Sermon: The Joy of Experiencing Forgiveness
In his book, The Preaching Event, John Claypool tells a poignant story about identical twin brothers who never married because they enjoyed each other’s company so much. When their father died, they took over his store and ran it together in a joyful collaboration. But one day a man came in to make a small purchase and paid for it with a dollar. The brother who made the sale placed the dollar on top of the cash register... and walked the customer to the door to say goodbye. When he returned, the dollar bill was gone. He said to his twin brother, "Did you take the dollar bill I left here?" "No, I didn’t," answered the brother. "Surely, you took it," he said, "There was nobody else in the store." The brother became angry: "I’m telling you, I did not take the dollar bill."
From that point, mistrust and suspicion grew until finally the two brothers could not work together. They put a partition right down the middle of the building and made it into two stores. In anger, they refused to speak for the next 20 years. One day a stranger pulled up in a car and entered one of the two stores. "Have you been in business very long here?" the stranger asked. "Yes, 30 or 40 years," was the answer. "Good," continued the stranger, "I very much need to tell you something... Some 20 years ago, I passed through this town. I was out of work and homeless. I jumped off a boxcar. I had no money and I had not eaten for days. I came down that alley outside and when I looked into your store window, I saw a dollar bill on the cash register. I slipped in and took it. Recently I became a Christian. I was converted and accepted Christ as my personal Savior. I know now it was wrong of me to steal that dollar bill... and I have come to pay you back with interest and to beg your forgiveness."
When the stranger finished his confession, the old storekeeper began to weep as he said, "Would you do me a favor? Would you please come next door and tell that story to my brother?" Of course, with the second telling, the two brothers were reconciled with many hugs and apologies and tears. Twenty years of hurt and broken relationship based not on fact, but on mistrust and misunderstanding. But then healing came; reconciliation came, because of that stranger’s love for Christ.
Romans 4:6-8 “David also spoke of this when he described the happiness of those who are declared righteous without working for it: 7 “Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight. 8 Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of sin.”
We are continuing our study in the book of Romans. Remember in chapter one, Paul presents the facts of the Gospel and confesses that he is not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He embraces the fact that Jesus died for our sins, was buried and on third day arose again according to the Scriptures. Then Paul set out to prove that all men were equally guilty before God and deserved nothing short of death. The wage of sin is death! In chapter three, Paul explains the advantages of the Jews and the benefits of the law. Then he compares these advantages to the plight of the Gentiles who had no written law. Paul carefully dismantles the common excuses of people who refuse to admit they are sinners. Also, he addresses those people who say, "there is no God" and those who choose to follow my own mind and conscience. Then Paul challenges those who say, "I am not as bad as other people are." Paul proves that all men are equally guilty of violating the law of God. Then in detail he answers the question, "What advantages is it then to be a Jew?" Paul list the advantages of the Jews as (1) the Jews were entrusted with the Laws of God (2) they were the race through which the Messiah would come (3) they were the beneficiaries of a covenant with God himself, but these advantages did not make them better than anyone else. In fact, because of the advantages, the Jews were more responsible to live up to God’s requirements. "To whom much is given, much is required." So, Paul concludes that because the Jews were given the Law of God, the covenant with God, and an understanding of God’s requirements, it did not lessen their responsibility, they were more responsible to obey and do the will of God.
In Chapter three, there are several defining statements in Paul’s argument about the condition of the human race.
(1) Romans 3:10 "As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one:"
Paul says that all mankind is guilty before God and there is none righteous, no not one. The lack of righteousness on man’s behalf is his general proposition. Mankind is not right in their dispositions and designs, in their discourse and their actions. None have a right understanding, they do not think right, talk right nor act right. No not one! Paul’s first proposition is the fact that no one could stand before God in his own righteousness. Paul’s second proposition is that all have sinned.
