God's Treasure - The Gift Of Forgiveness Series

INTRODUCTION, Over a three-decade career in baseball, Pete Rose earned the nickname "Charlie Hustle" for his aggressive play and desire to win. He set dozens of records — including breaking Ty Cobb’s record for the most hits ever. That achievement, on Sept. 11, 1985, earned him a nine-minute ovation.

But in 1989, reports emerged that Rose, then the Reds’ manager, was gambling on baseball. After a six-month investigation by Major League Baseball, on Aug. 24 of that year, he agreed to leave baseball for life; but wouldn’t have to admit or deny that he bet on Major League Baseball. Part of the agreement allowed Rose to apply for reinstatement after a year. Rose says he regrets lying to baseball officials in 1989. "People have to understand I wish this would have never happened," he said. "But I can’t change it, it’s happened. And sitting here in my position, you’re just looking for a second chance." He hopes to be reinstated by Major League Baseball now that he has admitted his past mistakes and insists he no longer gambles illegally.

Statically Pete Rose was one of the best players in Baseball – he holds 12 Major League records. He is the only player in Major League history to play more than 500 games at five different Positions-1B (939) 2B (628) 3B (634) LF (671) RF (595).

He holds seven national league records including 7 twenty game or more hitting streaks.

And yet he is not in the Hall of Fame because of rule 21 (d) in the code of conduct for MLB.

All the games, all the records, all the praise and it is for naught. Why! Because he bet on baseball – not just baseball he also admitted he bet on his own team in 1987, 88 while he was the manager.

Today Pete Rose does not want another hit, another contract, another game – he simply wants reinstatement! To be brought back into MLB, there he may have an opportunity to be elected into the Hall of Fame and possibly manage the team he loves the Cincinnati Reds

He is guilty of committing a grievous error in baseball and that one error is keeping him from all that he desires today. Even if he is reinstated there is no guarantee he will be elected into the Hall of Fame. There still is a vote by the baseball writers and though popular opinion would like to see him in the Hall, He will still need a 75% vote from the baseball writers.

What Pete Rose needs is forgiveness. He needs to wipe the slate clean, to begin fresh.

That is the difference between the world and God. The world can offer reinstatement – putting you back in the circle to give you opportunity but only God can offer true forgiveness – the ability to wipe away our sins.

We begin a new series today called treasures from God. In Romans 8 Paul list 5 treasures God has given us through Jesus Christ. Forgiveness, the Holy Spirit, Hope, Security and Eternal Love.

Today I want us to discover the first treasure – Forgiveness.

The example of Pete Rose illustrates for us why forgiveness is such a treasure for the Christian. Rose has the stats, the following the recognition and yet he cannot have what he wants most a shot at immortality by being elected into the Hall of Fame. And yet he is disqualified because of rule 21 (d)

In the same way as Christians, we can try to live by a more code, practice spiritual disciplines and do all the things Christians are supposed to do – yet we are disqualified from eternal life because of one thing – sin – one sin can keep us out of Heaven, One sin severs our relationship with God, one sin caused the son of God to leave heaven and die on the cross.

YET ALL SIN CAN BE WIPED AWAY THROUGH FORGIVENESS

TODAY I HOPE YOU LEAVE HEAR WITH A GREAT APPRECIATION FOR GOD’S TREASURE – FORGIVENESS

READ TEXT – ROMANS 8:1-

1. The Good News Revealed

Paul says, Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. Rom 8:1-2

The word Condemnation has it’s meaning in the idea of a penalty for a crime. Paul state in Romans 6:23 the penalty was death – that is what one earned for the sin they committed.

We speak of one who is condemned as one who is hopeless, he is guilty of his sin and there is no escape he must pay for his crime.

You may have remembered the old Lee Marvin Movie “The Dirty Dozen”, the movie begins with 12 men being introduced to Marvin as condemned men – some face lengthy or life sentences in prison, while others face death sentence. But Marvin offers them one way out of their sentence – they have to earn their freedom – by participating in a special mission. The mission is dangerous but all of the men accept – why because when you are condemned, when you are in your hopeless situation you will do anything to be removed from the condemned listed.