Love that Forgives Our Sin

INTRODUCTION

What is “Passover”?

It is an important Jewish festival celebrating the redemption of Israel from Egypt

INTRODUCTION (My Big Idea)

In the old covenant the way to the forgiveness of sin is by making sacrifice

(My Big Idea)

On Good Friday, what we actually celebrate is the passing over of God through the Israelites during the tenth plague (death of the firstborn)

They were commanded to slaughter a lamb for every household which blood is to be splattered outside their doorframes as a sign for God so He would passover them when He strike Egypt

Exodus 12:13 NIV

13 The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.

Passover is celebrated from the time of Moses, Joshua and down to our generation..

Jesus actually celebrated it with His disciples when they had their “Last Supper”

And even to this day, Jewish people still celebrate it beginning with a dinner called “Seder”

For us christians, we commemorate it as a reminder that the Lord paid our debts by the shedding of His own blood

Jesus is figuratively referred to as the “Passover lamb” in the NT.

It is through the death of Jesus that your debts were paid off

Hebrews 13:11–12 NLT

11 Under the old system, the high priest brought the blood of animals into the Holy Place as a sacrifice for sin, and the bodies of the animals were burned outside the camp. 12 So also Jesus suffered and died outside the city gates to make his people holy by means of his own blood.

TITLE: THAT IS THE KIND OF “LOVE THAT FORGIVES OUR SIN”

MY BIG IDEA

Is there anyone here who has unpaid medical bills?

A Texas church paid off over $10m Debt as Easter Gift to local families

Covenant Church in Carrollton, Texas chose to donate the funds they normally spend on advertising for their Easter service to families who were in need

Stephen Hayes, who pastors Covenant Church, knows what it’s like to be buried under medical bills. After he was hit by a car at the age of 17 and spent 12 days in the ICU

His family struggled to pay off his medical bills--until his church family stepped in to help

Pastor Hayes wanted to pay it forward and extend the generosity he had received to those who were also in need, and so that’s what the church did.

They especially focused on helping local veterans who were injured while on duty.

Play the Video” “Texas Church paid $10M In Medical Debt Forgiven For Veterans and Families”

The church sent out “letters” along with the funds to people they hoped to help, stating, “We are Covenant Church and we are local in this area and can serve you in any way, and we would love to be your church. But even if we don’t get to meet you, just know that God loves you.”

Those of you who have been in a similar situation know how it feels to receive such kind of letter

You may be debt free and owe no one nothing financially

But you cannot claim to be without sin

1 John 1:8 NLT

8 If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth.

Romans 3:23 NLT

23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.

But today.... you also received a “letter”

A letter from God through Apostle John

Listen while I read it to you…

TEXT: (NLT)

1 John 2:12 NLT

12 I am writing to you who are God’s children because your sins have been forgiven through Jesus.

But wait a minute, what’s wrong with these letter?

It says, “God’s children” only!

Hmmm… How can one be a child of God?

John 1:12 NLT

12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.

Believe what?

Believe that Christ died for you

Romans 5:8 NIV

8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

And believe that the Holy Spirit raised Him from the dead

Believe that Christ died for you

Romans 10:9 NLT

9 If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Romans 10:9 NIV

9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

And believe that the Holy Spirit raised Him from the dead

Probably you don’t have any problem believing that Jesus died… because everybody dies!

It’s not a big deal, everybody dies everyday

But how about Him being raised from the dead on the 3rd day?

Do you believe that part?

No one can blame you if you have difficulty believing that part of the gospel

Because if you have difficulty believing that part of the good news, you’re in the company of Thomas

And if you do not believe that His resurrection can forgive your sins, you’re in the company of Peter

Despite of Peter being the guy in the pack that was closest to Jesus, he didn’t believe that his denial of the Lord is forgivable

After Jesus died and resurrected, Peter went back to being who he was… he went back to fishing ()

But both of them experienced the resurrection that changed the course of their lives

Today, you too can experience the same..

