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The Beauty of the Forgiveness of Sin While we have looked at the horrible nature of sin, the joy is that one does not have to live in it. |
The Beauty Of The Forgiveness Of Sin
Sin indeed is vile, but we rejoice that sin can be forgiven
- God is a forgiving Father: He pardons (Micah 7:18; Isa. 43:25) readily (Neh. 9:17); and abundantly (Isa. 55:7); pictured in the prodigal son (Lk. 15:11-32); indeed His mercy is great (Ps. 103:8-11; 2 Cor. 1:3; Eph. 2:4).
- God is willing to forgive all: no one is excluded from His offer of forgiveness (1 John 1:9); no matter how low one has sunk, He will forgive (Isa. 1:18; 1 Tim. 1:15; Eph. 3:17-19).
- Understanding Forgiveness:
- What God does: removes notation of offence (Acts 3:19), remembers it no more (Heb. 8:12), restores the offender (Lk. 15:11-32).
- What God does with our sins: covers (Ps. 32:1); casts behind His back (Isa. 38:17); removes as far as the east from the west (Ps. 103:12); obliterates from His memory (Heb. 8:12); blots from his record (Isa. 44:22); does not impute (Rom 4:8); never mentions again (Eze 18:22).
- Synonyms: Remission (Acts 2:38); Cleansing (Acts 22:16; 1 Cor. 6:11); Justification (Rom. 3:24); Pardon (Ps. 25:11); Blotting (Acts 3:!9); Healing (Matt. 13:15); Freedom (Col. 1:13-14; Rom. 6:18); Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:19).
- What brings about this forgiveness?
- Not time (2 Pet. 3:8); not good works (Eph. 2:8-10; Titus 3:3-5); not money (Zeph. 1:18; Acts 8:20); not distance (Ps. 139:7-12).
- Only the blood of Christ (Acts 4:12)—it provides for remission (Matt. 26:28); redemption (Eph. 1:7; Heb. 9:12); reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:19); washing (Rev. 7:14); cleansing (1 John 1:7-10); justification (Rom. 5:9); sanctification (Heb. 10:10); purging (Heb. 9:14).
- But it is conditional:
- Alien sinner (Matt. 7:21; Heb. 5:8-9; Rev. 22:14) – obey the gospel.
- Christian – must repent and confess (Acts 8:23-24; 1 John 1:9; To God and others – Matt 5:23-24; Luke 17:3-4; James 5:16).
