The Forgiveness of Sins

Forgiven of what.
1. “My sins.”
  1. To sin is to do what God forbids and not do what He commands (I John 3:4b); it is not to love.
  2. We sin in three ways.
2. Sin makes one worthy to die - the bearing God’s wrath as the punishment of my sin and sinfulness (Rom. 1:18; 6:23).
3. Who can stand? Cf. Ezra 9:15; Nahum 1:6; Rev. 6:17; Habakkuk 3:16!
“Will no more remember my sins.”
1. God does not remember our sins in His wrath intending to punish.
  1. Forgiveness means that God took away all our perversities by bearing the punishments Himself.
  2. And forgiveness means that God “graciously imputes to me the righteousness of Christ.”
2. So forgiven that “I may never be condemned before the tribunal of God.”
  1. God is the author of forgiveness.
  2. The only basis for forgiveness is Jesus’ atoning and redeeming work.
  3. The only reason for forgiveness is God’s mercy and grace.
Why does God forgive?
1. God does not forgive so we may be careless.
2. God forgives so that He may be feared (Ps. 130:4), not first so we can go to heaven.
  1. No one fears God like those who experience His forgiveness (far more than the dread of punishment) (Micah 7:18).
  2. Forgiveness gives the forgiven the occasion, the ground, and the material to have awe of Jehovah (Ps. 79:9).