DIVINE FORGIVENESS

HEBREWS 8:12

Through Christ Jesus God has granted unto us the forgiveness of our sins.

THE NATURE OF IT

    1. Forgiveness does not erase the fact of sin, blot out our memory of sin 1Tim. 1:15 or release us from the consequences of sin.

    2. It does release us from debt Ro. 6:23,renew fellowship 1Jn. 1:7,restore the prodigal Lu. 15

    3. It ultimately originates in the love of God.

THE NEED OF IT

    1. Our fellowship with God has been broken.

      2. Isa. 59:1,2 – not because God could not maintain it. Ro. 3:23

    2. There are many classes of sin.

    1. The sins of the flesh: lewdness (sexual unchastity w/o restraints), drunkenness, gluttony, smoking, drug abuse - prodigal son Lu. 15:13-30; pleasures of this life Lu. 8:14;

    2. Sins of temperament: stubbornness, sullenness, anger, envy, backbiting, selfrighteousness -not bad sins - rooted in pride - prodigal son Lu. 15:25ff

    3. Social sins: theft, robbery, extortion, murder…

    4. Religious sins: idolatry (Col. 3:5), sacrilege, blasphemy, sorcery, false teaching…

    5. Sins of negligence. Ja. 4:17

    6. Misplaced emphasis. Lu. 9:59-72

C. We need forgiveness - we aren’t sinless .Ro. 3:10

THE DIFFICULTY OF IT

    1. The cost of it.

    1. On the divine side. Phil. 2:5-8; Ro. 6:23

    2. On the human side. Obedience Ax. 2:38 -Continuous effort 1Jn. 1:7,9 - forgiving others Mt. 6:14,15

    1. Reasons for the cost:

      2. God’s hatred of sin He: 1:9, justice. Ex. 34:7; love Prov. 6:16-19

    2. Forgiveness is not a casual thing. Eph. 2:4,5

THE BLESSEDNESS OF IT

    1. The completeness of forgiveness.

      2. When people meet God’s conditions, God freely forgives. Mt. 18:21-35; Lu. 15:20-24; Ps. 103:8-12

    2. The blessings of God’s forgiveness.

      3. Isa. 59:1,2; 1Jn. 4:17,18; 1Jn. 4:10,11,: Eph. 4:32; Acts 8:39

    3. This forgiveness is offered through Jesus Christ.

 

Can we live lives worthy of this forgiveness?