Forgiven
Notes
Transcript
What do we think of when we hear the word “forgiven”? Normally, we think of our children fussing and fighting until something happens and we ask one to apologize and the other to forgive them for what was done. Maybe we do something that causes us to hurt someone else and we want them to forgive us for what we did. We might think of cross words we spoke to someone while we were short tempered, busy, or aggravated and we ask them to forgive us for the way we acted. Why is it we normally ask for forgiveness? Either out of obligation (we think we have to) or guilt.
Basically, forgiveness is a way we try to rid ourselves of our guilt and shame. R.C. Sproul gives a simple definition of guilt as the feeling a person incurs when violating a law. Unfortunately, not everyone feels guilt and shame even though they have broken the law and especially if they do not get caught. BUT, they might feel guilt if they are caught as this sets up the judicial process and one must face the judge or jury. When the case goes to trial, evidence is produced, testimony is heard, and a verdict is reached. They judge or the jury decides whether a person is guilty of breaking the law and sentencing is handed down.
Biblically speaking, though, we are already convicted of our sin.
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Because of our guilt, we have already been sentenced.
Romans 6:23 (ESV)
23a For the wages of sin is death...
God set forth rules and laws, and we have all broken the rules and laws of God. There is no need for judge or jury because we are already proclaimed guilty in the eyes of God.
Unfortunately, not everyone feels guilty of the crime they commit. In the same view, not everyone feels guilt for the sins we commit against God. We must remember this, though, the lack of guilty feelings does not always indicate a lack of guilt. How often do we watch trials (fictional or non-fictional) and the defendant answers the judge “NOT GUILTY”! Only to have the evidence point to the lie and they are proclaimed guilty. While we as humans may think there is no repercussions for our actions since there is not “God Police” that arrests us for our sins, we are told in scripture that all the dead will be judged during the end time.
12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.
But God...
God provided a way for us to never be sentenced for our sin.
Romans 6:23 (ESV)
23b ...but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
What is the free gift? Salvation
4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,
5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—
6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
Now, let’s think through the process of what happens when someone is guilty of a crime. They must either make restitution (pay money for the product stolen or destroyed) or they serve time in jail as punishment.
So what would we think if someone was convicted by a judge or jury and the sentence of death was given, only to have the judge say your restitution has been paid someone else has died in your place - paying the price for your sin, you are free to go? You have been forgiven...
You see, we all have that opportunity as forgiveness is an expression of the mercy of God. Romans 5:8 tells us:
8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Christ died for us, IN OUR PLACE...
As Romans 3:23 says the wages, the price, the restitution for our sin is death. Yet God the Father send Jesus, his only begotten Son, to earth to die in our place, so that we can experience forgiveness.
In Psalm 32 David is reminiscing either in song or liturgical worship (Maskil), about the goodness of God and forgiveness of our sin.
God Forgives If You Repent
God Forgives If You Repent
Psalm 32:1-2
Many times we feel guilty of something we do. But, we continue to do it over and over and over. So, does this show a heart of repentance? First, we have to know what it means to repent, correct? Repentance is the practice of asking another for forgiveness AND ceasing to continue in the sinful behavior.
So it is remorse, and reaction to our sin. The Hebrew word that most closely describes “repent” can be translated as “return”, we are to turn around and go in the opposite direction - return to the state, the relationship, that God intended in the beginning. David then speaks to the benefits of repentance.
When we repent of our sin, confess those sins to God and turn away from the path of sin:
1 John 1:9 (ESV)
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
When we are cleansed from the sin (transgression, unrighteousness), the we are blessed - we can finally feel true happiness! I have heard this feeling described as a heavy weight lifted off ones soul. I do think this is an accurate description as literally the weight of sin has been transferred from us to Jesus. HE takes our sin and assumes them as His own. The bible refers to our soul before salvation as being crimson with blood - we are 100% guilty of our sin but after salvation, we are as white as snow. No blemish, no stain, no sin will ever be seen again...
If we repent of our sins, God will forgive and cover our sin and it is not counted against us.
