Why is learning Biblical forgiveness important?
- Helps us learn more about the character of God.
- Broadens our understanding of what Jesus did for us on the cross.
- How we believe God forgives us shapes how we forgive others.
Sin: Foolishness, Prov. 24:9, transgression (to go across the boundary), 1 John 2:4, unrighteousness (breaking of relationship) 1 John 5:17, Not doing good James 4:17, doing good (! bad heart/motives),
Exodus 34 – I forgive iniquity, rebellion, sin
- Iniquity: perverse, make crooked
- Rebellion: to break away from authority, trespass, quarrel, revolt
- Sin: offense, habitual sin and its penalty, to miss the mark
- Disobedience, not listening to God, error or sin of ignorance,
Effects of sin:
- Forfeited purity (shame),
- Knowledge of good and evil (we know good and evil but we only do evil, Romans 7:18-21
- Our conscience started working, Romans 2:14
- Try to make ourselves presentable
- Fear of God
- Blame
- Our Nature was corrupted
- Judgment followed (toil, death)
God wanted to right these effects,
- Righteousness, repairing our relationship with God and others
- Love (John 3:16, Romans 5:8 while we were still sinners Jesus died)
- Eternal life through Jesus
We have all sinned
Romans 3:23-24
God’s forgiveness is:
- Gracious but not free. It cost him.
- God’s forgiveness is conditional. Only those who repent and believe are saved.
- A commitment. When God forgives he promises/commits to not hold that sin against us.
God’s Forgiveness:
- Lays the groundwork for and begins the process of reconciliation.
- Does not mean the elimination of all consequences.
What do we learn?:
- Sin separates us from our relationship with God
- Our repentance followed by God’s forgiveness restores that relationship
- Forgiveness is costly
- God’s forgiveness shows us His character
What should we do?
- Consider the cost of God’s forgiveness to you
- Spend time thanking God for His forgiveness
Isaiah 44:22