Authority Over Sin
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In U.S. Navel Institute Proceedings, the magazine of the Naval Institute, Frank Koch illustrates the importance of obeying the Laws of the Lighthouse.
Two battleships assigned to the training squadron had been at sea on maneuvers in heavy weather for several days. I was serving on the lead battleship and was on watch on the bridge as night fell. The visibility was poor with patchy fog, so the captain remained on the bridge keeping an eye on all activities.
Shortly after dark, the lookout on the wing reported, “Light, bearing on the starboard bow.”
“Is it steady or moving astern?” the captain called out.
The lookout replied, “Steady, Captain,” which meant we were on a dangerous collision course with that ship.
The captain then called to the signalman, “Signal that ship: ‘We are on a collision course, advise you change course twenty degrees.’“
Back came the signal, “Advisable for you to change course twenty degrees.”
The captain said, “Send: “I’m a captain, change course twenty degrees.’“
“I’m a seaman second-class,” came the reply. “You had better change course twenty degrees.”
By that time the captain was furious. He spat out, “Send: ‘I’m a battleship. Change course twenty degrees.’”
Back came the flashing light, “I’m a lighthouse.”
We changed course.
In the Eye of the Storm by Max Lucado, Word Publishing, 1991, p. 153
The one with the most power has the ultimate authority
We see this in business, just because someone is older doesn't always mean that they have the authority, who ever has the most positional power holds the authority
For moms with teenage boy’s, the mother has the positional authority
The battleship had a lot of power, but not nearly as much power as the rocks that would shipwreck the boat if the lighthouse were not sending out the warning signal
Jesus had a lot to say about His authority over sin and death and there were always people who were questioning His authority
I think this is primarily because Jesus didn’t bulldoze people
Jesus kind of worked like poison Ivy… Poison Ivy is smaller, and not all that noticeable, but you go stomping through the woods, and the woods bite back. Jesus didn’t look all that powerful on the outside, but the true authority that dwelt within him was infinitely greater than any of His opponents
Read whole text from Bible
1 And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city.
2 And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.”
3 And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.”
4 But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts?
5 For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’?
6 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic—“Rise, pick up your bed and go home.”
7 And he rose and went home.
8 When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.
9 As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.
10 And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples.
11 And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
12 But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.
13 Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Matthew 9:1-1
Explain Relentless series
Possibly give the background to the beginning of the book of Matthew… Because today were going to be studying him a little
And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city. And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.”
Jesus Has Authority To Forgive Sin
Jesus Has Authority To Forgive Sin
English Standard Version Chapter 9
9 And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city. 2 And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.”
English Standard Version Chapter 9
9 And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city. 2 And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.”
And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city. And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.”
So what is going on here?
Paralytic man/friends break a hole in someones roof/
Matt 9:1-
They surely have heard of Jesus fame and abilities
It was not just the faith of the paralytic man, but the faith of them all
What they did was collectively trusted Jesus for the healing of their friend and they surely where shocked when His first pronouncement was that the boys sins were forgiven, Do you think he was disappointed at all?
Jesus sees his condition, and knows that the deepest need that this kid has is eternal, not temporal
The deepest need that we have isn’t a better marriage, or a healed body, or better finances, the deepest need that we have as human beings is the forgiveness of sins for the salvation of our souls
Jesus is speaking with unbelievable authority over something that is only God’s to do
The pharisees notice and are really angry
And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’?
The obvious answer is…your sins are forgiven!
But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic—“Rise, pick up your bed and go home.” And he rose and went home. When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.
Jesus here is showing everyone around that He isn't just fool of talk, He’s not a dog that’s all bark, Jesus here is showing the immensity of His divine power
And the people respond to His authority with worship
The one who was probably changed the most was this paralytic man
He had lived his life thinking his problem was only physical
Now He gets up and walks as he encounters the authority that Jesus has over sin and sickness
The sad part is that these scribes were the ones who were supposed to be on the lookout for Jesus, they missed Him completely
Which leads us to ask the question… Are we encountering the gracious authority of Jesus that forgives sin and transforms us to deeper obedience, or are we just playing religion, are we playing dress-up acting as if were Christians though some have never encountered God’s grace and think Christianity is all about being the best person we can be? This paralytic kid didn’t do anything to deserve God’s grace, he just knew where to go when you needed healing, and he wound up with the healing of his soul as well as his body. I fear for us when I hear talk of moral and behavioral conformity without any mention of God’s toward us in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Scribes had conformed, the Pharisees had conformed, but they didn’t have a real relationship with Jesus and those gospel-less good deeds were counted as filthy rags, but not for the Christian, their sins are forgiven, and the good-works that they now walk in were predestined from the foundation of the world!
Jesus forgives and it is immediate and final, there is nothing that you need to do extra to be loved by God once you are forgiven. If you struggle to understand the totality of your forgiveness, lets take a look at what was accomplished on the cross for us...
6-
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.
2 cor
Rich in what? Rich in righteousness, rich with favor
Explain Authority
You’ve got the smile of God Christian, Let that cheer your soul!