(2) Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;"
All mankind has sinned. All mankind has missed the mark. All mankind is under the control of sin. And all mankind is under the penalty of sin. Jews and Gentiles alike, bond and free, rich, and poor, educated and barbarians, none were fulfilling their God given assignment, nor living up to God’s expectations. To come short is to miss the mark. Paul’s analogy comes from the language of an archer. As an archer misses the bull’s eye of his target, mankind missed its mark. All have sinned and come short of the mark. First, there is none righteous, no not one. Secondly, all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God. The third proposition comes from Romans 3:19, 20:
“Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God. 20 For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.” LB
In these verses, Paul explains to us the design and purpose of the law. The Law was designed to stop every mouth by showing that all are guilty before God. All men have broken either the Law of God written in their hearts, or the Law of God written on the tables of stone. The law was not designed to condemn us nor justified us. The Law does not worse our condition, nor improves our condition. The Law simply exposes our condition. For by the law is the knowledge of sin. In other words, the law helps us to see sin as sin. For an example, you may clean and dust your house thoroughly, but when you open the drapers to allow the morning sunlight to come in, what do you see in the air? Dust! The morning light shines through the window exposes the dust; it does not create dust. The light does not make the dust better or worse, it simply exposes the presence of dust. The Law came to expose our sins that we might clearly see our sins as sin. The Law could not save; it was never designed to save. The law was a schoolmaster showing us our need to be saved. The law exposed every man as a sinner in need of salvation. The Law was given to stop every mouth. No man could boast of his own righteousness and goodness. Both Jews and Gentiles needed salvation that was only available through the sacrificial blood of Jesus Christ. Even though the Law was perfect, no one could perfectly keep it. Many people boast of their own goodness as they compare themselves to others. They might shine when compared to their neighbors or to church members they know, but that’s not God’s Standard. The Law of God is God’s Standard. Do you know anyone who has never told a lie? Do you anyone who has never stole, cheated, or coveted thing that belonged to another? Jesus said, “if we look on a woman with lust in our hearts, we have committed adultery.” You get the point, at one time or another; in one way or another, we all have sinned. James 2:10, “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”
There may be some who will testify they have never committed such sin as stated above. Yet, do you love your neighbor as you love yourself? Are you willing to lay down your life for a friend? Do you bless to those who despitefully use you? Remember, if we are guilty in one point, we are guilty of all. The Law did not improve our condition nor worsen our condition, but it simply exposed our condition. Paul admitted that until the law came, he did not know what sin was. The law identified sin and exposed it. The Law made our sin to appear exceedingly sinful. The fourth proposition set forth by the apostle is in Romans 3:24,
“yet now God declares us “not guilty” of offending him if we trust in Jesus Christ, who in his kindness freely takes away our sins.”
Paul uses all these terms to amplify his point but any one of them would have been sufficient: Justified means that we have been pardoned and accepted; freely means that this was done for us without any merit of our own. We have received this gift from God freely; by his grace means it comes to us through God’s unmerited favor without any self-righteousness or works; and finally, Through the redemption which means that the price was paid in full by Christ. There is no justification without it being freely given. If we could work it out, we would receive justification as payment and not a gift. If it is a gift, we can make no payment. Paul’s propositions are clear: There is none righteous, no not one; all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God; the Law is good because the Law exposes sin; and finally, all are justified, freely by faith in Christ Jesus. After sharing the doctrinal facts, Paul set forth his practical examples. The first example is Abraham, the father of the faith. Paul uses his example to prove that Abraham moved out in faith before he was circumcised.
"For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness." Romans 4:3
The Jews were proud of their heritage and proud of Abraham as their father. Paul was not trying to under-mine the value of the law, nor their claim to Abraham, he was pointing out the value of faith. He set out to prove that Abraham was accepted because of his faith and not solely on the merit of his deeds. Good deeds could never save a man. If keeping the law could save a man, then salvation could be earned. If salvation could be earned it would be a matter of payment or indebtedness and not faith. Abraham simply believed God and moved out in faith! Because Abraham believed God, righteousness was imputed to him. God put righteousness on Abraham’s account.
Years ago, many country stores maintained a ledger for their neighborhood customers. Their most faithful customers were usually farmers. Normally, farmers receive little income until harvest time. The owners of the stores would allow the farmers to get whatever was needed on credit. He would simply put it on an account. In the same way, God accredited Abraham with righteousness. Abraham was not perfect and made many recorded mistakes, but he was accounted righteous by God because of his faith. Abraham believed God and righteousness was placed on his account. For the believer, Jesus Christ has become our righteousness.
“God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin. 31 Therefore, as the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 1:30, 31
Paul’s second example is the example of King David. The subject of King David brings us to our text:
"David also spoke of this when he described the happiness of those who are declared righteous without working for it: 7 “Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight. 8 Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of sin.” Romans 4:6-8
Paul lifts this quote from Psalms 32. I want us to consider this Psalm as I address the subject, "Experiencing the Joy of Forgiveness. The Psalm uses the words blessedness, blessed, and blessed again to emphasis the tremendous joy experienced by a person forgiven and restored. In this text, the psalmist foretold a time when God would justify a man by faith. He prophesied about the blessed state of a man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. The psalmist gives us a glimpse into the forgiving nature of the Father God. God wants to forgive every sinner. Many theologians accredit this psalm to King David who had received a great measure of forgiveness personally. If this is true, David reveals God as a God who is able, willing, and ready to forgive the sin of every repentant sinner. God can completely remove sin, casting it into a sea never to harm us again. Forgiveness has always been part of his loving nature.
