The Wonder Of Forgiveness

THE WONDER OF FORGIVENESS

Ps. 32:1-11

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR: Forgive Your Enemies

1. Preacher preached on “Forgiving Your Enemies.” Halfway through the service, He asked his congregation, “How many of you have forgiven their enemies?” About half held up their hands.

2. He then preached his sermon over and then asked “How many have forgiven your enemies?” As it was past lunchtime, this time about 80 percent held up their hands.

3. He then reemphasized the message and asked them again. All responded, except one elderly lady.

4. "Mrs. Jones?" inquired the preacher, “Aren’t you willing to forgive your enemies?” “I don't have any.” she replied, smiling.

5. “Oh, Mrs. Jones, what an example you are to all of us. Would you please come down in front and tell us all how a person can live as many years as you have and not have an enemy in the world."

6. The sweet little lady tottered down the aisle, faced the congregation, and said "I outlived all the old hags."

B. TEXT

1“Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not count against him….4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me….5 Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord”— and You forgave the guilt of my sin. 11 Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!” Ps. 32:1-2, 4-5,11.

C. THESIS

1. WRONG IDEAS OF BLESSEDNESS. Most people think that those who are rich or famous are “blessed,” or maybe those with excellent health or those with great

2. But the truth is that those things alone don’t bring happiness or fulfillment. Often those very people are plagued with problems and insecurities which we never hear about.

3. But the all-wise God tells us today what is really the source of inner joy and satisfaction; “Blessed is he whose

transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.”

4. Today, let’s look at 1). The Value of being forgiven, 2). The Origin of Forgiveness & 3).the 3 Effects of pardon.

5. The title of this message is “The Wonder of Forgiveness.”

I. WHY IS FORGIVENESS SO VALUABLE?

A. IT CAN’T BE BOUGHT

1. If we possessed the entire amount of the national debt – 16.4 trillion dollars – we still wouldn’t possess enough wealth to buy it!

2. If we owned all the oil wells of Saudi Arabia, all the gold and diamond mines of South Africa, and all the resources of Brazil, we still couldn’t buy our pardon from sin; it’s beyond price!

3. God says, “The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,”“Every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills…” There’s nothing we can offer God that’s not already His. Nothing that man can present to God can ever purchase the blessing of forgiveness.

B. IT CAN’T BE EARNED

1. Next we might say, “If I can’t buy a pardon, then I will seek to EARN my way to heaven by good works.”

2. But we read in the Scriptures, “By the deeds of the Law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight” R. 3:20.

3. RIGHTEOUSNESS = HIGH JUMPING

a. The world high jump record is 2.45 meters (that’s 8 feet ½ inch). That’s the greatest height anyone has ever cleared with their body. One person did it in 1993, and it hasn’t been done again since. It’s the standard by which all great jumps are measured.

b. The Pharisees in Jesus’ day were almost universally respected for their righteous attention to the

laws of God. They were, in a sense, “world record holders at law keeping.” Their righteousness was the standard by which everyone else was judged.

c. But the righteousness of the Pharisees was still not good enough to save them. God’s standard was infinitely higher than they could attain.

4. You see, “Good People Don’t Go to Heaven,” only forgiven ones do!

C. IT’S INSTANTANEOUS

1. In a world where most court dockets are backed up for years, it’s amazing that this pardon is granted instantly.

2. The moment we trust in Jesus as our sacrifice for sin, we’re justified before God, by faith. It takes only a moment to accomplish this miracle of mercy.

3. Sanctification is a lifelong work, continuously effected by the Holy Spirit, but justification is done in an instant!

D. IT’S PERMANENT

1. Forgiveness, once granted, is yours forevermore. Not only are our sins forgiven, but they are remembered no more by God; they’re forgotten!

2. We don’t ever have to worry about our sins being re-dug up. Once forgiven, they’re forgotten forever.