The Beauty of the Forgiveness of Sin
INTRODUCTION
For several Sundays we have been discussing sin. We have studied:
- The origin of sin
- What sin is
- Kinds of sin
- What sin will do to you
- Improper attitudes toward sin
- Proper attitudes toward sin
- Helps in overcoming sin
In our lesson of this hour we will be discussing the “The Beauty of the Forgiveness of Sin,” notice first that…
DISCUSSION
OUR GOD IS A FORGIVING FATHER
- Because our God is a God who pardons
- Micah 7:18
- Isaiah 43:25
- Because God is a God ready to pardon
- Nehemiah 9:17
- It is encouraging to know that at any time we are ready to repent the Lord is ready to forgive
- Because God is a God that abundantly pardons
- Isaiah 55:7
- There is nothing that skimpy about God’s forgiveness
- Because the account of the prodigal son emphasizes the fact that God forgives (Lk. 15:11-32)
- In fact, the parable could be called the “parable of the forgiving father”
- God loves us as sons and will forgive us as such
- Because God is so merciful He is so forgiving
- Psalm 103:8-11 … God is merciful because He is abundant in loving-kindness
- 2 Corinthians 1:3
- Ephesians 2:4
- Another of the beauties of the forgiveness of sin is…
GOD WILL FORGIVE THE LOWEST AND VILEST OF SINNERS
- So many have needlessly despaired saying, “I’m too mean,” or “I’ve gone too far,” or “I’ve sunk too deep” in sin to be forgiven
- Nothing is further from the truth
- God will forgive the most terrible of sinners
- God promises to forgive us of “all” sin
- 1 John 1:9
- This forgiveness, of course, is contingent on our obedience to God’s will
- Isaiah 1:18
- Some suggest that scarlet means double-dyed, twice dipped
- Thus, though dipped in the vat of vile pollution again and again, there is still hope!
- Hope and pardon is available even for the double-dyed sinner.
- God’s love has depth
- Ephesians 3:17-19
- Christ’s love will reach in the lowest sphere of life and into the deepest abyss of guilt
WHAT IS FORGIVENESS?
- We can learn what forgiveness is by observing what God does when He forgives:
- Removes the notation of the offence from His record (Acts 3:19)
- Remembers the sin no more – ever (Heb. 8:12)
- Restores the offender to his former position of love and grace (Lk. 15:11-32)
- We learn what forgiveness is noting what God does with our sins when they are forgiven:
- He covers them (Psa. 32:1)
- He casts them behind His back (Isa. 38:17)
- He removes them from us as far as the east is from the west (Psa. 103:12)
- He obliterates them from His memory forever (Jer. 31:34)
- He blots them from His record (Isa. 44:22)
- He does not impute them (Psa. 32:2)
- He will never mention them again (Eze. 18:22)
- We can learn what forgiveness is by studying the biblical synonyms for forgiveness of sin:
- Remission (Acts 2:38)
- Cleansing (Jn. 15:3)
- Justification (Rom. 3:24-25)
- Pardon (Psa. 25:11)
- Blotting (Acts 3:19)
- Healing (Mt. 13:15)
- Freedom (Col. 1:13-14)
- Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:17-21)
THE BLOOD OF JESUS IS THE DIVINE REMEDY FOR SIN
- Good works are not the remedy
- Ephesians 2:8-10
- Titus 3:3-5
- There is no way that we can do enough to save ourselves by our own meritorious works – man cannot earn salvation
- Money is not the remedy
- Zephaniah 1:18
- Acts 8:20
- Distance is not the remedy
- Psalm 139:7-12
- Some have been known to sin, even grievously, moved hundreds of miles away, and act as though nothing has ever happened
- Distance does not obliterate sin
- In Christ – His cross, His blood – yea, in Him alone is the remedy for sin to be found
- It is through Christ and His blood that we enjoy:
- Remission (Mt. 26:28)
- Redemption (Eph. 1:7)
- Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:19)
- Washing (Rev, 7:14)
- Cleansing (1 Jn. 1:7-10)
- Justification (Rom. 5:9)
- Sanctification (Heb. 10:10)
- Purging (Heb. 9:14)
- It is a Must to Remember Acts 4:12
FORGIVENESS IS CONDITIONAL
- Forgiveness is conditional for the alien sinner
- Matthew 7:21
- Hebrews 5:8-9
- The alien must ask the question: “What must I do to be saved?” – and of course, he must obey the gospel
- Forgiveness is conditional for the Christian
- There must be genuine repentance
- Some sins need only be confessed in private
- Daniel 9:1-23 is an example
- Confession is not to announce sin, but to manifest repentance for said sins
- Some sins need to be confessed to the offended
- Matthew 5:23-24
- Luke 17:3-4
- A general confession does not suffice
- Some sins need to be confessed publicly
- James 5:16
- The confession of sin should be as public as the sin is public
CONCLUSION
Are your sins forgiven?
*** Outlined from Windell Winkler’s Book: “Studying Sin Seriously”
Tom Moore
http://www.fromthepreacherspc.org
http://www.harrisandmoore.org
http://www.parkheightscoc.com