02) He Forgives
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Last week we started a series that I hope will help us prepare for the Easter season. Like the advent season that we have around Christmas where we spend time focusing and directing our attention to see the fullness of God’s work as he sent his son to be born. Without the birth of Christ there would be no Easter and without Easter, so many of the blessings that we enjoy as Christians would have never came.
There is so much that is and was dependent on the cross. It shows us love, brings us joy, give us hope, and is where our peace rests.
Last week we looked at love displayed through the cross, through the death burial and resurrection of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ.
7 Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his one and only Son into the world so that we might live through him. 10 Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.
God’s love, what a grand thing it is to dwell on the love of God. That the one who knows how many hairs are left on my head, the one who give us life and created all things. This God has revealed his love to his creation in such a unique way. A way that could never be thought up by man, a way that could never be accomplished by man, a way that only gives God the glory. The way that that gives life to spiritually dead. The way that makes us new, the way that takes us from darkness into the light.
God’s great love for us not based on our own merit or accomplishments. A love that was not deserved or acquired. A love that comes from God because he is God.
God is the most loving being in the entire universe because he is love but why is it a great love.
16 I pray that he may grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with power in your inner being through his Spirit, 17 and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love, 19 and to know Christ’s love that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
It is great because of what it cost and how much we did not deserve it. If we are not careful we can stop just at God loves me and he sent his son, but we cannot forget the last part of that passage,
9 God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his one and only Son into the world so that we might live through him. 10 Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.
Need for Forgiveness
Need for Forgiveness
Why did Jesus have to be born as a man on Christmas, why did he have to live a perfect life, why did he have to be accused, and hung on a cross to die. Why did he have to stand in our place as a living sacrifice.
12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all people, because all sinned. 13 In fact, sin was in the world before the law, but sin is not charged to a person’s account when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who did not sin in the likeness of Adam’s transgression. He is a type of the Coming One. 15 But the gift is not like the trespass. For if by the one man’s trespass the many died, how much more have the grace of God and the gift which comes through the grace of the one man Jesus Christ overflowed to the many. 16 And the gift is not like the one man’s sin, because from one sin came the judgment, resulting in condemnation, but from many trespasses came the gift, resulting in justification. 17 If by the one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive the overflow of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.
God is Holy and pure and sin creates this infinite chasm between the sinner and God. The sin that brings death through Adam that resulted in judgement, condemnation is the state of the unrepentant sinner who has not come to faith in Jesus. The one who came to give the gift of grace that gives life and justification. Why did Jesus come and die, it was for our sin. We know know this and I think most people that profess to be a christian recognize that they are sinners. Many have no problem affirming that
23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;
As I examine my own life, what I have been taught, what I have seen in church, and talking to and watch the ministry of other pastors, I have found there to be a gross misunderstanding of how God sees and treats sin.
5 The Lord examines the righteous, but he hates the wicked and those who love violence.
16 The Lord hates six things; in fact, seven are detestable to him: 17 arrogant eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, 18 a heart that plots wicked schemes, feet eager to run to evil, 19 a lying witness who gives false testimony, and one who stirs up trouble among brothers. 20 My son, keep your father’s command, and don’t reject your mother’s teaching.
4 So I sent you all my servants the prophets time and time again, saying, ‘Don’t commit this detestable action that I hate.’ 5 But they did not listen or pay attention; they did not turn from their evil or stop burning incense to other gods. 6 So my fierce wrath poured out and burned in Judah’s cities and Jerusalem’s streets so that they became the desolate ruin they are today.
How often to we meditate on the way that God says he sees sin? He describes sin, iniquity, and transgressions as wickedness that he hates, acts that are detestable to him. He tells the Israelites that he sent his servants the prophets to warn time and time again over and over. Don’t do what I have commanded you not to do.
You can almost see a parent going, why are you doing this, for the thousandth time do I have to tell you again not to do that. Do we see sin as something God hates. Do Christians treat it as something God hates. What about churches?
What if your spouse gave you a list of detestable things that they hate more than anything in the world. What do you think their response to you would be if said I agree and then went and did them all anyways. Would there be consequences. You bet.
When sin entered the world it produced separation, rebellion, and wickedness. And it has consequences.
2 But your iniquities are separating you from your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not listen.
13 Your eyes are too pure to look on evil, and you cannot tolerate wrongdoing. ...
Sin is a serious thing in the eyes of God. And shouldn’t be taken lightly. For the ultimate result is that sin earns something.
