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FORGIVENESS

Who forgives my sins – God or Jesus?

Geoff Hanns, Windsor Gardens

QUESTIONS

God Exodus 34:6-7 Yahweh …Forgiving iniquity and

transgression and sinChrist

Mark 2:1-10 Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins,

The Apostles John 20:21-23 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be

unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

WHO CAN FORGIVE SINS?

Have I committed the ‘unforgivable sin’?

QUESTIONS

Matthew 12:22-39 Context is miracles of healing Clear demonstration of God’s power through

the gift of the holy spirit Miracle attributed to the power of ‘evil’ Effectively saying sin is a greater power than

God Requires not just ignoring the evidence but

deliberately tortuous logic

BLASPHEMY AGAINST HOLY SPIRIT

Hebrews 6:1-8Context:Brethren converted from Judaism (v1)Have received one or more of the holy spirit gifts (vv2, 4-5)Then revert back to Judaism (v6)

Cannot be renewed because they have:Tasted of immortality and rejected itEffectively crucified Christ twiceUsed God’s clearly demonstrated power to produce the

works of the flesh

IMPOSSIBLE TO RENEW THEM

For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

II PETER 2:20-22

Saved out of EgyptSaw clear demonstrations of God’s powerHeard God’s voiceSome of them received the holy spirit gifts

Their Response:Numbers 14:3 were it not better for us to return into Egypt?

Wanted to return to bondageExodus 32:4 These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

Attributed miracles to the power of evil

EXAMPLE OF ISRAEL

God’s Response:Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice; Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it:

Numbers 14:22-23

EXAMPLE OF ISRAEL

Can I ask God to forgive someone else’s sin?

QUESTIONS

And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.

I John 5:15-17

PRAYING FOR OTHERS’ SINS

I often repeat a sin I have been forgiven for. Does this mean that I haven’t repented? Does this in turn mean God hasn’t forgiven me?

QUESTIONS

Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

Matthew 18:21-22

Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.

Luke 17:3-4

RECIDIVISM & FORGIVENESS

Pardon is not licence to go the same as before. In practice it has to be admitted that we are compelled to confess the same sins time and again. Notwithstanding, it is one thing to strive for success and fail through weakness, sorrowfully hating the failure. It is quite another to fail through seeking the occasions of sin deliberately

Dennis Gillett, Genius of Discipleship

REPEATED SINS

Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

Jude 1:24-25

Not only does God forgive our sins, he helps us not sin in the first place

GOD OUR SAVIOUR

When are my sins forgiven – now or at the judgement seat?

QUESTIONS

II Samuel 12:13And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.

David confesses, God forgives immediately David suffers consequences of sin, but sin is

still ‘put away’

FORGIVENESS NOW?

Matthew 9:2-7and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee … For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk? … Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house. And he arose, and departed to his house.

Physical healing is symbolic of forgiveness The physical healing was immediate It follows that the forgiveness was also immediate

FORGIVENESS NOW?

Is the angel going to bring up every sin I have failed to ask forgiveness for at the judgement seat?

QUESTIONS

Luk 12:32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Rom 14:4 Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

Jud 1:24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

Rom 8:33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.

Heb 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

GOD REALLY REALLY WANTS US IN HIS KINGDOM

Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after. Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.

I Timothy 5:24-25

Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.

Psalm 37:5-6

IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT THE BAD THINGS …

Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

I John 4:17-18

AGAPE LOVE

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FORGIVENESS