Forgiveness Can Be Yours

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I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’ (Acts 26:17-18)

forgiven
forgiven

Have you ever been haunted by your past? Do you have regrets about things you did years ago? Does the guilt of some past sin trouble you? One could ask the question here

How many people have to deal in one way or another with the guilt of their past sins. With the guilt of a past lifestyle?

The Bible tells us that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23)

Some sins seem bigger than others because their obvious consequences are much more serious. Murder, for example, seems to us to be worse than hatred, and adultery seems worse than pride. To others having certain orientations is the worst sin. We all tend to fancy ourselves as a good judge of who is a sinner. You know. Sinners judging sinners. “My sin is better than your sin.” But this does not mean that because we think that we only commit “little” sins that we deserve eternal life. The Bible is clear. All sins make us sinners, and all sins cut us off from our holy God. All sins, therefore, lead to death (because they disqualify us from living with God), regardless of how great or small they seem. We should never minimize “little” sins or overrate “big” sins. They all separate us from God.

The good news is that all sins can be forgiven.

What happens when we repress or try to cover up our guilt and to hide our sins? Deny our sins?

Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the LORD does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit. When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin. (Psalms 32:1-5, NIV)

When David denied his sin and tried to ignore his feelings of guilt, he experienced great emotional anxiety, spiritual trauma, , and even physical pain.

We are all so blessed that the Bible doesn’t just stop at Romans 3:23 in saying that ‘everyone has sinned and fallen short.” While that is certainly true, it is not the end of the story. Note that

“all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” (Rom 3:24)

And what happened when King David confessed his sins?

Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the LORD does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit. (Psalms 32:1-2, NIV)

You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you. Hear my prayer, LORD; listen to my cry for mercy. When I am in distress, I call to you, because you answer me. (Psalms 86:5-7, NIV)

How can we personally receive the peace and the pardon that Jesus so freely offers?

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

How does the Bible describe what it looks like to confess our sin? What should our attitude be towards sin once we have confessed it?

Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea. (Micah 7:18-19, NIV)

God delights to show his unfailing love! He does not forgive grudgingly but is glad when we repent, and he offers forgiveness to all who come back to him. Today you can confess your sins and receive his loving forgiveness. Don’t be too proud to accept God’s free offer.

as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. (Psalms 103:12, NIV)

East and west can never meet. This is a symbolic portrait of God’s forgiveness: When he forgives our sin, he separates it from us and doesn’t even remember it. We need never wallow in the past, for God forgives and forgets. We tend to dredge up the ugly past, but God has wiped our record clean. If we are to follow God, we must model his forgiveness. When we forgive another, we must also forget the sin. Otherwise we have not truly forgiven.

No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the LORD,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the LORD. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” (Jer 31:34, NIV)

In place of our inherited condemnation, shame, and guilt of sin, Jesus offers us “something better.”

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.
(Mat 11:28-29, MSG)

“Come to me all of you who are tired from the heavy burden you have been forced to carry. I will give you rest. Accept my teaching. Learn from me. I am gentle and humble in spirit. And you will be able to get some rest. (Mat 11:28-29, ERV)

Jesus also promises

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. (Isa 26:3, KJV)

The greatest burdens for anyone to bear is guilt. And I think coming in second place right behind that would be doubt. The absolute heaviest load is the load of sin. The peace of Jesus can replace our load of sin.

When we accept Jesus, repent of our sins, ask for and receive the gift of salvation that Jesus offers, we still have to live in our world of heartache sorrow and tragedy. But one day soon Jesus will return as “The Prince of Peace” to finally bring everlasting peace for all of God’s people. While we live in this world’s turmoil and conflict, Jesus says “Let not your heart be troubled…I will come again. (John 14:1-3)

Remember always, God loves you and His promises are for you

I’m leaving you well and whole. That’s my parting gift to you. Peace. I don’t leave you the way you’re used to being left—feeling abandoned, bereft. So don’t be upset. Don’t be distraught. “You’ve heard me tell you, ‘I’m going away, and I’m coming back.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I’m on my way to the Father because the Father is the goal and purpose of my life. (John 14:27-28, MSG)

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
(Jer 29:11-13, NIV)

My friends, Jesus is coming. Signs of the times are fast fulfilling. Bible prophecy is waiting for no one. There are not too many stages of prophecy that still need to be fulfilled. Jesus is inviting us all, today, to have His peace in our hearts and homes.