23 For the wages of sin is death, ...
It took one sin of one man to earn death for all and then each and every person has added to their own debt. Sin by sin, evil by evil, wickedness by wickedness. Each and every act of rebellion, every lie, lustful thought, angry outburst, crude joke, spoken slander and gossip, prideful action, all add to the debt. To the wages. you go to work and earn money to take home to your family. When you sin you take home more debt more wages.
This was the picture that God used to paint the effects of sin. He used this financial picture so that they would understand and so he used another financial picture to help explain the solution.
He used a word that we translate into English as forgiveness. The Greek word mean absolution, a formal release from an obligation or debt and in this case it is used in regards to the debt of sin.
38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
The greater the debt the greater the forgiveness. When a person starts to truly see the debt that they have incurred. That mountain of sins each and every one adding up to an overwhelming burden. The one forgiven comes to understand the gift of cancelled debt.
How blessed would you you feel if someone came in and forgave any debt that you have? Wouldn’t we feel great and appreciative. But when it comes to finances we have the means and methods to chip away at any debt that we find ourselves in.
But sin is different, each and every tally of debt that is incurred just sits there, the sinner can only watch the debt grow and grow. Their only hope is for someone to wipe it clean to remove the debt. That person is the one who the debt has been owed to. God’s justice demands that sin debt be paid in full. The wages of sin is death and for it to be forgiven to one person it must be paid by someone on their behalf.
25 God presented him as the mercy seat by his blood, through faith, to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his restraint God passed over the sins previously committed. 26 God presented him to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so that he would be just and justify the one who has faith in Jesus.
Means of Forgiveness
Means of Forgiveness
The old testament prophets would give the answer.
25 “I am the one, I sweep away your transgressions for my own sake and remember your sins no more.
John the baptist would come into the to prepare the way for the one who would pay that debt.
76 And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, 77 to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins.
Jesus is the means of our salvation. It was his sacrifice and his shed blood that blood that removed the debt and paid the ransom.
19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile everything to himself, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. 21 Once you were alienated and hostile in your minds as expressed in your evil actions. 22 But now he has reconciled you by his physical body through his death, to present you holy, faultless, and blameless before him—
Men cannot atone for their sin in their own power they cannot give anything that would appease the just wrath of God. So God sent the only perfect sacrifice that would appease his own wrath. His own son. God’s law required a sacrifice.
24 For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with hands (only a model of the true one) but into heaven itself, so that he might now appear in the presence of God for us. 25 He did not do this to offer himself many times, as the high priest enters the sanctuary yearly with the blood of another. 26 Otherwise, he would have had to suffer many times since the foundation of the world. But now he has appeared one time, at the end of the ages, for the removal of sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 And just as it is appointed for people to die once—and after this, judgment—28 so also Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
Jesus had to be both the sacrifice and the sacrificer. the just and the justifier. This was an act of love that only he could do for those the father had given him. He is the shepherd that call to the sheep and the gate at which they may enter the rest of his pasture.
1 “Truly I tell you, anyone who doesn’t enter the sheep pen by the gate but climbs in some other way is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought all his own outside, he goes ahead of them. The sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 They will never follow a stranger; instead they will run away from him, because they don’t know the voice of strangers.” 6 Jesus gave them this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them. 7 Jesus said again, “Truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn’t listen to them. 9 I am the gate. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture. 10 A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance. 11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand, since he is not the shepherd and doesn’t own the sheep, leaves them and runs away when he sees a wolf coming. The wolf then snatches and scatters them. 13 This happens because he is a hired hand and doesn’t care about the sheep. 14 “I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 But I have other sheep that are not from this sheep pen; I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. Then there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life so that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have the right to lay it down, and I have the right to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.”
He came to give life and life abundantly. 5 times he speaks of laying his life down for the sheep and that it is of his on volition and own will that he obeys the father and puts his life as a ransom for many purchasing to him a people for his own. He had to be man inorder to pay the penalty and to be a substitute for him. For all of the false teachings that denied his humanity the author of Hebrews writes.
17 Therefore, he had to be like his brothers and sisters in every way, so that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in matters pertaining to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people.
Response to Forgiveness
Response to Forgiveness
There is a proper response from one who has been saved by Jesus.
15 And he died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for the one who died for them and was raised.
God states that those that live, those that have been saved and reconciled to God are to live in a new way. They are no longer to live for themselves. The focus of life changes. That deep down desire to live for ourselves is to be put to death and they are to live for the one who saved them. The one that overcame the grave and who stood in their place before the holy judge of God.
