How can a holy God forgive sinful people?

The question of how a holy God can forgive sinful people is a profound theological inquiry that centers on the concept of substitutionary atonement. Hebrews 10:12 states, 'But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God.' This underscores that Christ’s sacrifice was sufficient to satisfy divine justice. God is holy and cannot tolerate sin, yet through the sacrifice of Jesus, who bore the penalty for our sins, forgiveness is made possible. This divine exchange allows God to remain just while also being merciful. Thus, forgiveness is not a mere waiver of sin but is rooted in the sacrificial act of Christ, which upholds the integrity of God's justice while offering grace to the sinner.