So not only does Jesus have authority to forgive sins, He also loves sinners!
Jesus Loves Sinners
Jesus Loves Sinners
As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.
And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
Now were introduced to the writer of this Gospel
Matthew was hated because he was a tax collector
Jesus
Then Matthew in His joy leaves everything to go follow Jesus
He makes a dinner party, and this is just a basket of deplorables
Those who knew that they had nothing to offer God were drawn to His compassion, there was something about Jesus that those of low estate found comforting, transformative, surely they have felt unlovable their entire lives, and Jesus loves the unlovable people, and His love and His kindness softens people’s hearts, it makes the heart more malleable and God transforms those with soft hearts
Is this true of us? Are sinners drawn toward us? If not, why not?
Don’t take this as approving of sin, take this as being a light in a dark world that pushes back against the darkness
The pharisees reacted with a kind of false light, saying they weren't going to be like those sinners, but those sinners were the very people that Jesus came to save! Look at the next verse!
But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
I love how Jesus flips everything upside down, the Pharisees swore that they were the healthy ones, and they were obviously further from God than these low life sinners! They were blind to Jesus and had an extremely dangerous spiritual sickness.
12-
The ESV Study Bible Chapter 9
9:12 those who are well … those who are sick. The Pharisees considered themselves “healthy” before God because of their observance of the law, and thus they were blind to their spiritual sickness. Jesus’ point is that only those who realize their need come to him to receive the help they need.
I love that Don Carson Says this...
The New Bible Commentary 8:1–9:34 A Selection of Jesus’ Miracles
For a pious Jew to eat with them was therefore unthinkable. Jesus’ response in vs 12–13 offers the opposite perspective: a healer must ‘get his hands dirty’, and a mission of salvation cannot be achieved by staying in respectable company. His quotation from Ho. 6:6 (used again in 12:7) indicates that God’s priority is costly love rather than careful ritual.
For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice,
the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.
Jesus called matthew to be an apostle, which was amazing because it was clear evidence that God loves to raise us up by His grace...”But this publican, who followed an occupation little esteemed and involved in many abuses, was selected for additional reasons, that he might be an example of Christ’s undeserved goodness, and might show in his person that the calling of all of us depends, not on the merits of our own righteousness, but on his pure kindness. Matthew, therefore, was not only a witness and preacher, but was also a proof and illustration of the grace exhibited in Christ.”
John Calvin and William Pringle, Commentary on a Harmony of the Evangelists Matthew, Mark, and Luke, vol. 1 (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2010), 399.
Now when Jesus had saved Matthew, Matthew didn't just stay in the sin that he had so clearly been walking in. Jesus asked Matthew to leave everything and have his whole life changed… When the great physician lays His hand to the work of restoration, there is no choice but to be changed, and leave that whole way of life behind. We must not cherish our sin, and still try to follow Jesus, we must put to death those things of the past just like Matthew did. Notice that we never see Matthew return to this old way of life, surely there were times when it was tempting to go and follow in the old ways of desiring wealth, but He was sealed for the day of redemption, and the proof was in the fruit of His life. Jesus calls all Christians away from foolish living and toward a devoted life that delights in Him.
Commentary on a Harmony of the Evangelists Matthew, Mark, and Luke Matthew 9:9–13; Mark 2:13–17; Luke 5:27–32
He came to quicken the dead, to justify the guilty and condemned, to wash those who were polluted and full of uncleanness, to rescue the lost from hell, to clothe with his glory those who were covered with shame, to renew to a blessed immortality those who were debased by disgusting vices. If we consider that this was his office and the end of his coming,—if we remember that this was the reason why he took upon him our flesh, why he shed his blood, why he offered the sacrifice of his death, why he descended even to hell, we will never think it strange that he should gather to salvation those who have been the worst of men, and who have been covered with a mass of crimes.
Commentary on a Harmony of the Evangelists Matthew, Mark, and Luke Matthew 9:9–13; Mark 2:13–17; Luke 5:27–32
But we must also attend to the expression, to repentance: which is intended to inform us that pardon is granted to us, not to cherish our sins, but to recall us to the earnestness of a devout and holy life.
So Jesus hates sin, has authority over it, to do away with the wretched condemnation of our sin, and also loves those who are so easily entangled in sin… But there is one sin that cant be forgiven, and we must talk about that here.
Now
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.
Only One Sin Can’t Be Forgiven
Only One Sin Can’t Be Forgiven
Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.
This is terrifying if you take it out of the rest of scripture, but any one specific type or species of sin cannot be what this verse is talking about.
Someone who should have been scared that they committed the unforgivable sin is Saul, who later becomes Paul. He slanders the name of Jesus and persecutes His church giving orders for early Christians to be killed… You would think that those kind of people have committed the one sin that cannot be forgiven, and if that’s what we think were not familiar with the whole of the scriptures. Saul did unthinkable things, Jesus knocks him off a horse on the road to Damascus and asks Saul why he is persecuting Jesus. Jesus in that little section of Scripture does some truly amazing things and goes at amazing lengths to save someone who wanted nothing to do with Him. Later in Paul's life he writes this…
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.