God announce it to Moses, revealed it unto David and declare it in Jesus Christ, that God is a forgiving God. He wants to forgive our sins. He desires to restore us into a right relationship with himself. With others and with ourselves. God is a seeking God. He is a searching God. When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, they hid themselves from God. They did not go looking for God, God came looking for them. God offered the sacrifice of their restoration. God provided for himself a proper sacrifice. In this text, Psalms 32 convey several aspects of God’s forgiveness and the joy it brings. (1) God forgives sin (2) God covers sin (3) God removes guilt from His record and from our spirit. (4) God restores us. We can have this joyous experience of forgiveness and restoration through faith in Christ Jesus. There is a joy in knowing that God can forgive sin.
1.There is a Joy in knowing that God Can forgive Sin
The Scriptures reveal that David did not willingly step out and confess his sin to God, his sins were exposed. God sent the Prophet Nathan to David with a general inquiry about a matter that needed the king’s attention. The Prophet Nathan presented a parable to King David and ask for his judgment. Let’s read this story from 2 Samuel 12:1-12,
“And the Lord sent Nathan to David. And Nathan came to him and said, There were two men in the same town: one a man of great wealth, and the other a poor man. The man of wealth had great numbers of flocks and herds; But the poor man had only one little she-lamb, which he had got and taken care of: from its birth it had been with him like one of his children; his meat was its food, and from his cup it took its drink, resting in his arms, and it was like a daughter to him. Now a traveller came to the house of the man of wealth, but he would not take anything from his flock or his herd to make a meal for the traveller who had come to him, but he took the poor man’s lamb and made it ready for the man who had come. And David was full of wrath against that man; and he said to Nathan, By the living Lord, death is the right punishment for the man who has done this: And he will have to give back four times the value of the lamb, because he has done this and because he had no pity. And Nathan said to David, You are that man. The Lord God of Israel says, I made you king over Israel, putting holy oil on you, and I kept you safe from the hands of Saul; I gave you your master’s daughter and your master’s wives for yourself, and I gave you the daughters of Israel and Judah; and if that had not been enough, I would have given you such and such things. Why then have you had no respect for the word of the Lord, doing what is evil in his eyes? You have put Uriah the Hittite to death with the sword, and have taken his wife to be your wife; you have put him to death with the sword of the children of Ammon.”
King David’s sins were extremely great, how could God ever forgive him? How could he ever forgive himself? David’s sins would have been great, even if Uriah had been his enemy. Uriah was David’s friend and loyal servant. King David finds that God is able to forgive even his gross sin. God is able to forgive every sin of the truly repentant sinner. Psalms 51 records David’s Prayer of repentance as he cries out to God,
“Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.”
David not only received forgiveness, his joy was restored. It is wonderful know that no matter what you have done, how many people you have hurt, how ashamed you are, your sins can be forgiven. There is hope in God. God can wash away your sins and make you as white as snow. God is able to forgive sin. There is a joy in knowing that God is able to forgive sin. Secondly, there is a joy in knowing God is willing to forgive sin. There is a Joy of Knowing that God is willing to Forgive Sin
“There was a time when I wouldn’t admit what a sinner I was.[a] But my dishonesty made me miserable and filled my days with frustration. 4 All day and all night your hand was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water on a sunny day 5 until I finally admitted all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide them. I said to myself, “I will confess them to the Lord.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.” Psalms 32:3-5 LB
Verses 3-5 points out the frustration of David’s life in sin: he said his spirit failed, the strength of my body decayed, his conscience had no rest, and he could sense of God’s wrath over his life. David describes the misery of his life in sin. He desired to be right with God, but he was alienated by his sin. David was suffering in silence. There was a remedy for his situation, but he was too afraid, too ashamed, and too isolated to cry out for help. God can find us when we cannot find him. God will come to us as we grope in the darkness of sin. David knew that God was able to forgive his sins, so he confessed his sins, and found that God was not only able, but, willing to forgive his sins. To confess our sins is to be of the same mind with God and His judgment. We see eye to eye with God that we have sinned and done evil in his sight. We agree that we were wrong and deserve his wrath, but we plead for his mercy and restoration. We should not only confess our sins but abandon and forsake our sins. We crave God’s forgiveness and restoration. There is a joy in knowing that God not only is able to forgive, but that God is willing and wants to forgive us our trespasses. God is able and willing to forgive! It is one thing to be able to forgive sin, but another thing to be willing to forgive sin.
