusion: When Were Your Sins Paid?
John 19:30 (KJV) “It is finished.”
These three words spoken by Jesus before He gave up His spirit are the most powerful declaration of redemption in all of Scripture. The Greek word τετέλεσται (tetelestai) means paid in full. It was a commercial term written on receipts when a debt was fully discharged.
Your sins were paid on the cross when Jesus took your place, bore your punishment, and shed His blood. This was not symbolic, nor was it potential. It was actual, sufficient, and final.
- Prophesied and fulfilled (Isaiah 53) – The Old Testament saints looked forward to the crucifixion.
- Christ bore our sins on the cross (1 Peter 2:24; Colossians 2:14) – Legal penalty paid at the cross.
- Washed from our sins by the blood of the Lamb (Revelation 1:5; Romans 3:25) – The cleansing agent of sin.
- Christ was buried and rose again (1 Corinthians 15:3–4; Romans 4:25) – Vindication and proof of justification.
- You believed the gospel (Ephesians 1:13; John 1:12) – Personal application of Christ’s finished work.
- You are saved eternally (Hebrews 9–10) – Permanent, once-for-all redemption and security.
Your sins were not just covered temporarily. They were paid in full, once and for all, at Calvary. The blood has been shed, the body has been offered, the tomb is empty—and the throne in heaven is occupied. You don’t need to work for forgiveness. You need to rest in the finished work of Christ. You don’t need to fear condemnation.
Romans 8:1 (KJV) “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.”
Let this truth anchor your soul: Your sins were paid at Calvary, your record was nailed to the tree, your soul was washed by the blood, and your eternity was secured through His resurrection.
Live in that truth. Preach that gospel. Rejoice in that security.
Suggested Study Questions:
- What does it mean that our sins were nailed to the cross?
- How does the blood of Jesus accomplish cleansing?
- Why is the resurrection essential to our salvation?
- What is the significance of Christ’s sacrifice being “once for all”?
- How does knowing your sins were paid change the way you live?