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. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.
None of those things that Paul had done earlier in His life were unforgivable, and they were all really really bad!
Many people out of fear have believed that they have committed the unforgivable sin, that they are permanently locked out of heaven, but if it were possible, people like Saul and Matthew surely would have had the gates of heaven slammed in their face, if this unforgivable sin was just certain types behaviors, but what is impossible with man is possible with God, because God saves vial sinners.
Here are some more references that prove that there is not a certain single happening, or behavior that would qualify as the unforgivable sin… because...
For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Romans
And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
Acts
For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
Anyone who feels like they have blasphemed the Spirit, and has a fear about it, is still able to be forgiven for any and all sin.
So what is blaspheming against the Holy Spirit?
Glad hearted rebellion, or as Henry Alfred says it “willful opposition to the power of the Holy Spirit” and this is until the dying death of the person. If someone denies Jesus until their last possible chance at repentance, that is the only blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. If you are in here and you are scared that you have sinned like this, put your fingers up to you neck, do you have a pulse? Then you still haven't committed this type of sin, because you still have life in front of you where you could repent and believe.
Big Question: What is the difference between blaspheming against the Holy Spirit, and grieving the Holy Spirit?
Big Question: What is the difference between blaspheming against the Holy Spirit, and grieving the Holy Spirit?
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. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 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. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
What does it mean to walk in darkness? It can only be talking about those who walk in settled disobedience to God It can’t mean those who struggle with their sin, we all struggle with sin, and all true believers try over and over to put that sin to death. They fight against their sin, they are grieved with sorrow over the fact that there is still sin in their lives. Also in verse 9 it immediately talks about those who walk in the light still needing to confess their sin and Jesus is faithful and Just to forgive us our sin and to cleanse us!
If you've ever met a christian that has said they haven't struggled with sin, please kindly quote them this verse!
Those people are making Jesus a liar, and are possibly in danger of committing the blasphemy against the Spirit if they don’t repent of their white washed tomb lifestyle
So, It is the one who glad heartedly walks in the darkness that is liable to commit the sin that is unforgivable, and also they will have no real fellowship with God. Often, those people swear that they are following Jesus but do not walk in His commands, nor fight against any of their sin tendencies, and the Bible makes it clear here in 1 John, that those people are not of the Fold of God.
There are some that swear that they are following Jesus but do not walk in His commands, nor fight against any of their sin tendencies, and the Bible makes it clear here in 1 John, that those people are not of the Fold of God.
But there is always hope, God’s grace is for everyone who looks on Jesus and believes in Him, you don't have to be stuck walking in the darkness
Christians cannot commit blasphemy against the Spirit, but they can grieve the Spirit
So what do we do with a sermon like this?
Well, there are some in the room that have been so scared that they have committed the unforgivable sin, if that’s you, submit yourself to the Eternally Divine authority of Jesus Christ and be freed from guilt and shame, and start walking in the marvelous light of God’s grace. Even if you were morally the best person you have ever met, you still wouldn't deserve the grace of God, so we can just accept that God gave us grace because He wanted to give us grace, and that is a gloriously beautiful truth. See your story similar to Paul’s or Matthews, and leave all of that old weight behind, and walk in a renewed life. You might feel like a battleship of a sinner, but you are not stronger than the rocky shored lighthouse of God’s grace.
For others of us, we play the role of the pharisees, we expect people who don’t have the Holy Spirit of God living within them to act as if they were adopted into the family of God, which leads us to refusing to get our hands dirty with “Those Sinners”. This rejects the compassion of Christ and builds barriers to them actually coming to an understanding of their sin, so they might repent and be saved. For you, ask God that He would show you two things… How unthinkably horrendous your sin is in the eyes of a perfect God, and how amazingly large our savior truly is.
For some, you are not walking in darkness, like the glad hearted darkness we talked about earlier, but you are struggling against your sin and often times it feels like a loosing battle, take heart, The One who is in you is greater than he who is in the world! You could go to your grave struggling against this same sin, as long as you have a heart that is truly repentant, and longs for righteousness, though you fail, God still looks at you through the blood of Jesus Christ as if you had never sinned a day in your life, let that truth take you heart captive and warm your soul to continue the fight with all the more veracity as you meditate on the wonders of God’s love.
Finally, there are some swearing that they know Jesus, yet completely disregard His design for life, and with joy in their heart walk toward the gates of hell thinking that God just wants you to be happy so live however you want to live and be a good person, and that should be enough… I plead with you, examine this thinking and see how woefully short it falls from what Scripture teaches… You cannot love Jesus and disregard everything that He says, you are only loving yourself and the false Jesus you've made up in your mind. The Good news is, you can still learn what the Bible truly says, that Jesus wants to forgive all of your sin, that you didn't deserve it, but you desperately needed that Grace, and He provides it in abundance and gives you eternal life starting right now.