Embracing God's Forgiveness: A Transformative Journey

 

Summary

In today's message, we explored the profound and comforting truth of God's forgiveness, as emphasized in several biblical passages. The central theme is God's promise to forgive and forget the sins of His people, a promise that is reiterated in both the Old and New Testaments. This assurance of divine forgiveness is not just a theological concept but a deeply personal and transformative reality for every believer.

The scriptures from Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Hebrews collectively affirm that God will not remember the sins of His people. This divine forgetfulness is not due to any limitation on God's part but is a deliberate act of grace. It is a testament to the completeness of His forgiveness, which is so thorough that it is as if the sins never existed. This is a source of immense comfort and hope for those who are burdened by guilt and seeking mercy.

The message also addressed the common human struggle with accepting forgiveness. Many people, when confronted with their sins, find it hard to believe that such forgiveness is possible. This disbelief often stems from a misunderstanding of God's nature and the purpose of the law, which is to reveal sin and lead us to Christ, the only one who can truly set us free.

Furthermore, the sermon highlighted the evidence of God's forgiving nature throughout history, from the sparing of Adam and Eve to the institution of sacrifices and the tabernacle, all pointing to His desire to forgive. The ultimate expression of this forgiveness is found in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, whose death and resurrection provide the basis for our pardon.

In conclusion, the message is a call to embrace the forgiveness offered through Christ, to repent and believe in the gospel, and to live in the freedom and joy that comes from knowing our sins are remembered no more.

Key Takeaways:

1. Divine Forgetfulness: God's promise to not remember our sins is a profound act of grace, illustrating the completeness of His forgiveness. This divine forgetfulness is not due to any limitation but is a deliberate choice, offering us a fresh start and freedom from guilt. [25:18]

2. The Struggle with Belief: Many struggle to believe in the forgiveness of sins, especially when confronted with their own guilt. This disbelief often arises from a misunderstanding of God's nature and the purpose of the law, which is to lead us to Christ, the source of true forgiveness. [02:29]

3. Historical Evidence of Forgiveness: Throughout history, God's actions, from sparing Adam and Eve to instituting sacrifices, demonstrate His desire to forgive. These acts foreshadow the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus, which provides the foundation for our pardon. [09:06]

4. The Role of Jesus' Sacrifice: The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ are central to the forgiveness of sins. His sacrifice is the ultimate expression of God's love and the basis for our redemption, offering us a new life free from the burden of sin. [19:31]

5. Living in Forgiveness: Embracing God's forgiveness involves repentance and faith in the gospel. It calls us to live in the freedom and joy of knowing our sins are remembered no more, and to share this message of hope with others. [48:56]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:14] - Introduction to Forgiveness
- [00:52] - Biblical Assurance of Forgiveness
- [01:58] - The Struggle to Believe
- [03:14] - The Law and Forgiveness
- [05:04] - The Devil's Accusations
- [07:00] - The Reality of Forgiveness
- [09:06] - Historical Evidence of God's Mercy
- [12:50] - Exhortations to Repentance
- [15:03] - The Role of Worship
- [17:17] - The New Covenant
- [19:31] - The Sacrifice of Jesus
- [22:26] - God's Forgetfulness
- [32:41] - No Further Atonement Needed
- [39:08] - Adoption into God's Family
- [45:42] - The Path to Forgiveness
- [48:56] - Living in Forgiveness

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. Isaiah 43:25 - "I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins."
2. Jeremiah 31:34 - "For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more."
3. Hebrews 8:12 - "For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more."