To live for God is to live in the new life that has been given. To no longer live to the world but to live for God. This is a life of Holiness, devotion, separation from the world while we live in it. It is every part of our lives. How we speak, how we act, what we strive for, what we refrain from, what we endure. To live with different motivations and desires. To seek to know him, to be with his people, to use our gifts in the body of believers. To be useful tools for the Lord. To take on his mission to proclaim the good news of salvation for the sinner, through the person of Jesus, by the will of God. This isn’t a shaving off of the rough edges of life it is a complete rewrite.
If this is true, then why oh why do so few Christians look different than any other person who still is in full debt to God? Why are the affections of men still not on God.
They come to the places of worship and the worship is man centered and not God centered. They sing about themselves and all that God will do for them. They pat each other on the back and tell each other how good they are doing. But when they leave the church they are no different than anyone else. They life for themselves and not for God.
There is a complete lack of understanding the depth of debt and the desperate need they were in. And because of this the death of Christ is just a add on to a life that they already had all figured out. They have not come to know how bad of a sinner they really are and therefore they do not see sin as anything that God cares about.
There might be a recognition of sin but there is a minimization of how God sees sin. We live in a time that sin is not just minimized but actually glorified.
32 Although they know God’s just sentence—that those who practice such things deserve to die—they not only do them, but even applaud others who practice them.
We have preacher who will speak much of forgiveness but leave out the most important part. What debt was paid. So many preachers chose to leave the truth of sin out of their messages and thus each person just sees an idol God that just sits there saying you are forgiven, you are forgiven don’t change anything.
We have groups that claim to follow Jesus who set for themselves leaders that are great examples of men and women who flaunt their sin. They where symbols of God and redefine them so that they can promote their sin. They encourage people to be bold in their sin. It is a far cry from the response of Peter with his denial of Jesus.
60 But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. 61 Then the Lord turned and looked at Peter. So Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” 62 And he went outside and wept bitterly.
Or David’s response to his sin with Bathsheba and Uriah.
1 Be gracious to me, God, according to your faithful love; according to your abundant compassion, blot out my rebellion. 2 Completely wash away my guilt and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I am conscious of my rebellion, and my sin is always before me. 4 Against you—you alone—I have sinned and done this evil in your sight. So you are right when you pass sentence; you are blameless when you judge. 5 Indeed, I was guilty when I was born; I was sinful when my mother conceived me. 6 Surely you desire integrity in the inner self, and you teach me wisdom deep within. 7 Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. 8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. 9 Turn your face away from my sins and blot out all my guilt. 10 God, create a clean heart for me and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not banish me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore the joy of your salvation to me, and sustain me by giving me a willing spirit. 13 Then I will teach the rebellious your ways, and sinners will return to you. 14 Save me from the guilt of bloodshed, God— God of my salvation— and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. 15 Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. 16 You do not want a sacrifice, or I would give it; you are not pleased with a burnt offering. 17 The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit. You will not despise a broken and humbled heart, God. 18 In your good pleasure, cause Zion to prosper; build the walls of Jerusalem. 19 Then you will delight in righteous sacrifices, whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar.
Those who understand how God views sin will respond to their own sin differently. There is a proper response to our sin.
10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, but worldly grief produces death.
If we do not come to a proper view of our sin and our need of a savior we will never understand the grace and mercy that was given to us as a free gift.
1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins 2 in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient. 3 We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, 5 made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace! 6 He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might display the immeasurable riches of his grace through his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—9 not from works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.
Conclusion
Conclusion
When we look to the cross at Easter we must see the great love of God that was displayed. It was such a great display because of the great price that was paid by Jesus on that day at the appointed hour. We must open our eyes to a deeper and deeper understanding of how far we were from God in our sin and that will change how we approach our lives.
God hates wickedness and evil and sinful behavior. When we see our sin for what it truly is we will strive and call out to God to forgive us from our sin. We will be comforted in the great abundance of grace and mercy that God continues to bestow on us each and every day as we still live with sin in our lives.
I think of all of the half truths that says that God loves you just the way you are. God loves you but he hates sin and iniquity. He must respond in his justice. God doesn’t love you the way you are. He loves you. But he does not look past your sin. Like a parent’s love for a wayward child they will love the child but they do not love what the person is doing or proclaiming.
To love for God...
God calls believers to go and sin no more, to be holy as I am holy, to walk worthy of the calling, to walk in the light, to imitate Jesus and many other commands to go and repent of sins. to turn from them and to never go back.
We must not allow the greatness of God’s love to be an excuse to continue in our own sin. We cannot be like the child that tells their parents, it doesn’t matter what I do or how I live my life you will still love me.
Prayer
Benediction
Romans 15:13 (CSB)
13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
