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.
As sinners each of us face a death sentence as well – We deserve death. In Genesis 3 we discover sin entering the world through Adam’s disobedience Rom 5:12, Sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned
Good news is revealed in that while we are sinners who deserve to die – we face no condemnation because we are in Christ Jesus. Paul says there is no condemnation neither sentencing or punishment for those in Christ Jesus.
Now here is the amazing thing about the forgiveness of God. Let’s go back to our opening illustration about Pete Rose, everyone seems to think he can be reinstated back into baseball if he simply apologizes and admits he did bet on baseball. And he will probably be reinstated – Popular opinion is on his side, other players think he should be brought back into the fold; even die hard purist will eventually break down and let him join the ranks of MLB.
But it is not that simple for God – we cannot simply say we are sorry and we did wrong and we are brought back into good graces with God. No to have sin removed required a sacrifice – a shedding of blood. First the priest offered sacrifices – sin offering lamb for atonement for sin. Since the time of Moses God made a provision to have the sins rolled back. While the people were forgiven it did not cover all the sins of all people – only those who lived under the law. The lamb in the Old Testament was simply a preview of what would happen in through Jesus – Remember the words of John the Baptist – BEHOLD THE LAMB THAT TAKES AWAY THE SIN OF THE WORLD - living in Israel you understood that phrase very well. The Lamb would have to die! God’s provision of salvation came not through Christ’s perfect teaching or through His perfect life but through His perfect sacrifice on the cross. It is through Christ’s death, not His life, that God provides the way of salvation. For those who place their trust in Christ and in what He has done on their behalf there is therefore now no condemnation.
We are forgiven not because of what we do or do not do, but because God provided salvation for us in the death of Jesus Christ.
2. The Good News has a Condition
We are to be “IN CHRIST” Being a Christian is not simply being outwardly identified with Christ but being part of Christ, not simply of being united with Him but united in Him.
There is a condition to receiving this forgiveness. You see there is only one group of people to whom this wonderful assurance and a truth apply. As it says in verse 1 “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” This means those who have placed their faith (trust /commitment) in Jesus. There is no other way to escape the guilt and punishment of any wrong in your life.
Understand you are not forgiven because you …
Attend church
Have your name of the church role
Give a portion of your income to charity
Do great deeds of service
You are forgiven because you are in Christ – you are a part of him and he is a part of you. Too many people try to tie forgiveness to something they do, but Paul says it is just not possible.
The Jews had this problem they thought if they kept the law, if they obeyed the commandments they would be forgiven and thus find eternal life
Remember the Rich Young Ruler – “WHAT MUST I DO TO INHERIT ETERNAL LIFE? What did Jesus say – Keep the commandments I DID, one thing you lack sale all you have give to the poor and follow me. Be identified with me!
WHAT IDENTIFIES YOU? Nothing else matters unless you are in Christ!
3. The Good News brings about change.
We have a new mind set Vs. 5, Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. What do you desire most are they the things of this world or are they the things of the Spirit. Do you want to know more about Christ and his ways or are you content to live in a level of worldly mediocrity? When you are forgiven when you realize what Christ did for you – your desires should naturally be for him. Yes you will struggle with sin, but because you are in Christ you will be forgiven when you fall.
You will live to please God Vs. 8, Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. Because we are forgiven we should live our life to please God. This is where Christianity is lived out. In the day-to-day realm of relationships, spiritual discipline and service.
Vertical and horizontal relationships – My relationship to God and to fellow man
To please God I will discipline myself to spend time in his word, prayer, fasting so that I will know on an intimate basis.
I will see my service to him not as a works of earning my salvation but as a way of showing appreciation for the forgiveness that was given to me at the expense of Christ Jesus.
We live as forgiven people. Vss. 3-4, For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit. Paul says we are made righteous because the requirements have been fulfilled. Therefore we live as forgiven people – God is our sin, banished is our guilt. Removed is our punishment – why? Because Christ took our sins to the cross so that we can announce we are forgiven but not only to announce we are forgiven but also to live as forgiven people. We do not need to be ashamed or fearful Remember vs. 1 there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Maybe you’ve heard about the 3 ministers who went fishing one day, all friends who pastored different churches in the same town. While they were fishing they began confessing their sins to each other... The first minister said, "Do you know what my big sin is? My big sin is drinking. I know it’s wrong, but every Friday night I drive to a city where no one will recognize me and I go to a saloon and get drunk! I know I shouldn’t, but I can’t help it, it’s my big sin." The second minister said, "Well fellas, to be honest with you, I’ve got a big sin too...my big sin is gambling. As a matter of fact, you know all the money I raised for that mission trip to India? I took it to Las Vegas instead and lost it all! I’m so ashamed, my big sin is gambling." Finally it was the third pastor’s turn. He said, "Guys, I probably should have gone first, because my big sin is GOSSIP—and I can’t wait to get back to town!" Now I don’t know what your sins are, but something I do know is that we are all sinners—and the one thing that we need all need is the certainty of forgiveness
DECISION TIME - God’s great treasure is forgiveness he grants it to us freely but it came with a price – Death of his only son Jesus. Today I wonder if there are people living in such away as they don’t realize how much God loves them?
God cannot forgive me I have done, ___________________________.
I will straighten my life up and then I will come to God – It cannot be done
The only way to find forgiveness is to find it IN CHRIST
It is this simply if you do not have a relationship with Christ you are not forgiven, you will die in your sins and you face the eternal judgment God has prepared for the devil and his angels. Basically you are powerless – But if you are in Christ you know the feel power of forgiveness. God removes our sin as far as the east from the west.
Are you in Christ? If not we invite you today to come and discover the treasure of God’s grace a life in the Spirit, a life without guilt a life of righteousness. IN CHRIST.
