Faith in the Forgiveness of Sins

Minister:
Date: AM
Text: I John 1,2; Lord's Day 21
Psalters: 262, 235, 64, 362
  1. What it is.
    1. Sin is rebellion against God and His personal desires and requirements (I John 3:4b).
      1. Sin is any thought, word or action committed against God.
      2. Sin proceeds from a corrupt nature (q. 56), the depravity which always cleaves to us (q. 126), our old man of sin.
    2. Correct knowledge of God and of sin.
    3. Forgiveness means that God declares:
      1. The punishment has been completely endured and there is nothing left.
      2. Further, God declares me to be righteous and worthy of eternal life.
  2. How is the forgiveness of sins made possible?
    1. Only God can forgive because:
      1. Every sin is committed against Him (Ps. 51:4; Mk. 2:7).
      2. Only He can determine the sufficiency of the satisfaction and whether it is accepted.
    2. Forgiveness is when God's justice accepts the satisfaction and righteousness.
    3. The method by which forgiveness is applied is imputation (justification).
      1. The legal consequences of Jesus? perfect atoning work are transferred to our account before God.
      2. And His life of perfect, loving obedience fulfilled all of our obligations to God's commandments is transferred to us.
    4. The only basis for forgiveness is God's great and amazing grace.
    5. The extent of forgiveness: our acquittal is complete, our salvation is eternally sure; to the uttermost (Heb. 7:25).
  3. The fruit of God's work of forgiving us.
    1. Everyone of the sins of every believer is forgiven, without exception.
    2. Forgiveness is experienced by faith in the Christ proclaimed by the church in the preaching of the gospel.
    3. Receiving God's forgiving grace we gratefully strive to live according to all God's commandments by loving Him with our all.