Forgiven?

How many of us here today truly believe God forgives us of all of our sins -once, for all, and completely - upon our profession of faith? Now, lets go a little deeper, how many of us forgive ourselves for our sins? If God forgives us freely and fully, then why is it so hard for us to forgive ourselves? Could it be that we have a hard time understanding forgiveness because we don’t give forgiveness freely as God does?

Remorse - Even if we know God forgives us, sinners remorse can linger. We may still feel the weight of our actions, especially if they hurt others or ourselves.

Reminders - The Bible never commands us to “forgive ourselves” in the way we forgive others. Forgiving others is part of reflecting God’s mercy, but forgiving ourselves comes from receiving His forgiveness. At times we remind ourselves that we are not worthy, we do not deserve forgiveness, or other sins we or others commit remind us of our failures.

Pride - Pride is the main obstacle. It’s the belief that we are too bad, that our sin is too great, or that we must “earn” forgiveness. But God’s forgiveness is unconditional — it’s based on what Jesus did, not on our performance Christianity. When we hold ourselves to impossible standards, we trap ourselves in guilt.

We have a hard time understanding God’s mercy, His grace, and forgiveness simply because it goes against all of human nature. Ever see someone, and the first thing that pops in our mind is something they did to us or someone we know? On the other hand, have we ever said I’ve done so many bad things there is no way God can or will forgive me?

Billy Graham counters that way of thinking by stating “God has promised to forgive anyone—without exception—who truly repents of their sin and by faith commits their life to Jesus Christ. The Bible is clear: “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Acts 2:21).” Forgiveness is given completely and fully by God upon our profession of faith, and no longer remembered.

Psalm 103:12 ESV

12 as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.

That should give us peace of mind, knowing that God throws our sins so far away that even HE can’t see them any more.

The apostle Paul sets an example of how we are to approach forgiveness. Known as the self-proclaimed chief of sinners, once he was saved he did not dwell on his past. Instead he focused on what God was calling him to do as a messenger for Christ.

Doing What He Thought Right

Acts 7:58–8:3 ESV

58 Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep. 1 And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. 3 But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.

Paul, formerly known as Saul, was a highly educated Pharisee who made it his personal mission to keep a purified Jewish religion by persecuting the Christians. In his younger years, we see this picture of him as he is at the stoning of Stephen. Could this be what fueled the fire to persecute Christians? Standing there, guarding the garments of those putting God’s minister to death. Notice what is stated - Saul approved of his execution. The word “consenting” or “approving” means to give full consent of the will; to willingly approve; to approve with pleasure; to delight in; to applaud what is being done. Saul was well-pleased with Stephen’s death. An inflamed fury had been building up in him against the church, for he felt that the preaching of Christ threatened his religion, Judaism.

As a result of Stephens death, the Christians scattered, which furthered the spread of the gospel message throughout the world. Whether Saul understood this or not, his actions was the starting point of the greatest evangelistic event known! He did not realize the impact he would have yet, and continued persecuting Christians, even going further out to find them.

Acts 9:1–2 ESV

1 But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

Saul was consumed with a fierce anger and wrath against Christ and His disciples. He “breathed out threatenings and slaughter.” The picture is that of Saul breathing in, taking into his heart the evil of destroying Christ and His disciples. Of course, what is in the heart is what comes out.

The evil was so deep he volunteered—actually went to the High Priest and the Sanhedrin requesting authority to storm after the fleeing believers—to arrest and bring the believers back to Jerusalem for trial. Not only did he seek the men, he also included women in those he would round up and bring back to Jerusalem.

But there was something that changed with Saul. He met Jesus.

Acts 9:3–5 ESV

3 Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.

He heard a voice speak to him. Note: he alone heard the voice. The others heard a sound, but could not distinguish the words. The message was a personal message to Paul alone. There was the charge of terrible sin, of opposing and persecuting the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. Jesus called Saul by his name, “Saul, Saul.”

Each and every one of us, at some time in our life, has a Paul moment when the Lord speaks directly to our heart. We are convicted of our sin, and we have to make a decision. Do we accept salvation, or do we reject Jesus? You see, Jesus is personal. He approaches us in our sins with love, but also giving us a warning of what will happen if we continue to reject Him and the free pardon of sin through repentance.

Saul also knew that the light and the person seen in the midst of the light and the voice had all come from heaven. He knew that he was being confronted by a heavenly being. But who was the heavenly being? Saul—stricken down, humbled, convicted, frightened—cried out in desperation, “Who are you, Lord?” He knew something supernatural was in his presence, unfortunately he did NOT know the one in whom he was in the presence of. “Who are you? Identify yourself. Let me know you.”

