Forgiven and Forgiving

Minister:
Date: AM
Text: Proverbs 28:13; Lord's Day 51
Psalters: 288, 84, 142, 83
  1. Forgiveness.
    1. Forgiveness is God not imputing to our account our sins and sinfulness, i.e., make us pay the penalty they deserve.
      1. Forgiveness is God?s declaration that our sins have been dealt with so He cannot hold them against us any more.
      2. Forgiveness is great and broad.
    2. The reason God forgives.
      1. The ground of forgiveness is NOT found in us in any way, as if we pay our debt to God.
      2. The only ground for forgiveness is Jesus Christ, His work and righteousness (Col. 1:14; Acts 13:38).
  2. The way forgiveness is known and experienced is through godly sorrow and a forsaking of the sin.
    1. Godly sorrow is sincere admission of guilt for offending God.
      1. Right confession is based on a continuing knowledge of our natural face (James 1:23-25).
      2. True confession is more than apology; a change in the way we think (Lk. 15:17; II Tim. 2:25,26).
      3. Genuine confession admits precisely and specifically.
      4. Sincere confession involves an acceptance of the consequences (Luke 15:19).
    2. They way to forgiveness includes a forsaking (text) of the wrong.
  3. The marks of having found forgiveness.
    1. Forgiven souls love Jesus.
    2. Forgiven souls are humble (Eph. 3:8; I Tim. 1:15).
    3. And those who are forgiven will be forgiving (Matt. 18:23ff).
      1. Their focus is on how God for Christ?s sake forgave them, and they strive to do the same.
      2. Jesus shows that our experience of forgiveness is in the way of our forgiving those who sin against us.
      3. Forgiving one another is a ?firm resolution from the heart? - a decision, not a feeling.