#### Observation Questions
1. What does Isaiah 43:25 reveal about God's motivation for forgiving sins? How does this relate to the concept of divine forgetfulness? [00:14]
2. In Jeremiah 31:34, what promise does God make regarding the sins of His people? How does this promise provide comfort to believers? [00:14]
3. According to Hebrews 8:12, what is the nature of God's mercy towards our unrighteousness? How does this verse reinforce the theme of forgiveness? [00:30]
4. How does the sermon describe the human struggle with accepting forgiveness, and what role does the law play in this struggle? [02:29]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the sermon explain the concept of "divine forgetfulness," and why is it significant for believers? [25:18]
2. What historical evidence does the sermon provide to demonstrate God's forgiving nature, and how do these examples foreshadow the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus? [09:06]
3. How does the sermon address the common disbelief in forgiveness, and what misunderstandings about God's nature contribute to this disbelief? [02:29]
4. In what ways does the sermon suggest that Jesus' sacrifice is central to the forgiveness of sins, and how does this impact the believer's life? [19:31]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you struggled to accept forgiveness for a past mistake. How can the assurance of God's divine forgetfulness help you move forward? [25:18]
2. The sermon highlights the role of Jesus' sacrifice in our forgiveness. How can you live in a way that honors this sacrifice in your daily life? [19:31]
3. Consider the historical examples of God's forgiveness mentioned in the sermon. How can these stories inspire you to extend forgiveness to others in your life? [09:06]
4. The sermon discusses the struggle with belief in forgiveness. What steps can you take to deepen your understanding of God's nature and His promise of forgiveness? [02:29]
5. How can embracing the freedom and joy of knowing your sins are remembered no more change the way you interact with others? [48:56]
6. Identify a specific area in your life where you feel burdened by guilt. How can you apply the message of divine forgiveness to find peace and healing? [25:18]
7. The sermon calls believers to share the message of forgiveness with others. Who in your life needs to hear this message, and how can you share it with them this week? [48:56]

Devotional

Day 1: Divine Forgetfulness: A Deliberate Act of Grace
God's promise to not remember our sins is a profound act of grace, illustrating the completeness of His forgiveness. This divine forgetfulness is not due to any limitation but is a deliberate choice, offering us a fresh start and freedom from guilt. The scriptures from Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Hebrews collectively affirm that God will not remember the sins of His people. This divine forgetfulness is a testament to the completeness of His forgiveness, which is so thorough that it is as if the sins never existed. This is a source of immense comfort and hope for those who are burdened by guilt and seeking mercy. [25:18]

Hebrews 8:12 (ESV): "For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more."

Reflection: Is there a sin or past mistake that you struggle to believe God has truly forgiven? How can you embrace His promise of divine forgetfulness today?


Day 2: Overcoming the Struggle to Believe in Forgiveness
Many struggle to believe in the forgiveness of sins, especially when confronted with their own guilt. This disbelief often arises from a misunderstanding of God's nature and the purpose of the law, which is to lead us to Christ, the source of true forgiveness. The law reveals our sinfulness and our need for a Savior, pointing us to the grace available through Jesus Christ. Understanding this can help us overcome the barriers of disbelief and accept the forgiveness that God freely offers. [02:29]

Galatians 3:24 (ESV): "So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith."

Reflection: What misconceptions about God's nature might be hindering your acceptance of His forgiveness? How can you seek a deeper understanding of His grace today?


Day 3: Historical Evidence of God's Forgiving Nature
Throughout history, God's actions, from sparing Adam and Eve to instituting sacrifices, demonstrate His desire to forgive. These acts foreshadow the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus, which provides the foundation for our pardon. The narrative of the Bible is a testament to God's relentless pursuit of humanity and His willingness to forgive. This historical evidence serves as a reminder of His unchanging nature and His desire for reconciliation with His people. [09:06]

Psalm 103:10-12 (ESV): "He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us."

Reflection: How does understanding God's historical acts of forgiveness impact your view of His character? Can you identify a moment in your life where you experienced His mercy?


Day 4: The Centrality of Jesus' Sacrifice in Forgiveness
The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ are central to the forgiveness of sins. His sacrifice is the ultimate expression of God's love and the basis for our redemption, offering us a new life free from the burden of sin. Jesus' sacrifice fulfills the requirements of the law and provides a way for us to be reconciled with God. This act of love invites us to live in the freedom and joy of knowing that our sins are forgiven and that we are made new in Christ. [19:31]

1 Peter 2:24 (ESV): "He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed."

Reflection: How does the sacrifice of Jesus influence your daily life and decisions? What steps can you take to live more fully in the freedom He offers?


Day 5: Embracing and Living in Forgiveness
Embracing God's forgiveness involves repentance and faith in the gospel. It calls us to live in the freedom and joy of knowing our sins are remembered no more, and to share this message of hope with others. Living in forgiveness means letting go of guilt and shame and allowing God's grace to transform our lives. It is an invitation to experience the fullness of life that comes from being in right relationship with God and to extend that grace to those around us. [48:56]

Colossians 3:13 (ESV): "Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive."