God Disciplines Unrepentant
God Disciplines Unrepentant
3 For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah
For nearly a year, David would not deal with his sin. He rebelled against God! The time of his silence is the time he was running from God and as a result of his willful and deliberate disobedience he experienced God’s discipline. The Bible clearly teaches us that God will not allow Christians to continue on and on in sin without facing discipline. If a good parent would discipline their child for being defiant, would God not also discipline His children for the same?
David’s sin was taking a toll on his body. He refers to his bones wasting away - he was in pain, a deep pain that felt like it was coming from his bones. Along with the physical pain, David also endured spiritual pain. The groanings all day long likely refer to his mental and spiritual anguish. He was under conviction - God was making His case to David and the guilt was weighing heavy on him. He referred to God’s hand being heavy upon him. Because David was refusing to deal with his sin, God was dealing with it for him. His strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. David was in mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical suffering over his deliberate rebellion against God.
You see, here is the thing we need to understand - the weight of guilt is heavy. An article in Better Help even states “guilt can physically weigh you down, with a greater self-perceived physical weight when they feel guilty, that guilt can lead to challenges enjoying life, and guilt can contribute to physical health problems like headache, stomachache, unidentified muscle pain or tension, and numerous other stress-related symptoms.”
David was outlining and defining in Scripture what experts are describing today as the effects of guilt. It is not until that guilt is confessed, that one can escape these effects.
God Forgives Confessed Sins
God Forgives Confessed Sins
Psalm 32:5 (ESV)
5 I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah
I want us to pay close attention to this, God’s discipline was heavy, but not near as heavy as the death sentence from sin. Once David confessed his 1) sin, 2) iniquity, and 3) transgression - all words describing his willful and deliberate rebellion against God that God forgave him.
David has reached his breaking point, he is physically, mentally, spiritual, emotionally, and mentally broken by God’s discipline and comes to him in a state of brokenness. He opened up and confessed everything - he ACKNOWLEDGED his sin, he refused to COVER his iniquity, and he CONFESSED his transgressions. It’s not only the way in which David approaches God, but it is God’s reaction to David’s repentance that is so impactful - and you forgave…my sin.
You see, all we have to do is confess our sin and God will forgive us.
He is Our Refuge
He is Our Refuge
6 Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found; surely in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him.
7 You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah
David paints a picture by saying that turning to God in repentance will save us from raging floodwaters - the trials and adversities of life. God will see us through!
He goes on to talk of God being a hiding place for him. Isn’t it interesting that he was hiding from God in sin, but he hid BEHIND God afterwards. God is our safe place, He is our refuge, when we are troubled.
Isn’t it a much better thought to hide IN God than to hide FROM God?
God Instructs, Teaches, Guides, and Watches Over Us
God Instructs, Teaches, Guides, and Watches Over Us
8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
9 Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you.
God promises the believer that we will never be alone. He reminds us that He sent the Helper, the Holy Spirit, to dwell within each believer. Instructing, teaching, counseling with us. But God warns for us to not be stubborn or rebellious like the horse or mule. The nature of horses is to run away in whatever direction they desire. The nature of mules is to stubbornly refuse to move. When we stray into sin and refuse to repent, God says we are like these animals. Rebellious, self-willed, and headstrong—this is the embarrassing description of those who continue to willfully and deliberately keep sin in their lives.
God’s Love Surrounds Those Who Trust Him
God’s Love Surrounds Those Who Trust Him
10 Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord.
11 Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!
David then goes from describing what it felt like to hide FROM God, to describing how it feels to hide IN God. Then he addresses everyone who hears these verses - Be glad in the Lord, rejoice, and shout for joy. Christians, we have a reason to celebrate our salvation and the one who provided salvation through His sacrifice on the cross.
Closing
Closing
The very moment we realize we have sinned, we need to listen to David’s instruction of this psalm to confess and turn away from our sin. Continuing to live with unrepentant sin in our lives can lead us to experience the discipline of God. If we confess, and repent, then we can remain in God’s blessings and hide IN God instead of hiding FROM God.
Today, are you hiding FROM God? Is there sin that remains unrepentant? Are you experiencing the weight and burden of that sin in your life? Today, you can be set free, the burden can be lifted, and you can enjoy hiding IN God!
The altar is open