In just a moment, I will be talking about those two disciples of the Lord Jesus

Meanwhile let me take you back to the story of the Lord’s resurrection

STORY OF RESURRECTION

Luke 24:1–12 NIV

1 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7 ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” 8 Then they remembered his words. 9 When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. 11 But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. 12 Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.

HIS RESURRECTION ERASES MY DOUBTS

Are you still wondering today?

To them it sounded non-sense

How much more to you today?

They have seen yet they did not believe right away

How much more for you today? For us who have not seen..

When Jesus appeared to His disciples the very first time after He resurrected from the dead, Thomas wasn’t there

And a week after that, the disciples where all together again, this time Thomas was with them and he said

Unless I see the marks in His hands, and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand to His side, “I will not believe”, said Thomas

It was then that Jesus appeared to them again and said.. Peace be with you!

Then He said to Thomas, “Put your finger through my hands, reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

Thomas said, “My Lord, my God!”

John 20:29 NIV

29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

That is is the resurrection that erases our doubts

HIS RESURRECTION FORGIVES MY SIN

Now, the case of Peter is totally a different scenario

It can be remembered that when Jesus had their passover meal otherwise known as the last supper, they head out to the Mount of Olives

Then Jesus told Peter, this very night before the rooster crows you will disown me three times ()

Peter strongly disagreed saying, I will never disown you Lord..

After Jesus was arrested, on 3 occasions, Peter denied Jesus

While he was seated near the firelight a servant girl saw him and said, “this man was with him” (Luke 22:56-57)

But Peter denied it saying, “ woman, I don’t know him”

A little later someone else saw him and said, “you also are one of them”. “Man, I am not” Peter replied

About an hour later another asserted and said, “certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean”

Peter replied, “I don’t know what you’re talking about”

And just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed

The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter, and he remembered what Jesus said

Peter went outside and wept bitterly thinking that what he had just done was unforgivable

He went back to who he was, he want back to fishing

Early in the morning Jesus stood in the shore of the Sea of Galilee but the disciples did not realize that it was Him

He called out to them, “friends, did catch you any fish?”. “No!”, they answered

He said, “throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.”

When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

Jesus said to them, “bring some of the fish you have just caught.”

They all had breakfast together, that was the third time Jesus appeared to His disciples

John 21:15–17 NIV

15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” 16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” 17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.

And when they finished eating, Jesus said to Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” (John 21:15-17)

“Yes, Lord” he said, “you know I love you”

Jesus said, “feed my lambs”

Jesus repeated his question, and Peter repeated his answer

Jesus said, “take care of my sheep”

For the third time, Jesus asked the same question, Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him same question three times

But Peter responded and said, “Lord, you know all things, you know that I love you”

And again Jesus said, “Feed my sheep”

That clearly indicated that Jesus forgave Peter

That is is the resurrection that forgives our sin

HIS RESURRECTION OPENS MY EYES

On that same day when He was risen, two of his followers were going to a village called Emmaus, about 7 miles from Jerusalem

They were talking about what had just happened to Jesus

As they discussed these things, Jesus himself came up and walk alongside with them, but they were kept from recognizing Him

Jesus asked, “what are you discussing together, as you walk along?”

One of the two was named Cleopas asked Him, are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does now know the things that happened to Jesus of Nazareth?

As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued as if He was going farther

But they urged Him strongly to stay because the day is nearly over and they welcomed Him to stay with them for the night

Luke 24:30–31 NIV

30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.

To overcome your doubts you have to let Jesus open your eyes

HIS RESURRECTION OPENS MY MIND

Cleopas and his companion got up and returned to Jerusalem at once to report to the disciples about what they just witnessed

They said, “It’s true! The Lord has risen”!

