A GOD WHO LOVES AND FORGIVES

A GOD WHO LOVES AND FORGIVES

There's a GOD standing at heaven's door,

And HE's looking this universe o'er;

And HE sees each mortal with a searching eye,

You can't do wrong and get by.

[from  song by R.E.Winsett]

1. Will God really forgive our sins?

    “Lord, if you kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord, could ever survive?  But you offer forgiveness, that we might learn to fear you.”  Psalms 130:3-4 (NLT)

    a) Sins have a way of coming out.

    Recent headlines have focused on some who got caught when their sins found them out.  God is very much aware of what we do.  But HE is also a GOD who forgives sin.

    “For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known.  Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.”  Luke 12:2-3

    "He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor punished us according to our iniquities.  For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;  As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us."  Psalms 103:10-12.

    b) God wants us to be holy.

    "Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.  Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.”  Eph 4:23-24 (NLT)

    A change of lifestyle is possible because of Christ the New Man.

    c) Some are currently debating: How much sin can be in our lives and we still be saved?  I believe this is taking hold of the wrong end.  We go by what the Bible actually says.  And John the Apostle already dealt with this question.

    "But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us." 1 John 1:7-10

    “And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.” 1 John 3:23

    c) We are told to pray for one another's forgiveness.

    "If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that. All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death."  1 John 5:16-17

    Alford (Greek Testament) says the "sin unto death" is an appreciable ACT of sin, namely, the denying Jesus to be the Christ, the Son of God (in contrast to confessing this truth, 1John 5:1,5; 1 John 2:19,22; 1 John 4:2,3; 1 John 5:10).  This is what some were doing in blaspheming the Holy Spirit, Matt. 12:31. 

2. Christ in you the hope of glory.

    "To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus."  Col 1:27-28

    "To the saints he would reveal the glory of the mystery. The glory of the mystery is Christ in you. Christ dwelling in the saved and filling their hearts with the hope of glory.  Every man. Note that this is repeated three times in the verse. The apostle impresses the fact that the gospel is not for a few favored ones, but for every one. In all wisdom. In every form of wisdom. Perfect. We should all aim at perfection; the apostle aims to bring all to this ideal. The high ideal is before, for which we all should aim. However, he whose sins are all blotted out will be counted perfect in the great day."  —People's New Testament (Johnson's Notes).

    a) Satan cast down.

    "Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down."  Rev 12:10

    b) Christ bears the sins of many.

    "And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation."  Hebrews 9:27-28

There is one thing I can boast of, salvation from the fall,

I'm an heir to wealth in glory, my Father owns it all.

That's why I'm shouting happy, and go at His command,

For I want to be ready, to meet Him in glory land!

[from a song by R.E.Winsett]

     "Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world.  Lamb of God, You grant eternal life.  I approach Your throne with confidence, where there is grace for my need.  Take away my sin and cleanse me from all unrighteousness.  Fill me with Your truth & light.  I want to be right with You! "