Many people have ability and skill, but they are not willing to serve. Some can help the needy and destitute, but they lack the will. God is both able and willing to forgive. There ought to be great joy in knowing that God is able, and he will forgive. God is so willing to forgive that He will not allow us to be comfortable in our sin. Just as He use David’s own conscience, Nathan the prophet of God and the word of God to get David’s attention, He will get our attention. He will not allow us as His children to rest comfortably in our sins. Our conscience will wrestle with us, depriving us of sweet sleep, peace, and rest until we repent. I thank God for being a God who is able and willing to forgive sin. God is eager to restore his people to their rightful place of fellowship. Read 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.”
We should not live in bondage to sin and sorrow. There is a place of forgiveness and restoration in Christ Jesus. God wants to forgive and restore. Sin had caused King David to lose his joy. He describes his life as a dry place in the summer heat. When He was close to God, his life was full of joy and free from bondage. He cries out in Psalms 51:12, “Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.”
Forgiveness brings great joy. Whenever one experiences the forgiveness of God or even the forgiveness of a brother or sister, joy floods the soul and fills the heart. That same kind of Joy was experienced by King David when he was restored to the favor of God. God can forgive and will forgive every repentant sinner. His forgiveness is available to all who are willing to trust Him and repent. There is a joy in knowing God is able and willing to forgive, and that we all may experience this same forgiveness as King David.
2.There is a Joy in Knowing We All May Experience Restoration
Psalms 32:6 “Now I say that each believer should confess his sins to God when he is aware of them, while there is time to be forgiven. Judgment will not touch him[a] if he does.” LB
This restoration is available to all who are willing to run to God. When we find ourselves in sin, there is a temptation to run away from God and hide. We must resist that temptation and instead run to God. Guilt, fear and hiding deplete our joy and rob us of our peace. There is real joy awaiting our return. There is a surpassing, unspeakable joy, and full glory in complete forgiveness and restoration. An example of this kind of joy was experienced at the reunion of Esau and Jacob. The fellowship between Esau and Jacob had been broken for many years. Jacob decided it was time for him to return to his homeland. He was not concerned about the hostility of an outside enemy; he was afraid of his own brother. Jacob had wronged his brother, stole his birthright, deceived his father, tricked his uncle, and now was headed home seeking forgiveness. He sent waves of gifts to his brother, Esau hoping to appease him. But Jacob had no assurance of how the gifts had been received. When he met his brother Esau, Esau ran to him, fell on his neck, and kissed him. At that moment, great joy filled their lives. Years of hatred and anger were washed away in a single moment. All was forgiven and all was forgotten. That same kind of joy was experienced by the good shepherd in the parable of Jesus, when he found his lost sheep. The sheep had wandered into the path of danger. It had become battered and torn by its own willful disobedience, but the shepherd searches him out, picks him up and carries it to safety. Then the shepherd calls his neighbors to a celebration of Joy because his lost sheep was restored to the fold. There are many other examples in scripture of this kind of joy. It’s the kind of joy experienced by the prodigal son and his father upon the safe return of the prodigal. The father ran to him, fell on his neck, and kissed him. Then he called for the best robe, a ring for his hand and shoes for his feet. He commanded the servants to kill the fatted calf and get ready for a party. There was joy in the house! Jesus reminds us of this fact in Luke 15:7, “I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.”
Just as David had experienced a new kind of Joy and peace, he prays that every God-fearing person should be so fortunate. The song writer says in the old hymn, “O what needless pain we bear all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.” This wonderful joy comes only through confession, repentance, forgiveness and restoration. If we hide our sin, we shall not prosper. If we confess our sin, he is faithful and just to forgive our sin. Then we must be willing to receive God’s forgive and forgive ourselves. Every believer must deal with sin and shame. Sin is what we do against God. We have disappointed God. Shame is what we do when we have disappointed ourselves. At times long after God has forgiven us, we struggle to forgive ourselves. We must be willing to accept God’s forgiveness and then forgive ourselves. God can remove the sin and shame. He can remove the stain of sin. It’s the stain of sin that will not let us move on. The blood of Jesus washes every stain whiter than snow. Jesus paid it all. Every sin and stain can be forgiven and removed.
When you have wounded someone, it is freeing to receive their forgiveness. When God forgives us, he clears our record and takes away our guilt. God’s part is forgiveness and restoration, our part is confession, repentance, and acceptance. We experience the joy of knowing God can forgive sin, will forgive sin, and completely restore as if no sin has been committed. Our part is to be open and honest with God. Be willing to confess and forsake our sins and then receive and accept God’s forgiveness.