While they were still talking about this, Jesus Himself stood among them and said, “peace be with you”

They were startled and frightened thinking they saw a ghost

Why are you troubled Jesus said, touch me. Look at my hand and my feet. It is I myself!

Touch me and see. A ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see I have, Jesus added

He even asked them for something that he could eat

They gave Him a piece of broiled fish and He ate it in their presence

Luke 24:44–45 NIV

44 He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” 45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.

To help you see your sin, you have to let Jesus open your minds

1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Repentance

Repentance

The difficulty some have in entering the doorway to the kingdom of God is like the experience of the boy who got his hand caught inside an expensive vase. His upset parents applied soap suds and cooking oil, without success. When they seemed ready to break the vase as the only way to release the hand, the frightened boy cried, “Would it help if I let loose of the penny I’m holding?”

So it is all too often with us. We cause others great anguish and risk the truly valuable because we will not let go of the insignificant things we possess today

Sermon Recap

DEFINE SIN

Lexham Theological Wordbook Passover

The first Passover was the event in which God “passed over” the Israelite homes in Egypt during the 10th plague.

It is an important Jewish festival celebrating the redemption of Israel from Egypt

The first Passover was the event in which God “passed over” the Israelite homes in Egypt during the 10th plague.

DEFINE SIN

The first Passover was the event in which God “passed over” the Israelite homes in Egypt during the 10th plague. At this time, a commemoration known as the Passover was established and celebrations were recorded in both the ot and nt. Jesus is figuratively referred to as the “Passover lamb” in the nt.

At this time, a commemoration known as the Passover was established and celebrations were recorded in both the ot and nt.

The first Passover was the event in which God “passed over” the Israelite homes in Egypt during the 10th plague. At this time, a commemoration known as the Passover was established and celebrations were recorded in both the ot and nt. Jesus is figuratively referred to as the “Passover lamb” in the nt.

Exodus 12:13 NLT

13 But the blood on your doorposts will serve as a sign, marking the houses where you are staying. When I see the blood, I will pass over you. This plague of death will not touch you when I strike the land of Egypt.

Guilt is an uncomfortable feeling to have

1 Corinthians 5:7 NLT

7 Get rid of the old “yeast” by removing this wicked person from among you. Then you will be like a fresh batch of dough made without yeast, which is what you really are. Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed for us.

Sorry is an uncomfortable word to say

It is through the death of Jesus that your debts were paid off

Hebrews 13:11–12 NLT

11 Under the old system, the high priest brought the blood of animals into the Holy Place as a sacrifice for sin, and the bodies of the animals were burned outside the camp. 12 So also Jesus suffered and died outside the city gates to make his people holy by means of his own blood.

Hebrews

During their last supper Jesus predicted Peter’s denial

Peter strongly insisted that he will not

Jesus said that on that very night, before the roster crows Peter will disown Him three times ()

Even those who are closest to the Lord are prone to sin

Peter, the most prominent among the twelve had sinned

Thomas, also one of the twelve.. doubted

But later on, the resurrected Christ forgave Peter and reinstated him that eventually became the originator of our christian movement..

The resurrected Christ erased the doubts of Thomas

The resurrected Christ opened the eyes of Cleopas and his companion

The Resurrected Christ opened the minds of his disciples

The resurrected Christ can change your circumstances

The resurrected Christ can change you

Let me close with a word from Paul…

CALL TO ACTION

Acts 17:30 NIV

30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.

You may have not heard the gospel until today

Perhaps you did hear this good news before but you did not totally get it

In case you haven’t noticed, the Resurrection of Jesus changed everything

It even changed the way how we date every letter we write, every check we cut, every appointment we schedule

And today it could change you

Let His resurrection change the course of your future

Wickedness leads to hopelessness and eternal damnation

While the Lord’s righteousness leads to happiness and eternal life

Jesus is calling…

Let His resurrection erase you doubts

Let His resurrection forgive your sin

Let His resurrection open your eyes

Let His resurrection open our mind