Den Of Iniquity Series

How could God wash away all his iniquity?

THIS MAN DESERVED TO GO TO HELL!!!

(pause) But then… so do I.

(pause) And so do you.

Now, granted some people are better at sinning than others, but “the wages of sin (ANY SIN) is death”. And we’ve all sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Not one of us in this building DESERVES to go to heaven.

You know, the Bible is filled with people who did bad things and made bad decisions.

Jacob lied and cheated his brother.

Judah spent time with a woman he thought was a prostitute

Moses killed an Egyptian task master.

Peter denied Christ.

Paul persecuted the church and was responsible for the deaths of many Christians.

And of course – David committed adultery and murder by proxy.

As Paul noted about himself… “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners — of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.” I Timothy 1:15-16

Paul was saying that God showed HIM mercy … to prove it could be done.

Until you understand that you are not worthy of forgiveness, but that you have been given mercy and grace, you’re not going to fully understand what you have in Jesus.

ILLUS: I read about a time when Napoleon passed sentence on one of his soldiers and the sentence was death. The young man’s mother came to Napoleon seeking a pardon for her son. The emperor replied that justice demanded death.

"But I don't ask for justice," the mother explained. "I plead for mercy."

"But your son does not deserve mercy," Napoleon replied.

"Sir, it would not be mercy if he deserved it, and mercy is all I ask for."

God gives His mercy to those who seek Him on His terms.

He gives it those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God.

He gives it those who are willing to recognize that they have sinned and are willing to repent of that sin.

He gives it those who are willing to make Jesus the Lord and Master of their lives.

He gives it those who are willing to allow themselves to be buried the waters of baptism and rise up to newness of life.

And he gives it those who are then willing to live the rest of their lives for Him.

One of my favorite passages of Scripture is in Psalm 103… where we’re told

“The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.

As a FATHER shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.” Psalm 103:8-14

Granted, there may still be earthly consequences for certain sins… but when we come to Him on His terms, God will bring healing to your soul and hope for your future.

INVITATION