Forgiveness part 1

- By virtue of the fall of man all men have become sinners.
- Sin is the one thing that will keep men out of heaven; heaven is a holy
place and nothing evil shall ever enter there.
- The keynote to getting to heaven is forgiveness: if God forgives us our
sins then no one will be able to prevent us from entering heaven.
- To sinful man, forgiveness because the most important problem in his
life.
- In the Old Testament there are three are three words for forgiveness:
One means “to cover”; another is “to lift away”; & the third means “to
send away”.
- In the New testament forgiveness is the separation of the sinner from his
sins through the sacrifice of Christ & upon the ground of pure grace.

I. the Author of Forgiveness
God Alone
- Since the sinner has broken the law of God, only God can forgive him of that sin. When you break the law of God no man can forgive; only God can
forgive you.
Luke 7:49
- The other guests began to say among themselves, “ Who is this who
even forgives sins?”
Mark 2:7
- “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can
forgive sins but God alone”.
- The Jews in both cases are correct for only God can forgive sin.
- Never go to a human being for forgiveness; go directly to the One sinned
against.
1 John 1:9
- If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just & will forgive us our
sins & purify us from all unrighteousness.
- He, the Lord God, the holy One, the giver of the law, is willing to forgive
sinners.
- because Jesus is both God & the Son of God, He has been appointed to
forgive sin.
Acts 5:31
- God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince & Savior that he
might give repentance & forgiveness of sins to Israel.

II. The Channel of Forgiveness
Jesus Christ
Acts 13:38
- Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus
the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.
- This is the wonderful message of salvation to sin burdened souls.
- In Luke 7:48, the Savior personally forgave the woman, “ Thy sins are
forgiven”.
- In Mark 2:9, Jesus personally forgave the paralytic man, “Which is easier
to say to the paralytic, Your sins are forgiven, or to say, Get up
take your mat & walk?
- Jesus is not here bodily today but He is here invisibly ready to forgive
each one of us.
- Forgiveness cannot be found in any church, sacrament or ordinance but is
found in Christ alone.

III. The Foundation of Forgiveness
- Forgiveness is bestowed on the ground of the Lord’s compassion.
Psalm 78:38
- Yet he was merciful; he forgave their iniquities and did not destroy
them. Time after time he restrained his anger and did not stir up his
full wrath.
- Forgiveness is bestowed on the ground of divine justice.
1 John 1:9
- If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just & will forgive us our
sins & purify us from all unrighteousness. ( God can forgive sin
and yet remain holy & just.
- Forgiveness is bestowed on the basis of the Blood of Christ.
Ephesians 1:7
- In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of
sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.
- By blood is meant the propitiatory work of Christ. On the cross He shed
His blood as a ransom & complete payment for our eternal redemption.

- God has decreed in Ezekiel 18:4
- For every living soul belongs to me, the father as well as the son –
both alike belong to me. The soul who sins is the one who will die.
- Sin brought death, & because man sinned, as a consequence he must die.
Genesis 2:17
- but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good & evil
for when you eat of it you will surely die.
- God has always required blood, symbolical of death as payment for sin.
- To cover the nakedness of Adam & Eve, blood was shed to get the coats
of skin, Genesis 3:21
- The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam & his wife & clothed
them.
- Abel’s offering was accepted because it contained blood, and Cain’s
offering was rejected because it did not have blood.
Genesis 4: 3-5
- In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil
as an offering to the Lord. but Abel brought fat portion from some
of the firstborn of the flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel &
his offering. but on Cain & his offering he did not look with favor. so
Cain was very angry, & his face was downcast.
Leviticus 17:11
- For the life of a creature is in the blood, & I have given it to you to
make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes
atonement for one’s life.

Reference: One Hundred bible lessons by: Alban Douglas