Finally, we should commit to God’s directions. David moves from the subject of his sins to the subject of his renewed dependence on God for guidance. He has come to the place that he refuses to trust himself, his insight or wisdom. He wants God’s constant direction for his life. David refused to trust himself too much or to become too overly confident again. He senses the need for dependence on God’s guidance in a brand-new way. There is a joy in knowing that God can forgive us, will to forgive us, wants to restore us and desires to constantly guide us.
3. There is a Lasting Joy in Submitting to God’s Direction for Our Lives
Ps 32:7-9 “You are my hiding place from every storm of life; you even keep me from getting into trouble! You surround me with songs of victory. 8 “I will instruct you” says the Lord and guide you along the best pathway for your life; I will advise you and watch your progress. 9 Don’t be like a senseless horse or mule that has to have a bit in its mouth to keep it in line!”
It is wonderful to know that God, who forgives our sins, removes our guilt and restores our joy, will be our constant companion. David now recommits himself to God for instruction, teaching, and guidance throughout the rest of his days. Although David was a man after God’s own heart, he found himself in deepest sin. He will no longer trust his own strength and wisdom to keep him safe. He will constantly lean on God. David clings to God because now he recognizes his own sinfulness and his tendency to do wrong. In a world filled with temptation, it is easy to drift away from God and fall in sin. David’s experience is a reminder to us that we cannot and should not trust ourselves to keep ourselves. We need God to instruct us by his word, to teach us by example and to lead us by his spirit. In other words, we need a new kind of spiritual sensitivity to God so that He might guide us with his eyes.
Psalms 32:8 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.”
One commentary explains the text this way, "I will give thee counsel, and direct thee to the wisest and safest course of life; I will have thee continually under my care and inspection."
"Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee."
David had developed a new kind of sensitivity to sin. He had gone through so much he wanted to avoid sin at all cost. David’s attitude reminds me of the attitude of a little child who accidentally touched a hot iron and now each time, he sees the iron, he says, “Hot!” We should have the same attitude towards sin. We all need the constant guidance of God. Every fall should teach us a valuable lesson that we should never forget. If temptation has exposed a weakness in our life, we should guard ourselves against that temptation. We must never overestimate our strength and never underestimate the power of our weakness. We are to think soberly about ourselves, keeping in mind these words of caution, "Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee."
God describes some who have experienced the joy of forgiveness and restoration as being stubborn as a mule or prideful and arrogance as a horse. They have failed to develop spiritual sensitivity; they would rather be driven than guided. God desires to lead them step by step, but they leave God no option but to use heavy discipline and punishment to make them useful. God longs to guide us with his love and wisdom to the best pathways of life.
Some writers believe that Paul uses this text to reflect on two conditions in the church, the arrogance of Jews and ignorance of the Gentiles. The Gentiles are referred to as the mule, being the offspring of a stately and proud horse and a donkey, a beast of burden. Others believe it describes the two natures found in men, the flesh and the spirit. David in this text makes it clear that the joy is not complete without submitting to God’s direction. Without a spirit of submission to God, we qualify for a bit and bridle. God must use heavy handiness to prevent us from destroying the testimony of his church, ourselves, or others. It is not God’s will to use heavy handed tactics. He desires to guide with his eyes.
My mother used this same tactic to guide me and my siblings. Even if we were not sitting with her in church, she would look in our direction and we knew what it meant. God desires to lead us with his eyes, with just a glance. Let’s develop a spiritual sensitivity to the word of God. We can experience the fullness of joy through repentance, forgiveness, restoration and following God’s direction. Once we are restored, we should cleave unto the Lord and hate the sin that made us mourn. As a child who has been burned develops a healthy sensitivity to the danger of fire, we should develop a spiritual sensitivity to the danger of sin and disobedience. Our prayer should be “lead us not into temptation.”
This passage in Psalms 32 is the scripture Paul quotes in Romans 4. Paul concludes Romans 4, by assuring us that these things were not written for the benefit of Abraham alone, but also for us who would following in Abraham’s steps. Romans 4:23-25,
“Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.”
Experiencing the joy of forgiveness, redemption, justification, and sanctification is only possible to those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was delivered for our offences and raised for our justification. God desires that every person would experience the joy of forgiveness. (1) God can forgive sin (2) God will forgive sin (3) God will completely restore us. He will receive our honest repentance and confession; forgive our sin and remove our guilt; and restore our joy. (4) Finally, God will guide us every step of the way: instructing, teaching, and guiding us in the safest path.
