The rambling thoughts of a college professor/cancer survivor trying to figure life out.
Sunday, January 10, 2021
Forgiveness
Forgiveness
I.
Meaning of the term forgiveness
A.
In the Old Testament there are
three words for forgiveness
1.
“to cover” kaphar
2.
“to lift away” nasa'
3.
“to send away” calach
B.
In the Greek it means to “let go”
or “send away” ἀφίημι (ä-fē'-ā-mē)
C.
“In the New Testament
forgiveness is the separation of the sinner from his sins through the sacrifice
of Christ and upon the ground of pure grace” – R.G. Lee
D.
The word remission is often used in connection with forgiveness.
1.
It is a derivative of the Greek word translated forgive
2.
It means freedom, or pardon
II.
Alternatives to Forgiveness
A.
“God might conceivably have
dealt with sin by ignoring it. But this
would have been a denial of His Word and a disregarding of His holy law. The Almighty will not permanently wink at
man’s iniquity. He will never enter into
collusion with the sinner. Sin merits,
and will receive death. From this there
is no escape. A God who could ignore sin
would not be the God of the Bible.” --
Woodbridge, Handbook of Christian Truth
B.
Compromising with sin
1.
“God might presumably solve the sin problem by bargaining with the
sinner. He might accept in payment for
sin man’s offering of character or of deeds well done. Thus God might balance good against evil and
on such a basis waive the penalty for sin.
But this could never be. To enter
into such an agreement with creatures who have rebelled against Him would be to
deny His own character of holiness and righteousness.” – Woodbridge, Handbook of Christian Truth
2.
“Divine forgiveness is never an act of leniency; God can righteously forgive only when the
full satisfaction of His holiness has been met.” -- Lewis Sperry Chafer, He That Is Spiritual
C.
There is no alternative for
forgiveness
III.
The Author of Forgiveness
A.
God Alone
1.
Forgiveness is the Divine prerogative
2.
As sinners, we have broken the law of God, therefore, only God can
forgive us.
B.
The channel of forgiveness is
Jesus Christ
1.
The fact that Jesus forgave people of their sins was an issue of
contention with the Jewish leaders (Mark 2:7)
2.
Jesus had the right to forgive sin because He was God manifest in
the flesh.
3.
Acts 13:38 “Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is
preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:”
IV.
The Foundation or Basis for
Forgiveness
A.
Forgiveness is bestowed on the
foundation of the Lords compassion.
Psalm 78:38 “But He, being full
of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not…”
B.
Forgiveness is bestowed on the
grounds of Divine Justice. I John 1:9
“…He is faithful and just to forgive ….”
C.
Forgiveness is bestowed on the
basis of the Blood of Christ. Eph. 1:7 “In whom we have redemption through His blood, the
forgiveness of sins…”
V.
Who needs Forgiveness?
A.
Those who require forgiveness
for salvation (sinners)
B.
Those who require forgiveness
for fellowship (believers)
VI.
The Extent of God’s
Forgiveness
A.
When God forgives sinners, the
pardon is complete.
B.
When Jesus forgives, He
forgives all sin.
1.
Luke 7:47 “Wherefore I say
unto you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to
whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.”
2.
“Who forgives all thine iniquities” Psalm 103:3
3.
“… having forgiven you all trespasses” Colossians 2:13
C.
The distance God removes our
sins from us is infinite. Psalm 103:12
D.
Sins forgiven are sins
forgotten
1.
Hebrews 10:17 “And their
sins and iniquities I will remember no more.”
2.
“When they are forgiven, they are erased, not only from God’s book
of records, but also from His book of remembrance.” – Woodbridge, Handbook of Christian Truth
VII.
The Conditions of Forgiveness
A.
Repentance (Acts 2:38; 5:31)
B.
Faith. Luke 7:50 “Thy faith hath saved thee” ;
repentances led to faith and forgiveness.
C.
Confession (I John 1:9; Psalm
32:5)
D.
Forgiving others
1.
“God has given us a mind to remember and a heart to forgive.” -- David Lintz
2.
Ephesians 4:32 “And be ye kind to one another, tenderhearted,
forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”
VIII.
The frequency of forgiveness
A.
How many times will our
Heavenly Father forgive us?
1.
As often as we sin and confess our sin. I John 1:7
2.
Repentance also involves forsaking sin – “We cannot expect God to
take away sin by forgiving it if we do not put it away by forsaking it.” –
Vance Havner
B.
How often should we forgive
someone who sins against us? (Matthew
18:21-35)
IX.
The Possession of Forgiveness
A.
“We have”, a present
possession. Many expect to wait until
after death to know whether or not they have been forgiven. The Gospel brings the glad news of a
forgiveness that is a present possession.
Ephesians 1:7
1.
The woman in Luke 7:36-50 received forgiveness immediately.
2.
I John 2:12, “I write unto you, little children, because your sins
are forgiven you for His Name’s sake.”
B.
We present a positive Gospel
message that men might know assuredly here and now that their sins have been
forgiven beyond the shadow of a doubt.
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