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The Beauty of the Forgiveness of Sin

Forgiveness Sermon Outline

INTRODUCTION:

A. For several Sundays we have been discussing sin. We have studied:

1. The origin of sin

2. What sin is

3. Kinds of sin

4. What sin will do to you

5. Improper attitudes toward sin

6. Proper attitudes toward sin

7. Helps in overcoming sin

B. In our lesson of this hour we will be discussing the “The Beauty of the Forgiveness of Sin,” notice first that …

DISCUSSION:

A. OUR GOD IS A FORGIVING FATHER

1. Because our God is a God who pardons

a. Micah 7:18

b. Isaiah 43:25

2. Because God is a God ready to pardon

a. Nehemiah 9:17

b. It is encouraging to know that at any time we are ready to repent the Lord is ready to forgive

3. Because God is a God that abundantly pardons

a. Isaiah 55:7

b. There is nothing that skimpy about God’s forgiveness

4. Because the account of the prodigal son emphasizes the fact that God forgives (Lk. 15:11-32)

a. In fact, the parable could be called the “parable of the forgiving father”

b. God loves us as sons and will forgive us as such

5. Because God is so merciful He is so forgiving

a. Psalm 103:8-11 … God is merciful because He is abundant in loving-kindness

b. 2 Corinthians 1:3

c. Ephesians 2:4

6. Another of the beauties of the forgiveness of sin is …

B. GOD WILL FORGIVE THE LOWEST AND VILEST OF SINNERS

1. So many have needlessly despaired saying, “I’m too mean,” or “I’ve gone too far,” or “I’ve sunk too deep” in sin to be forgiven

a. Nothing is further from the truth

b. God will forgive the most terrible of sinners

2. God promises to forgive us of “all” sin

a. 1 John 1:9

b. This forgiveness, of course, is contingent on our obedience to God’s will

3. Isaiah 1:18

a. Some suggest that scarlet means double-dyed, twice dipped

b. Thus, though dipped in the vat of vile pollution again and again, there is still hope!

c. Hope and pardon is available even for the double-dyed sinner.

4. God’s love has depth

a. Ephesians 3:17-19

b. Christ’s love will reach in the lowest sphere of life and into the deepest abyss of guilt

C. WHAT IS FORGIVENESS?

1. We can learn what forgiveness is by observing what God does when He forgives:

a. Removes the notation of the offence from His record (Acts 3:19)

b. Remembers the sin no more – ever (Heb. 8:12)

c. Restores the offender to his former position of love and grace (Lk. 15:11-32)

2. We learn what forgiveness is noting what God does with our sins when they are forgiven:

a. He covers them (Psa. 32:1)

b. He casts them behind His back (Isa. 38:17)

c. He removes them from us as far as the east is from the west (Psa. 103:12)

d. He obliterates them from His memory forever (Jer. 31:34)

e. He blots them from His record (Isa. 44:22)

f. He does not impute them (Psa. 32:2)

g. He will never mention them again (Eze. 18:22)

4. We can learn what forgiveness is by studying the biblical synonyms for forgiveness of sin:

a. Remission (Acts 2:38)

b. Cleansing (Jn. 15:3)

c. Justification (Rom. 3:24-25)

d. Pardon (Psa. 25:11)

e. Blotting (Acts 3:19)

f. Healing (Matt. 13:15)

g. Freedom (Col. 1:13-14)

h. Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:17-21)

D. THE BLOOD OF JESUS IS THE DIVINE REMEDY FOR SIN

1. Good works are not the remedy

a. Ephesians 2:8-10

b. Titus 3:3-5

c. There is no way that we can do enough to save ourselves by our own meritorious works – man cannot earn salvation

2. Money is not the remedy

a. Zephaniah 1:18

b. Acts 8:20

3. Distance is not the remedy

a. Psalm 139:7-12

b. Some have been known to sin, even grievously, moved hundreds of miles away, and act as though nothing has ever happened

c. Distance does not obliterate sin

4. In Christ – His cross, His blood – yea, in Him alone is the remedy for sin to be found

a. It is through Christ and His blood that we enjoy:

1) Remission (Mt. 26:28)

2) Redemption (Eph. 1:7)

3) Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:19)

4) Washing (Rev. 7:14)

5) Cleansing (1 Jn. 1:7-10)

6) Justification (Rom. 5:9)

7) Sanctification (Heb. 10:10)

8) Purging (Heb. 9:14)

b. It is a Must to Remember Acts 4:12

F. FORGIVENESS IS CONDITIONAL

1. Forgiveness is conditional for the alien sinner

a. Matthew 7:21

b. Hebrews 5:8-9

c. The alien must ask the question: “What must I do to be saved?” – and of course, he must obey the gospel

2. Forgiveness is conditional for the Christian

a. There must be genuine repentance

b. Some sins need only be confessed in private

1) Daniel 9:1-23 is an example

2) Confession is not to announce sin, but to manifest repentance for said sins

c. Some sins need to be confessed to the offended

1) Matthew 5:23-24

2) Luke 17:3-4

3) A general confession does not suffice

d. Some sins need to be confessed publicly

1) James 5:16

2) The confession of sin should be as public as the sin is public

CONCLUSION:

Are your sins forgiven?

*Thoughts gleaned from Wendell Winkler