I wonder. Have we, the church, thought seriously about why Jesus has not come back yet? As I have pondered this question and studied my Bible on the matter, one thought keeps coming out loud and clear. It is found in Mat 24:14, KJV

And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

Jesus said that before he returns, the Good News about the Kingdom, (the message of salvation) would be preached throughout the world AS A WITNESS to everyone. This was the disciples’ mission—and it is ours today. Jesus talked about the end times and final judgment to show his followers the urgency of spreading the Good News of salvation to everyone. And the good news is that Jesus wins. Satan loses.

In Mat 24:14, Jesus was very clear when He said “as a witness.” In other words, as a personal testimony on “what we have seen and heard and handled of the Word of life.” (1 John 1:1-3) So many of us have chose to just serve people with our beliefs, assert our doctrines, yet there is no testimony of a personal experience with Jesus. The Gospel, instead of being preached “as a witness” to people is being subverted to dry theory when all the while devoid of the character of Christ. As a witness,” means personal testimony

They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. (Rev 12:11,1 John 1:1-3)

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete. (1 John 1:1-4)

Jesus advocated for us to experience life “more abundantly.” Thats why Jesus came down to earth! (John 10:10)

And when we share our testimony, the Bible is clear. A winning personal testimony “makes our joy complete.” (1 John 1:4)

As our opening text says: if there is no “personal witness” then its not the gospel that needs to be preached all over the world to everyone. No matter how many Bible verses we quote.

You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you. Hear my prayer, LORD; listen to my cry for mercy. When I am in distress, I call to you, because you answer me. (Psalms 86:5-7, NIV)

Not through controversy and discussion is the soul enlightened. We must look and live. Nicodemus received the lesson, and carried it with him. He searched the Scriptures in a new way, not for the discussion of a theory, but in order to receive life for the soul. He began to see the kingdom of heaven as he submitted himself to the leading of the Holy Spirit. {DA 175.2}

There are thousands today who need to learn the same truth that was taught to Nicodemus by the uplifted serpent. They depend on their obedience to the law of God to commend them to His favor. When they are bidden to look to Jesus, and believe that He saves them solely through His grace, they exclaim, “How can these things be?” {DA 175.3}

Like Nicodemus, we must be willing to enter into life in the same way as the chief of sinners. Than Christ, “there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12. Through faith we receive the grace of God; but faith is not our Savior. It earns nothing. It is the hand by which we lay hold upon Christ, and appropriate His merits, the remedy for sin. And we cannot even repent without the aid of the Spirit of God. The Scripture says of Christ, “Him hath God exalted with His right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.” Acts 5:31. Repentance comes from Christ as truly as does pardon. {DA 175.4}

How, then, are we to be saved? “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness,” so the Son of man has been lifted up, and everyone who has been deceived and bitten by the serpent may look and live. “Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world.” John 1:29. The light shining from the cross reveals the love of God. His love is drawing us to Himself. If we do not resist this drawing, we shall be led to the foot of the cross in repentance for the sins that have crucified the Savior. Then the Spirit of God through faith produces a new life in the soul. The thoughts and desires are brought into obedience to the will of Christ. The heart, the mind, are created anew in the image of Him who works in us to subdue all things to Himself. Then the law of God is written in the mind and heart, and we can say with Christ, “I delight to do Thy will, O my God.” Psalm 40:8. {DA 175.5}

Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the LORD does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit. When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin. (Psalms 32:1-5, NIV)

And that my friends is the gospel. There is forgiveness in Christ.

** Next week we will study what the Bible says about How To Give A Winning Personal Testimony.