"Forgiven, Forgotten, Amen!"
1 John 1:1-10
Scripture Reading
1 John 1:1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; 2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) 3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. 5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Introduction: There is one doctrine that separates Christianity from all other world religions and it is what Christianity declares about the forgiveness of sin.
In all other world religions you have to die for your god; in Christianity your God dies for you! He dies so that your sins can be forgiven. Why is it important for us to have our sins forgiven?
If God didn't forgive sinners, heaven would be empty!
I. The Authority of the Scripture
a. The person who forgives our sins
First, forgiveness of sin is based on the "Word of Life." What or who is this a reference too? It is clear that John is referring to Jesus Christ. The reason God forgives sin is because of the "Word of Life."
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
b. The power to forgive our sins
Jesus clearly established that He had the power to forgive sin.
Matthew 9:1 And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city. 2 And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee. 3 And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth. 4 And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? 5 For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk? 6 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house. 7 And he arose, and departed to his house.
c. The propitiation that makes forgiveness possible
What does this word mean? It is used on two times in the NT and has the idea of appeasement, or satisfying one who has been wronged. Literally it means to appease or conciliate somebody or something or to win ones favor.
1 John 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
"The propitiation is as wide as the sin"
Vincent Word Studies
Martin Luther wrote that this was not just for Peter's sin or Paul's sin by for my sin!
Second, forgiveness of sin is based on:
II. The Admission of the Sinner
A PREREQUISITE TO FORGIVENESS
A pastor finished his message early one Sunday, (and that pastor was not me) and he wanted to check his congregation's understanding. So he asked, "Can anyone tell me what you must do before you can obtain forgiveness of sin?"
There was a short pause and then, from the back of the room, a small boy spoke up, "You have to sin."
I suspect we don't have a problem fulfilling that prerequisite. Our problem is not, do we sin, our problem is, are we willing to admit that we have sinned.
1 John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Proverbs 28:13 "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy."
If you can confess it, you can be forgiven of it! It doesn't matter what you've done, if you turn to God and confess your sins, He will forgive you of ALL unrighteousness... that includes anything you've done, that you are willing to bring before Him! 1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness."
There is no sin too great for God to forgive: Titus 2:14, "Who gave Himself for us to redeem us from EVERY lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds." (NASB)
Isaiah 1:18, "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."
"The only sin God can't forgive, is the one you won't take to Him!"
a. Recognition of our guilt before God
Romans 10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
For forgiveness to be possible there must be an open admission of our guilt before God. In King David's great prayer of confession after his sin with Bathsheba we read of the key to his cleansing and clearing:
Psalms 51:3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
b. Reception of God's grace
John 1:12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!
Yonder on Calvary's mount outpoured,
There where the blood of the Lamb was spilled.
Sin and despair, like the sea waves cold,
Threaten the soul with infinite loss;
Grace that is greater, yes, grace untold,
Points to the refuge, the mighty cross.
Dark is the stain that we cannot hide.
What can avail to wash it away?
Look! There is flowing a crimson tide,
Brighter than snow you may be today.
Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,
Freely bestowed on all who believe!
You that are longing to see His face,
Will you this moment His grace receive?
Refrain
Grace, grace, God's grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God's grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin.
Romans 5:20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
c. Repentance is the result God's goodness
There cannot be true forgiveness of sin without repentance. Did you know that it's the goodness of God (when we realize His great love for us) that is supposed to draw or lead you to repent and turn to Him? Romans 2:4, "Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?" Also look at Jeremiah 31:3, "...Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee." Paul wrote that godly sorrow worked repentance and the result is:
2 Corinthians 7:11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.
Third, forgiveness of sin is based on:
III. The Actions of the Sovereign
a. God forgives us faithfully
No one who comes to Jesus Christ in sincerity and truth will remain the same. The faithfulness of God changes us from darkness to the light in Jesus our Lord. We are better people because of God's faithfulness in mercy and transforming power. www.hearitfirst.com
"...he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins..."
b. God forgives us fully
Isaiah 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
"...to cleanse us from all unrighteousness..."
1 Corinthians 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing pow'r?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Are you walking daily by the Savior's side?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Do you rest each moment in the Crucified?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
When the Bridegroom cometh will your robes be white?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Will your soul be ready for the mansions bright,
And be washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Lay aside the garments that are stained with sin,
And be washed in the blood of the Lamb;
There's a fountain flowing for the soul unclean,
Oh, be washed in the blood of the Lamb!
Refrain:
Are you washed in the blood,
In the soul-cleansing blood of the Lamb?
Are your garments spotless? Are they white as snow?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
c. God forgives us forever
Let me make this clear, God does not have a memory problem. I heard about three sister who lived together:
Wanda, Martha & Wilma - lived together in the same house? One day, when Wanda decided to take a bath, she drew the bath water & began undressing.
But suddenly she stopped & said, "I don't remember. Am I getting into the tub or am I getting out?" She yelled to her sister Martha, "Martha, help me. Am I getting into the tub, or am I getting out?"
Martha hollered back from downstairs & said, "That's a stupid question. I can't believe you're so absent minded." And she started up the stairs, but stopped about half way up & said. "Why am I on the stairs? Am I going up, or going down?"
So she cried for Wilma. "Wilma, come here. I can't remember if I'm going up the stairs or going down."
Wilma replied, "You silly woman. I can't believe you're so absent minded. I'm glad I'm not like that. Knock on wood." (Knock on pulpit) Then she stopped, looked around & said, "Is that someone knocking at the front door or the back door?"
Isaiah 43:25 I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.
Hebrews 8:12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. ESV
Psalms 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. ESV
Micah 7:19 He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. ESV
One night, after sharing her testimony at a church in Germany, a man approached her. "What you said tonight greatly impacted me," he said sincerely. "I have done many things in my life that I deeply regret. What a miracle to know that Christ is willing to forgive even me."
As he was speaking, Corrie froze in shock. She recognized him. He had been a guard at the concentration camp where Betsie had lost her life -- one of the very cruelest guards. And now he was extending his hand in friendship to her. All of the old emotions -- the anger, resentment, and indignation that she'd experienced in the camp came flooding back. She found herself unable to take the man's hand or even reply. She felt God challenging her to forgive him, just as she had been forgiven and washed clean by Jesus' blood for her own sins:
I tried to smile, I struggled to raise my hand. I could not. I felt nothing, not the slightest spark of warmth or charity. And so again I breathed a silent prayer. Jesus, I prayed, I cannot forgive him. Give me Your forgiveness.
"You take the step of obedience," came God's gentle reply, "and I will do the rest."
So Corrie obeyed. She reached out and shook the man's hand. As she did so, the supernatural love of Christ flooded her heart. She saw him as Christ did. And her bitterness was replaced by love and compassion:
As I took his hand the most incredible thing happened. From my shoulder along my arm and through my hand a current seemed to pass from me to him, while into my heart sprang a love for this stranger that almost overwhelmed me. And so I discovered that it is not on our forgiveness any more than on our goodness that the world's healing hinges, but on His. When He tells us to love our enemies, He gives, along with the command, the love itself.
(Story adapted from Tramp for the Lord by Corrie ten Boom)
Years later she was asked how she could forgive and forget what this guard had done and she replied, "I choose not to remember."
