2023.01.08. Sermon. Forgiven and Forgiveness
William Akehurst, HSWC
BIG IDEA: GOD IS THE GOD OF FORGIVENESS. AS HE FORGIVES, WE ALSO MUST FORGIVE.
FORGIVENESS COMES BY THE BLOOD OF CHRIST
1 John 1:5-10 (NKJV)
5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to 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 practice the truth.
7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses 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.
FORGIVEN - IN SPITE OF OURSELVES
Romans 5:8-11 (NKJV)
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
HIS BLOOD PAID THE WAY TO OUR FORGIVENESS
Matthew 26:28 For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
CHURCH – MY PEOPLE – CHRISTIANS - NATION
2 Chronicles 7:14 If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
Humility – Pray – Seek – Turn = Heard – Forgiveness - Healing
FROM THE CROSS OF EXCRUCIATING PAIN AND SUFFERING – JESUS FORGAVE
Luke 23:34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”
DISCIPLES PRAYER – AND COMMENTARY BY JESUS
Matthew 6:9b-13
9b Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
JESUS TEACHES THIS LESSON AFTER “HOW TO PRAY”
Matthew 6:9-15
14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
BLOOD BRINGS FORGIVENESS
Matthew 26:28 For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
PRAYER WITH FORGIVENESS
Mark 11:25-27 25 “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.”
FORGIVE TO BE FORGIVEN
Luke 6:37 “Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
CHRIST FORGAVE, SO ALSO SHOULD WE.
Colossians 3:12-13 12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.
FORGIVE OTHERS AS MANY TIMES AS IT TAKES.
Luke 17:3-4 3 Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. 4 And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.”
FORGIVE AS CHRIST FORGAVE YOU
Ephesians 4:31-32 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
GOD BLOTS OUT TRANSGRESSIONS FOR HIS OWN SAKE AND WILL REMEMBER THEM NO MORE
Isaiah 43:25-26
25 “I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins. 26 Put Me in remembrance; Let us contend together; State your case, that you may be acquitted.
REPENT – TURN- AND BE CHANGED SO THAT REFRESHING MAY COME FROM HOLY SPIRIT – GOD’S PRESENCE.
Acts 3:19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,
LET’S TALK ABOUT FORGIVENESS - GOD
Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.
THROUGH CHRIST JESUS’ BLOOD, WE HAVE REDEMPTION AND FORGIVENESS
Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace
DELIVERED FROM DARKNESS INTO LIGHT. REDEMPTION BY BLOOD AND FORGIVENESS OF SIN
Colossians 1:13-14 13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
GOD’S MERCY AND FORGIVENESS TO THOSE WHO SINNED AGAINST HIM – SIN IS AGAINST GOD
Daniel 9:9 To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, though we have rebelled against Him.
A FORGIVEN WORLD SHOWS IS FILLED WITH GOD’S GLORY
Numbers 14:19-21 19 Pardon the iniquity of this people, I pray, according to the greatness of Your mercy, just as You have forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now.” 20 Then the LORD said: “I have pardoned, according to your word; 21 but truly, as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD—
GOD DELIGHTS IN MERCY AND FORGIVENESS. REMOVING IT FROM US.
Micah 7:18-19
18 Who is a God like You, Pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in mercy.
19 He will again have compassion on us, And will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins Into the depths of the sea.
HE HAS REMOVED OUR SIN FROM US AND WILL REMEMBER IT NO MORE.
Psalms 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
Hebrews 10:16-18 16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,” 17 then He adds, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” 18 Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.
IN THIS SAME FASHION, WE HAVE BEEN MADE IN GOD’S IMAGE. THEREFORE, WE SHOULD BE A REFLECTION OF GOD OUR FATHER. JESUS’ SACRIFICE UPON THE CROSS AND BY HIS BLOOD, BRING US BACK TO OUR INITIAL DESIGN. LET US UNDERSTAND THAT HIS BLOOD IS OUR LIFE, OUR FORGIVENESS. AND THAT BEING COVERED BY HIS BLOOD, COVERS US AND MAKES US RIGHT IN THE EYES OF GOD THE FATHER. SO AS FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST, WE ARE TO WALK IN LOVE, MERCY, GRACE AND FORGIVENESS AS HE HAS TAUGHT US. LET IT BE SO AMONG YOU (AND ME).
FATHER, we ask for YOUR FORGIVENESS for our unforgiveness. Let us be found to be good and faithful stewards of YOUR Mysteries…That of Love, Mercy, Grace and Forgiveness, as we shine forth in a world full of darkness with the LIGHT of YOUR PRESENCE, YOUR SPIRIT IN us. Amen.
Be Blessed and Be a Blessing,
Bill
