R sbc
July 17th , 2005
Sunday Morning
Series: “ Jesus Christ the Sum & The Substance of The Bible”
Sermon # 50
Subject: “ God For Christ’s Sake Forgiven Us’
Text: Eph 4:32
Intro: The first part of this text is not an option, it is not a choice we make, it is not a suggestion, it is the word of God. It is a command by the Lord. It can be achieved for we seen this recently in one of our studies on Wed evening.
There are two main thoughts in my text this morning, once again showing that Christ is the center of it, he is the cause of it and he is the sum of it. 1. Our forgiving one another. 2. God forgiving us.
I... “ FORGIVING ONE ANOTHER:
1st. The fact that Paul puts this in the Bible shows the need of it..
It is clearly seen in the proceeding verse, look at verse 31. The fact that he says let all, then he names the sins... listed in this catalog of sins is “evil speaking” I would not be afraid to say that 90% of the sins we committ against each other it begins with evil speaking and we have a command put it away.
Titus 3:2 To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.
2nd. That forgiving one another is tied to the Fathers forgiving us:
Mark 11-25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
I have heard it said, and I have said it myself, I will forgive them, but I want forget it. Wow that really means we have not forgiven them fully yet. If we can think of them and have anger toward them, we have not forgiven them, if we can see them and anger comes up in us, we have not forgiven them fully.
How do we accomplish this commandment? Not easily. There is not but one way to do it and that is think about what we have done to Christ and his love and forgiveness is the same toward us...
How often should I forgive? Listen to the conversation between the LORD JESUS AND PETER..
Matt 18-21 ¶ Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? 22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. 23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. 24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. 25 But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. 28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. 29 And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. 31 So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. 32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: 33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? 34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
III... “ OUR FORGIVENESS”...VS 32
When we study this great truth we must realize two things about our forgiveness that has far reaching implications...
(1.) The initial forgiveness...
The great need for the Father forgiven our sins, is sin in the great depth which his people had fallen into sin. Sin as John Owen put it: It is rebellion against his sovereignty, it is in opposition to his holiness, his goodness.” Sin drove the Father to send his Son and sacrifice him in our place for our sin...
Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Ted Turner in an Interview said with regard to forgiveness of sins, said I need no one to be punished for I need no one to die for my sins”... what a blasphemous statement. But that doesn’t surprise me...
We need the Lord to forgive us because without it there is no forgiveness:
We need the Lord to forgive us because without it there is no covering.
We need the Lord to forgive us because we still sin...
We need the Lord to forgive us because if he doesn’t hell awaits all who are not forgiven
We need the king of forgiveness that the Lord gives us or there is no hope..
He judges the LORD JESUS CHRIST for them... 1 Peter 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
Because the Father was pleased with the sons work on the cross for us, then we can read these passages and understand what the LORD meant in the Old Testament.
1st. He hath not dealt with us personally for them: Palms 103:10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
2nd. He hath cast them behind his back: Isaiah 38:17 Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back.
3rd. He has removed them: Psalms 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
4th. He will not remember them: Isaiah 43:25 I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.
2nd. The basis for which he has done all this: “ Christ sake!
I have used this so many times to illustrate the forgiveness of the LORD and the utter unworthiness of our being brought in, that is the Kindness of David toward Jonathan’s son Mephibosheth . 2 Samuel 9-1-13
(1.) That in the granting of forgiveness a Sovereign must act: vs 1
(2.) That grace is bestowed at the expense of another..vs 1 Jonathan’s sake
(3.) That Sin leaves us cripple and we cannot do anything about it..vs 3 lame on his feet.
(4.) That sinners have to be sent for..vs 5
The word fetched in verse 5 means to lay hold on and to seize them... this is exactly what the LORD does to the sinner for the sake of the LORD JESUS CHRIST.
(5.) There must be repentance and awe in the Kings presence...vs 6
(6.) There must be personal calling: vs 6
(7.) Assurance is granted...vs 7-8
For Christ Sake:
Philippians 1:29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;
1st. The forgiveness for Christ sake shows the absolute satisfaction the Father had in his son’s work...
Romans 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
The clear truth stated, spared not. The clear results... delivered him up to freely give us all things...
2nd. The forgiveness of our sins for Christ sake is also seen in the fact that we have been reconciled to the Father:
Romans 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
2 Corinthians 5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
3rd. The forgiveness of our sins for Christ sake is the cancellation of the guilt and the debt we owed the Father and could not pay:
Jesus said:
John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
Paul said:
Romans 81 ¶ There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
4th. The forgiveness of our sins for Christ sake is seen in the redemptive act of Christ in atoning to the Father and setting us free...
Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
5th. The forgiveness of our sins for Christ sake is also seen in the direct access we have to the Father.. and imputing rightness to us..
Isa 61-10 ¶ I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.