Verse for Meditation:

“But God commended his own love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom 5:8).

Sermon

A thinker has once said, “To err is human and to forgive is divine”. The forgiveness of God is long suffering. “Jehovah is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abundant in loving kindness” (Ps. 103:8). Both these phenomena occur since creation. Man fails in many things. But God forgives him. Though God punishes off for the time being as and when man repents, God forgives him. God has forgiven the people of Israel during their journey in the wilderness. God also has forgiven the sins of David. Christ has forgiven the backsliding Peter. Christ, the son of God, who has forgiven the thief on the cross also said “Lord forgive them that they do not know what they are doing”. God has given the promise that He will forgive all those who repent and confess their sins (2Chro14; 1Jn. 1:9). Therefore, whenever we come together for worship, we confess our sins without justifying ourselves. The priests of the Old Testament, prophets and apostles confessed their sins – for themselves and for the people. During the worship service as we confess our sins and seek God’s grace, He forgives us and sanctifies us and strengthens us to live for His glory. "He that covereth his transgressions shall not prosper. But whoever confesses and forsakes them shall obtain mercy” (Pro. 28:13). “Blessed is the man whose transgressions is forgiven, whose sin is covered” (Ps. 38:1). All such verses remind us about God’s quality of forgiving. To enjoy this divine forgiveness our approach to it is very important.


1. Forgiveness of Christ Sign of God’s Grace Rom 5:6-11:

We experience the forgiveness through Christ by the grace of God. Christ died for us when we were sinners (Rom 5:8). This is a blessed statement that reveals God’s grace. As we understand that the character of Christ is the sign of God’s grace, we should also know that the realization about sin and repentance are essential to receive the divine forgiveness of men. The Bible teaches he who says that there is no sin in oneself is cheating (Jn. 1:8). Paul was aware of his weaknesses and defects (Rom 7:14-25). “I am a sinful man”- this realization makes a person reach a God who is just. In the parable that Jesus taught about repentance, and in the parable of the younger son’s repentance an important statement says “He came to his senses”, (Lk 15:17), “…I am dying of hunger”. The tax collector also prayed beating on his breast, “Have mercy on me a sinner” (Lk 18:13). He went justified. All religions of the world agree one truth, that man is sinful. This self awareness is revival. The Holy Spirit gives this realization. As the Holy Spirit who gives us the realization about sin works in us repentance happens (Jn. 16:8).

2. Dependence on God and confession- Ps. 25.

Do not remember my sins as a youth and my sins of my childhood (Ps. 25:7). This is the confession and repentance that David has done. It is not self justification but rather confession that brings forgiveness from God. Not only that “I am dying of hunger” but also, “How many servants in my fathers house are eating sumptuously” (Jn 15:17). This realization about the father is to be noticed. “My father or a father who forgives all sins”. This realization is important. When Paul says “I am a sinful man” (Rom. 8:11) he also ascertains “Now there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom 8:11). This is Paul’s wonderful faith. Our perfect courage and faith in God is that the sins of those who come to His presence through Jesus Christ will be forgiven. True to the prayer of the Psalmist, “I lift mine eyes unto the mountains”, let us look unto the merciful face of God for forgiveness.

3. Faith for forgiveness Mk 2:1-12.

When the paralytic man was lowered in front of Jesus the faith of those four people was considered for the forgiveness of sins of this sick person (Mk. 2:5, 10). “If any one is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has gone away” (2 Cor. 5:17). One is enabled to enjoy the happiness of the forgiveness of sin only when he believes in this verse. The word of God says “Though your sins are red like scarlet, they will be white as snow” (Is 1:8). When the absolution is pronounced by the pastor in the service, we will be benefited if only we receive it with utmost faith. “It is not I who live; it is Christ who lives in me”. This is the faith.

4. We should also forgive

The important factor is that our sins are to be forgiven. God forgives our sins when we forgive the sins of others committed toward us (Matt. 6:14, 15; Mk 11:25, 26). The parable that Jesus spoke to establish this point is very much meditative (Mt. 18:21-35).
“Unless you do not forgive to your brothers each other, my heavenly father will do likewise to you”. (Matt. 18:35). These are the words of Jesus. As Jesus send out the apostles, he instructed them to forgive everyone and release the sins (iniquities) of men (Jn. 20:23)’. We would be enabled to evangelize only when we honesty forgive others. The reason is that one of the characters of God is enduring long suffering. May God bless us to live on this earth with the assurance of total forgiveness from Sin.

“What can wash away Sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus
 What can make me whole again?” Nothing but the blood of Jesus
 Oh! precious in the flow that makes me white as snow
 No other fount Know, Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Prayer

Loving God, who, revealed Your love to us by reconciling us to You through the death of Your Son and who continues to forgive all those who repent of their sins, We pray that, You do not remember our sins and our rebellious ways, rather, forgive us by Your words, "Your sins are forgiven", So that we put off our old self, corrupted by its deceitful desires and put on the new self, living in holiness, being kind to one another and forgiving each other, Through Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One god, now and forever more. Amen

• This is a story from Greece. A 60 year old couple celebrated their 35th wedding Anniversary. Suddenly a sage appeared there. He congratulated them and told them to ask if they have any wish :- “I want to go around the world “, the wife requested. The sage lifted up his hand in the air and to their amazement gifted her with an air ticket to go around the world. Now it was the husband’s chance. He was emotional. He said, "I too have a desire in my heart. “I would like to have a wife who is 30 years younger to me”. The sage then lifted his hands into the empty skies. Aghast....! the husband was turned into an old man of 90 years!