I Believe in the Forgiveness of Sins

Introduction

What if the church in America went through a time of intense persecution and the president called all people to bow down to the pagan god of the state.

Some of those that resisted this were killed. . . but dying for your faith was the exception, not the rule.

During this time, many Christians and even leading pastors openly rejected Christ and bowed the knee at the feet of the pagan god.

After about 50 years, the persecution ended and religious liberty was established again. Those who forsook Christ and pledged allegiance to the state wanted to come back into the church. . . like nothing happened.

The question is. . . can they? Are they forgiven? Or do they need to “pray the prayer of salvation again?” Do they need to “get baptized a second time?”

This was the question the early church dealt with in the 4th century.

The phrase “forgiveness of sins” was not originally in the creed but due to the controversy of traitors wanting entry back into the church, the church fathers had to answer the question. . . what makes someone forgiven? What makes someone a follower of Jesus?

Is it perfection or a pure life or can imperfect, weak, traitors be part of the church?

They settled the question on the teachings of the apostles. . . that the church includes all who confess Jesus as Lord and receive baptism.

Failures in discipleship-even dramatic public failures-do not exclude any person from the grace of God because The forgiveness of sins has taken place once for all in the death and resurrection of Jesus.

And this is the same truth we hold to today when we confess: “I believe in the forgiveness of sins.”

Key Point: Justification by faith in Christ brings us forgiveness, peace, hope, love, and eternal salvation. Our assurance of forgiveness allows us to live boldly in grace, knowing that our past does not define us and our future is secure in Christ.

Romans 5:1–5 ESV

1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Sin. . . What We Need Forgiveness From.

Sin is. . .

Against God and Nature.

Idolatry against our Creator God.

Treason against our Sovereign King.

Adultery against our Loving Husband.

Romans 3:23. . . we have all sinned.

Romans 6:23. . . our sin brings death.

Now that we know what we need forgiveness from, how are our sins forgiven? One of the key words the Bible uses to describe our forgiveness is the term “justification.”

As we now walk through Romans 5:1-11, we will see what it means to be justified and five key benefits of justification.

1. Forgiveness of Sins (v. 1)

The first benefit of justification is that it gives us forgiveness of sins.

We are justified by grace through faith in Jesus Christ (v. 1)

“Justified” Defined

Justified means to be declared righteous.

See Slide and explain. . .

Being justified in Christ means that all of our sins have been forgiven. . . as far as the East is from the West (Psalm 103:12).

Justification is a permanent act that cannot be undone.

Justification is only through faith in Jesus.

Romans 3:24 ESV

24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

See Romans 5:18: Through Christ’s perfect life righteousness the many are “made righteous” Justified (declared righteous).

Jesus is the only one who lived perfectly for us.

Jesus is the only one who died for our sins.

Justification is by grace through faith. . . not by works.

Paul stated in Romans 3:28 that a person is justified by faith apart from works of the law. In chapter 4, he gave a practical illustration of this truth through Abraham and showed that he was justified by faith in the promises of God and not by works or adherence to the law.

The righteousness of God has been counted to us by faith in God who raised Jesus from the dead.

Galatians 2:16 ESV

16 yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.

Works are not required in order for us to be justified, but rather they are the result of our justification.

2. Peace (v. 1-2).

Second, Justification gives us peace with God.

Peace communicates a state of well-being and being at harmony with God.

Peace is equated with reconciliation later in v. 9-11.

We were once God’s enemies, but now we are his children and friends.

v. 2 Then says that through Jesus, we have also obtained access to the Father.

“This grace” refers to the peace we now have with God.

Since we have peace with God, we have free access into his presence (Eph. 2:18; 3:12; Heb. 10:19-20; 1 Pt. 3:18).

In Christ, we can stand and remain in the grace of God’s presence and boast in the hope of God’s glory. We once stood in condemnation, but now. . . because our sins have been forgiven, we stand in grace!

Practical application: peace with God does not come through worldly accomplishments, but rather it comes through faith in Christ.

3. Hope (v. 3-5).

Third, verses 3-5 teach that Justification gives us hope. . . even in our sufferings.

The sufferings Paul refers to are brought about by oppression and persecution.

Even though we have peace with God, we may not always be at peace with others. Yet, even so, we can still rejoice in our sufferings because they produce endurance, character (James 1:2-4), and hope.

Paul says in v. 4 that Faith in Christ initiates a cycle. . . initial hope-sufferings-endurance-proven character-enhanced hope. This faith continually challenges us and refreshes our sense of future promise. . . and this will motivate us daily as we seek to live for Christ faithfully amidst suffering.

We can have hope in our sufferings because it will not let us down (put us to shame) since we have peace with God.

We know all things will work out in the end because God’s love will never let us down and has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.

God doesn’t drip his presence in our lives. . . but pours it. . . communicating something that overflows in abundance!

Think about some of the trials you are facing right now. . .

In all of these trials, God’s transforming grace and love are being poured into your heart by the Holy Spirit.

You are not alone in your sufferings. . . God is with you. . . and he will transform you into the image of Christ.

4. Love (v. 6-8).

Fourth, Justification proves God’s love for us.

Paul connects these verses with verse 5 to demonstrate the hope we have in Christ.

verse 6 is a general statement and v. 7-8 explain v. 6 in more detail. Then v. 9-11 expound upon the implications of Christ’s love for us. . .

Romans 5:6–11 ESV

6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Connecting back with v. 5. . . God’s love will never let us down because v. 6-8 tell us he went to the greatest lengths to save us from our sin.

While we were weak (morally incompetent) and ungodly (unfaithful and irreverent towards God) Christ died for us.

FOR US: Substitutionary atonement. Jesus died for our sins and in our place.

“Scarcely die. . . dare to die. . .” Skydiving example

Jesus did not scarcely die or dare to die for us. . . but he willingly died for us. . . not when we were righteous or good but while we were still sinners.

God proves his love for us by Jesus dying for us while we were still sinners and his enemies (John 3:16).

Jesus knew what he was buying. . . he had no buyers remorse.

5. Salvation (v. 9-11).

Lastly, Justification saves us from God’s future wrath.

If we were reconciled to God through Christ’s death when we were his enemies, how much more will we be saved by his life?

Reconciled is a passive verb and an action done by God. It is the exchange of hostility for a friendly relationship.

If Christ’s death saves us and reconciles us to God. . . how much more will his resurrection save us from the wrath to come?

This means that our salvation is secure and cannot be shaken by our future sins or mistakes.

We are saved from God’s coming judgment and wrath because all our sins, have already been paid for by the blood of Jesus!

So we rejoice in hope, we rejoice in suffering (that leads to hope and the fullness of God’s love), but much more than these, Paul concludes in v. 11 saying. . . we rejoice in God who has given us reconciliation (peace with him) through Christ.

Not only do we have a assurance that our salvation is secured in the future, but we can rejoice now in the present and enjoy the relationship we have with God through Christ.

Response

Know you are forgiven.

Forgive as you have been forgiven.

Proclaim forgiveness of sins to all the nations.

Believe to be forgiven.

You cant trust in something you have not seen.

You can’t trust in something if your hands are already full.

Consider doing illustration holding “god replacements” in your hands and not being able to grasp the true means of salvation.