Faith in the Forgiveness of Sins
Minister: | Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: | 3/9/2014 AM |
Text: | I John 1,2; Lord's Day 21 |
Psalters: | 262, 235, 64, 362 |
- What it is.
- Sin is rebellion against God and His personal desires and requirements (I John 3:4b).
- Sin is any thought, word or action committed against God.
- Sin proceeds from a corrupt nature (q. 56), the depravity which always cleaves to us (q. 126), our old man of sin.
- Correct knowledge of God and of sin.
- Forgiveness means that God declares:
- The punishment has been completely endured and there is nothing left.
- Further, God declares me to be righteous and worthy of eternal life.
- Sin is rebellion against God and His personal desires and requirements (I John 3:4b).
- How is the forgiveness of sins made possible?
- Only God can forgive because:
- Every sin is committed against Him (Ps. 51:4; Mk. 2:7).
- Only He can determine the sufficiency of the satisfaction and whether it is accepted.
- Forgiveness is when God's justice accepts the satisfaction and righteousness.
- The method by which forgiveness is applied is imputation (justification).
- The legal consequences of Jesus? perfect atoning work are transferred to our account before God.
- And His life of perfect, loving obedience fulfilled all of our obligations to God's commandments is transferred to us.
- The only basis for forgiveness is God's great and amazing grace.
- The extent of forgiveness: our acquittal is complete, our salvation is eternally sure; to the uttermost (Heb. 7:25).
- Only God can forgive because:
- The fruit of God's work of forgiving us.
- Everyone of the sins of every believer is forgiven, without exception.
- Forgiveness is experienced by faith in the Christ proclaimed by the church in the preaching of the gospel.
- Receiving God's forgiving grace we gratefully strive to live according to all God's commandments by loving Him with our all.