The Forgiveness of The Forgiven | Matthew 6:12, 14-15

Scripture

• Matthew 6:12

About this sermon

Introduction: We were all born into the world needing forgiveness. Everything that God would do for us in salvation required it. Before we had lived a single day, we already stood before God guilty based on the imputed guilt of our first father Adam. We inherited his guilt and his nature. That’s why it is said of us that we were, by nature, children of wrath (Ephesians 2:3). The Bible leaves us no doubt about the origins of man’s sin problem. ESV Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned-- 13 for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. 14 Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come. 15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. 16 And the free gift is not like the result of that one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. 17 For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. 18 Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. 19 For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous. To that original sin we have added countless sins. Sins of omission and sins of commission. Sins of thought, speech, attitude, motive, behavior. Which is why we read of godly people who, when made aware of their sins, are overwhelmed by their sinfulness. ESV Psalm 40:12 For evils have encompassed me beyond number; my iniquities have overtaken me, and I cannot see; they are more than the hairs of my head; my heart fails me. ESV Psalm 38:4 For my iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me. And when godly people have interceded for a people, there is a recognition of overwhelming guilt, not just on the individual level but on the corporate level. We are not just a sinful people; we have always belonged to a sinful people. Our sins join with the sins of others, calling out for the judgment of God. ESV Ezra 9:6 saying: "O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift my face to you, my God, for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has mounted up to the heavens. CONSIDER OUR SINS FROM THE STANDPOINT OF ORIGINAL CONDITION — WE NEED FORGIVENESS. CONSIDER OUR SINS FROM THE STANDPOINT OF INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE — WE NEED FORGIVENESS. CONSIDER OUR SINS FROM THE STANDPOINT OF IDENTIFICATION WITH OTHERS — WE NEED FORGIVENESS. Scripture tells us this. Our own enlightened conscience tells us this. AND YET THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT WE STILL DON’T KNOW THE HALF OF IT. Whatever awareness you have of your sinfulness, your sinfulness exceeds it. ESV Psalm 19:12 Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults. THIS IS WHY THE GOSPEL IS THE BEST GOOD NEWS IN ALL THE WORLD. God has declared His provision for the salvation of sinners. The salvation He provides in His Son includes the forgiveness of all our transgressions. If you take all the New Testament descriptions for sin, we have been guilty of them all. WE HAVE MISSED THE MARK WE HAVE STEPPED ACROSS THE LINE WE HAVE SHORTED GOD WHAT HE IS OWED WE HAVE STUMBLED AND SINNED IN WAYS WITHOUT FORETHOUGHT. WE HAVE SINNED IN WAYS THAT WE INTENDED Jesus died to pay for all of them. He provides the forgiveness of all of it. THE BIBLE CELEBRATES THE COMPLETE FORGIVENESS OF GOD’S PEOPLE. ESV Colossians 2:13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. ESV Isaiah 1:18 "Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. ESV Psalm 103:12 as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.

Topics

• Forgiveness