Reflection: Who in your life needs to hear the message of God's forgiveness? How can you actively share and demonstrate this grace to them today?

Quotes

I even I am he that blot out thy transgressions for my own sake and will not remember thy sins Isaiah 43:25 for I will forgive their iniquity and I will remember their sin no more Jeremiah 31:34 for I will be merciful to their unrighteousness and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more Hebrews 8:12 [00:00:01]

Men flippantly declare that they believe it when they are not conscious of any great sin of their own but when his transgression is made apparent to a man and his iniquity comes home to him it is quite another matter does any unregenerate person believe in the forgiveness of sin I think not no man in sincerity believes it until God the Holy Ghost has taught him its truth and has written it upon his heart [00:02:00]

The law was sent for by the law is the knowledge of sin and by its power Sinners are shut up in the prison House of Despair from which only the Lord Jesus can deliver us what the law asserts the understanding also supports for within the awakened man there is the memory of his past offenses and on account of these his conscience passes judgment upon his soul and condemns it even as the law doth [00:03:30]

This appears first in the treatment of Sinners by God in as much as he spares their forfeited lives when our first parents had transgressed rest they came at once under penalty the Lord visited the garden and convinced the offenders of their transgression but instead of there and then pronouncing their doom and casting them forever away from his presence he talked to them of a certain seed of the woman that should bruise the Serpent's head [00:07:49]

Why the Bullocks and the Lambs offered in sacrifice why the shedding of blood if God did not intend to blot out sin why the burnt offerings in which God accepted man's gift if man could not be accepted assuredly he could not be accepted if regarded as guilty why the people peace offering in which god feasted with the offerer and the two United in feeding upon the one sacrifice how could this be unless God intended to forgive and enter into fellowship with men [00:11:04]

The first Covenant left us under condemnation but one main design of the New Covenant is to bring us into justification why a New Covenant at all if our unrighteousness can never be removed is not this the tenor of the Covenant as stated in our second text let the Holy Ghost himself be a witness unto us as we read in the epistle to the Hebrews this is the Covenant that I will make with them after those days sayth the Lord [00:17:26]

The cross is the grandest of realities and the core of its meaning is the removal of sin by him who his own self bear our sins in his own body on the tree assuredly there is a fountain open for sin and for uncleanness heavy laden soul that Fountain is open for thee now once in the end of the world hath the Son of God appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself [00:19:59]

God will not recall the sin of the pardon I am blessed thank god with a splendid memory for forgetting what anybody says or does against me I forget it not because I try to do so but because I cannot help it and therefore I claim no credit for it the other day when I was speaking kindly with a person I was reminded by another that this man had done me a great Injustice years ago [00:30:27]

The Lord remembers our sin no more the record of our iniquity is taken away and the judge has no judicial memory of it sometimes you have almost forgotten a thing and it is quite gone out of your mind but an event happens which recalls it so vividly that it seems as if it were perpetrated but yesterday God will not recall the sin of the pardon [00:30:58]

The Apostle saith now where remission of these is there is no more offering for sin the one sacrifice of Jesus has made an end of sin under the Old Law they offered an expiatory sacrifice but they must needs offer it again and again there was remembrance of sin made every year on the day of atonement but now the blessed one hath entered once for all within the veil and ha put away sin Forever by the sacrifice of himself [00:32:41]

The believer's sins no longer exist and if they are searched for they shall not be found y they shall not be sayith the Lord who is a pardoning God Like thee and who hath Grace so rich and free oh that God would comfort his mourners by this sermon I have a notion in my head that if when I was under the sentence of sin I could have heard this subject handled I should have found Liberty at once [00:40:48]

Forgiveness is to be had through the atoning blood why does God forget our sin is it not on this wise he looks upon his son Jesus bearing that sin did you ever think of what God the Father Sees In Jesus on the cross why you and I have seen enough to make us break our hearts but when the father saw his only begotten Son suffering even to death it made such an infinite impression upon his Great Soul [00:42:40]

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Transcript
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