What happens when a sinner is turned from his/her wickedness? Their soul will be saved from “death.” Not physical death, but eternal death, separation from God. Eternal death is the promise to the sinner who is not redeemed (2 Thessalonians 1:3-10) (Revelation 20:11-15). Do you fall into that category (Revelation 21:6-8)? Our life should be an instrument used by God to save others (1 Timothy 4:16). By turning a sinner from his/her wickedness to Christ – it will cover a multitude of sins. Think about that this morning, being used by the Lord to save fallen man.
Christ is the only Savior given for man, He is the only One who can save a soul (Acts 4:12). Even though our sins are many, when we place faith in Him, we are abundantly pardoned by the blood of Jesus Christ, we are without fault, blameless in the sight of God (Romans 8:1) (1 Corinthians 6:9-11) (Ephesians 1:4).
In order to preach on God’s forgiveness – we need to begin by properly defining sin. What is the Biblical definition of sin? It is the direct violation of God’s Law (sin of commission) (1 John 3:4). It is the failure to do what is right (sin of omission) (James 4:13-17). It is violating one’s own conscience (Romans 14:20-23). How serious is sin? Consider the consequences of sin…the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). This death will ultimately involve everlasting torment (Revelation 21:8). That is not something to look forward to. But why is sin considered so bad that unforgiven sinners must experience such torment? Because God is supremely holy and His holiness makes any truce with sin impossible (Psalm 5:4-6) (Isaiah 59:1-2). God is supremely just and His justice demands sin be punished properly (Leviticus 10:1-3) (Numbers 20:7-12).
Sin places man in a terrible predicament, for all have sinned (Romans 3:23). Yet God has provided Jesus as the “propitiation” for our sins. The word “propitiation” means (mercy seat), God has offered His Son Jesus on the cross as a means to appease His justice. He did this, not man (Romans 3:21-26) (1 John 2:2) (1 John 4:9-11). Through Christ’s death on the cross, we now have a way back to God, having been forgiven ALL our sins. In this way God is able to preserve His holiness when we are in His presence, for our sins have been forgiven by the blood of Christ. He can maintain His justice because our sins have been properly punished by the death of Christ. And now He can demonstrate His love, grace, mercy on those whom He chooses to show it.
Sin is a cruel master, it enslaves its victims and demands a high price for their release. It demands death as its price, so death is the price that had to be paid for man’s redemption, that is exactly the price Jesus paid for you and me. Jesus gave Himself, the innocent for the guilty, that the guilty might go free. Listen to how the Scriptures describes what Jesus did for us…..
- (Galatians 1:3-4)….“Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:”
- (Galatians 3:13)….“Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:”
- (Galatians 5:1)….“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”
- (Colossians 1:13-14)….“Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:”
- (Hebrews 2:14-15)….“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.”
When Jesus Christ died in our place on the cross, He accomplished everything that was necessary to secure our freedom. Will you give the LORD praise this morning for His mercy and forgiveness towards you? Let’s give thanks!