A man often knows and confesses that it is the Lord who is dealing with him; yet he does not know the Lord, not really, not personally. He has to cry out, “Who art thou, Lord? Tell me, show me who You are!” This was the eye opening moment for Paul, as it is for each of us. Jesus is the Lord, the One whom the sinner is opposing. This truth shattered Saul, broke him in utter submission. Every stone cast at Stephen was a stone cast against God. Every home he had invaded was a home truly worshiping God. Every person dragged to jail was a true follower of God. Everyone he had chained and imprisoned was a true believer of God. There was no way he could stand in the presence of God and escape the guilt and consequence of his sin. There Saul was, convicted and condemned in front of the only judge that truly matters. What would his decision be?

A Changed Man

Acts 23:1 ESV

1 And looking intently at the council, Paul said, “Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day.”

As we know, Paul did accept Jesus as his personal Savior. From that day on, Paul lived a life just as passionate for Christ as he had lived persecuting Christians. Later in life, he speaks of how he forgave himself after he had been forgiven by God. He knew that, even in his state of sin he THOUGHT he was doing right. Ever heard the old saying, “Ignorance is Bliss”? However, once Paul knew he was in sin, he confessed, repented, and lived a life completely sold out to God. Now, as he stands before the council he can say with confidence that he had lived a life in all good conscience before God.

He was apparently referring to the years since his conversion. He was saying to the council that his conversion to Christ and his life since that day had not been displeasing to God, but instead pleasing. He was innocent of breaking the law of God and Moses. His conscience was pure.

What an awesome statement to be able to make! That we could all strive to have a conscience that was pure, innocent of breaking God’s laws, and pleasing to God. Shouldn’t we all WANT to be able to say that? As Paul changes from evangelist to mentor, he again explains who he was, and what God had turned him into.

Chief Sinner

1 Timothy 1:12–15 ESV

12 I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, 13 though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.

Paul says that he did not make himself a minister nor did other persons choose him to be a minister. He did not choose the ministry because he thought it would be a good profession nor because people thought he would make a good minister. He was in the ministry for one reason only: Christ Jesus had chosen him and put him into the ministry.

Christ Jesus considered him trustworthy. This is a most wonderful thought, that Christ would consider us trustworthy. He trusts us to be faithful, and in the final analysis, He knows that we will be faithful to Him. No matter how far down a Christian falls, we should always remember that Christ Jesus considers us faithful. Christ knows that a Christian will arise and begin to serve with renewed fire. Because of the forgiveness and power and faithfulness of Christ. Therefore, any Christian who has fallen must arise and seek the forgiveness of Christ and begin to walk anew in the strength and power of Christ.

He could put his faith in this fact, even when he failed God, Jesus had forgiven even the most terrible of sins he had committed. Blasphemy; he had insulted, cursed, and pushed against the name of Jesus. Persecutor; he had been so angry at Jesus that he wanted to remove the name of Christ from all the earth and destroy all who served Him. Insolent opponent; he treated others despicably, brutally, and violently, and enjoyed it.

However despite all this evil, God had mercy upon Paul. Paul had not known that Christ was really the true Messiah. He thought that he knew God and that his religion was the true religion. He felt that any religion that stood against his religion was to be stamped out. Therefore, when Paul attacked Christ and His followers, he did it ignorantly in unbelief. He just did not believe that Jesus Christ could possibly be the Messiah.

But God… You see, He had other plans for Paul, greater plans that would involve an evangelist spreading the gospel all across the world. Jesus forgave him, even when he was unforgivable by human standards. And Jesus can change us too, if we place our faith and trust in Jesus. He changes us, and makes us into a new being.

New Being

2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

God makes us into a “new creature”. Once dead to God, we are now alive in Him. A non-existent relationship is given a new relationship with God. Someone who never though of God now fellowships with Him all the time. One who lived in sin and immorality is now living in righteousness and holiness. A person facing certain death, never has to face death. One who was doomed to judgment and eternal separation from God is now has the promise of eternal life in the presence of their Lord and Savior. It is being “in Christ” that makes a person a new creature.

This is what is meant by such Scriptural terms as being “born again” and becoming a “new man.” However, no better words describe the experience than the words of this verse: “the old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” This is the message of the Christian ministry: a person can start life all over, no matter how corrupt they have become or how far down they have fallen.

God no longer sees our sins. And neither should we.

Closing

Romans 8:1 ESV

1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Since Christ has come, a most wonderful thing has happened. The people who believe in Christ are no longer condemned for their sins. Very simply stated, the person who is in Christ is safe and secure from condemnation now and forever. He will not be judged as a sinner; he will not face condemnation. He is beyond condemnation; he shall never be condemned for sin; he shall never be separated from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

If God no longer condemns, and forgives completely, then let us forgive ourselves and live a life pleasing to Him.