To be pardoned from your sin by God and have the guilt of your sin and a guilt laden conscience released and replaced by peace, is a wonderful gift. This new standing in Divine favor, grace, is a result of God having declared you right before Him based solely on the Work of the Lord Jesus on your behalf.{Read Romans 5:1-2}.

 1. – THE PURPOSE OF FORGIVENESS – WORSHIP GOD.

The purpose of forgiveness is ultimately that God be WORSHIPED. It is for God’s sake,
“If You, O LORD kept a record of sins, O LORD , who could stand? But with You there is forgiveness, that You might be feared.“ -Psalm 130:3-4

  • CONSIDER…THE HOPELESSNESS – “If you, O LORD, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand?

  • CONSIDER YOUR HOPE – “But with You there is forgiveness; …”

  • CONSIDER YOUR HONOR – “…therefore You are feared.” A Grateful, reverential respect for Him!- Psalm 13o:3-4

 

 Sin is a barrier to worshiping God. Forgiveness removes the barrier that we might be accepted and be able to worship God aright. Not just aright but with delight to Him who has made it we become His children, adopted into his family and eternally accepted “in the Beloved.” – {Read Eph 1:6}.

God has revealed Himself personally as He who forgives sin, not just anyone’s sin but yours! It is personal forgiveness. And with this gift, He encourages you to come to His throne of Grace as His beloved child whom He delights in!

None of us could stand righteously before God if He held our sins against us. This is the hopelessness of all who come before Him. But NOTE THE HOPE – “BUT WITH Him…THERE IS FORGIVENESS…” …”IS” present tense, moment by moment…This is HOPE- GOD’S HOPE for us sinners. The proper response Is to HONOR HIM, RESPECT HIM AND LIVE OUR LIVES SUCH “…therefore You are to be feared. “Fear Him”… Respect Him, Honor Him, Worship Him. The sinner been reconciled to God do not live in dread, but one of liberty, love, gratitude to Him who has reconciled the sinner to himself, with the outcome a reverence, worship to Him who has shown such kindness, grace upon a needy sinner!

Those who are forgiven are responsible and have the privilege to be in awe of Him and Honor Him. “and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.To Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. “-{Revelation 1:5-6.} THIS Love is a present tense, continuous love and note He, “… HAS FREED US FROM OUR SINS BY HIS BLOOD… AND MADE US…” You are freed, no longer are you a slave shackled, imprisoned by sin. You have been set free from the penalty and power of sin to live in newness of life. It cost Him His life. His blood alone could break the shackles- and He did!

2. THE PRIVILEGE OF FORGIVENESS – FORGIVE OTHERS;

F-O-R-G-I-V-E-N  TO  F-O-R-G-I-V-E

We are free to extend forgiveness to others. As a joyful  act of obedience and expression of Love to Him, “forgiving each other, just as Christ in God has forgiven you.” – Ephesians 4:32. As God has freely, totally, completely forgiven, pardoned us, so we have the opportunity, power and model to forgive, release others from their sin against us, not holding grudges or them with manipulation or disdain.

You are FORGIVEN- He made the choice to. You CAN FORGIVE- you make the choice to, MOTIVATED by His forgiveness of you! GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD FOR …YOUR…FORGIVENESS – AND FOR THIS GREAT LOVE THAT MOTIVATED HIM…EXTEND FORGIVENESS., and you now can FORGIVE, pardon others. CHOOSING Not to keep records of wrongs against you. When the thought comes back to your mind of their sin, you speak to yourself the truth,”I have forgiven them.” You Maintain this attitude of love. “Forgive and forget” is not in the Bible! Because you remember does not mean yo have not forgiven. How do you know if you have forgiven? Forgiveness is a promise. I promise not to hold it against you to humiliate you, to bring up again to belittle you. I choose not to gossip about it even under the guise of “prayer.” 1 Cor 13:4-7 “Love continually keeps no records of wrong.”  Un-forgiveness is an evidence of a lack of love and a failure to understand how much God has pardoned you and needs to be owned, repented of as unforgiveness and bitterness!

 3.- THE PLEASURE OF FORGIVENESS-  CONTENTMENT.

 Psalm 32:1 says, “Happy is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is removed- or covered.”  Forgiveness is meant to produce happy people. “The word “blessed” here is equivalent to “happy.” “Happy is the man;” or “happy is the condition – the state of mind – happy are the prospects, of one whose sins are forgiven.” His condition is happy or blessed: Truly Happy is the soul to whom the LORD has pardoned, forgiven, erased, all of their sin. No guilt. No condemnation. No withdrawal of that forgiveness. This does not mean we are free to do as we want, for forgiveness will not want to offend the Love of Him who at great personal cost- The Life of the Lord Jesus, but to worship Him,honor Him, be grateful to Him and careful to walk in love for such great love. Happy is the soul that knows His forgiveness. Peace with  God and the peace of God.

To have ALL your sins forgiven, pardoned, erased, canceled, sent away as far as the east is from the west, how wonderful His forgiveness, that causes a desire to worship Him, to extend forgiveness to others and at times let’s be candid- at great personal cost. But consider the cost to him who went to the cross and before that came in humility and walked among humanity that was like a sewage of sin compared to His holiness. We rejoice and find our happiness in Him. Not one that is dependent on favorable circumstances, but based on the surety GOD has forgiven us completely, irrevocably, eternally and it should produce awe, forgiving others, happiness- contentment and rest of heart!

  •  The Purpose of Forgiveness- Worship God.

  • The Privilege of Forgiveness- Forgive Others.

  • The Pleasure of Forgiveness-  Happiness and contentment Because of Him!

 PERSONAL APPLICATION

1. MEMORIZE  and MEDITATE.– Read  a verse from above. Write it on a 3 by 5 card and carry with you and when you have a free moments look at it word for word, phrase by phrase and commit to memory

2. PRAY.  ASK God to help you understand it. That you might worship Him aright, extend it to others and delight in the state you have been placed in by God.

3. Share the HOPE  with someone else. Share with others of HIM who has worked the MIRACLE OF FORGIVENESS On your and their behalf. Look to share the Ultimate Purpose of Forgiveness, the Privilege in forgiveness and the pleasure of forgiveness. The ULTIMATE purpose for forgiveness is that you may WORSHIP  God aright and HONOR JESUS CHRIST THE LORD.