Forgiveness of Sins

Good morning, welcome to New Horizon Christian Church. Please open your Bibles to 1 John 1.

Thank you Oscar.

Recap. Now, what has the work of the godhead accomplished in our lives?

Read 1 John 1:5–9- “This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Pray.

Olympic hurdlers- Running fast, clearing the hurdles with right form, breathing, focus of vision.

How does salvation happen? What takes place? What are the ins and outs of how a person is brought from spiritual death to spiritual life?

This is where John’s attention finds itself in the first chapter of his letter.

1. God is differentiated from man.

1 John 1:5- “This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”

Before ever addressing the issue of man, John begins with God.

He speaks of the nature of God- Light with no darkness. Light with no boundary. Light with no weakness.

What is meant by light? Knowledge? Goodness and purity? Life?

We recognize that there is a separation here between God and man.

No matter how much knowledge or goodness or purity we have, we recognize ourselves as mixture. Knowledge and Ignorance. Goodness and evil. Purity with impurity.

God here is set as the standard.

When we rightly understand who God is, we find ourselves presented with the problem of who we are.

Our problem is not a man-centered problem. Our problem involves who we are in relation to God.

Romans 3:23- “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”

What does it mean that we are sinful? It’s important to make this distinction.

It does not merely mean that we are bad people who make bad choices.

It means that we have rejected what is good.

A son growing up in a loving family.

Moves away and renounces all relationship with His family. Cuts ties, no visits, even takes a new last name.

Once he moves to a new city, lives an upstanding life. Honorable, charitable, merciful.

But one question remains- Is he a part of his family? Who is he in relation to his father.

Here is where we find ourselves. So do we leave today only recognizing the great and vast distance between the Father and us?

What is to become of us?

2. Walking in the light is a real possibility for man.

1 John 1:7- “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.”

We are not left in the darkness, left to ourselves.

We are introduced to the good news, that walking in light is a reality for people.

This is an important point that needs to be made. Life in light is possible.

We tend to be people who focus on the bad.

Ali asking me how my day was. If it was good, I typically say okay. If it was bad, I go into detail. Many of us focus on the bad.

The same is likely true for many when they look at themselves.

For some, we see the great divide between God and man and it leaves us in a state of hopelessness.

We can’t find a way out of the darkness.

Playing soccer against St. Louis teams. The darkness becomes pervasive. We simply pass the time until the end.

John gives hope, he speaks of the reality of people who were once in darkness coming into light.

Our question- How is this possible?

3. Forgiveness is what makes walking in the light possible.

1 John 1:9- “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

The solution to our problem of the distance between God and man is shown with complete clarity.

If our sin is the result of our renouncing God, then something must happen that brings us near to God.

One of the words that John uses here is forgiveness. Forgiveness must take place.

J.I. Packer- “Forgiveness is pardon in a personal setting. It is taking back into friendship those who went against you, hurt you, and put themselves in the wrong with you. It is compassionate (showing unmerited kindness to the wrongdoer), creative (renewing the spoiled relationship), and inevitably, costly.”

This is what has taken place between God and man.

When a person recognizes his sin, comes to grips with the darkness in him, and confesses, or refuses to deny his sin and brokenness any longer, forgiveness is given.

What happens when a person is forgiven?

Given Christ’s righteousness. Relationship restored.

A.W. Tozer- “Regret for a sinful past will remain until we truly believe that for us in Christ that sinful past no longer exists. The man in Christ has only Christ’s past, and that is perfect and acceptable to God. In Christ he died. In Christ he rose, and in Christ he is seated within the circle of God’s favored ones. He is no longer angry with himself because he is no longer self-regarding, but Christ-regarding.”

When looking upon us, the Father sees the Son. Best news ever.

How does one come about such forgiveness?

4. Forgiveness is received.

1 John 1:8–9- “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

We confess and make known our sin. We show ourselves to be self-aware.

Romans 3:23–24 “…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,”

This point is made clear throughout all of Scripture. Forgiveness and salvation, being brought from darkness to light (whatever is meant by light)

Prodigal son returns to the Father only because he trusts the character and love of the Father.

Luke 15:21- “And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’”

Isn’t this our attitude in our approach to God in which we seek forgiveness?

I’m a sinner. I cannot be called your son because I’ve not lived up to the title.

The Father takes no time. In fact, the Father was watching for the son. He cannot hide his excitement.

Luke 15:22–24 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.”

Repentance and seeking forgiveness brings forgiveness. No period of proving himself. Forgiven, restored, brought into the family, and celebrated.

This is the beauty of God’s forgiveness when we recognize our need and simply ask.

Finally, what are the implications of being forgiven?

5. Fellowship in the church is made possible by forgiveness.

1 John 1:7- “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.”

What are the effects of what has been accomplished in forgiveness?

Walking, living, dwelling in the light. But what else?

Right fellowship in the context of the church.

Good fellowship.

Time to be a little transparent- Grumpy Pastor.

God calls us to better.

Conflict creates distance. Forgiveness makes fellowship possible.

God has forgiven, and thus we are to forgive.

We don’t merely imitate, we live as God lives. We take on the character of God.

Luke 6:36- “Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.”

Now, imagine this sort of community. Forgiveness with rejoicing.

Forgiveness seems such a personal thing, but John reminds us that it works its way into our relationships.