Sermon Outlines

By Frederick F. Schwindt, Evangelist

FORGIVENESS OF SIN

1. The writings of Paul, fourteen Epistles, give very strong emphasis to the forgiveness of sin:
   1. "In whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sin." - Col. 1:14
   2. "Even as Christ forgave you" - Col. 3:13
2. The great theme of all his messages was the redemption through Christ Jesus:
   1. He writes about the "redemption that is in Christ Jesus" - Rom. 3:24
   2. In his letter to the Hebrews, he writes, "by his own blood he entered in once into the Holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us" - Heb. 9:12

1. The Need of Forgiveness:
   1. The reality of sin is sensed by all normal human beings, regardless of what their concept of right or wrong may be
   2. The Bible declares in positive words that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God - Rom. 3:23; Gal. 3:22
   3. The terrible reality of sin in this world is apparent that to deny it, is to close our eyes to its destructive powers seen everywhere
   4. But the greatest proof that sin exists in this world is the fact that Christ died for our sins - I Cor. 15:3
2. The method of forgiveness:
   1. The forgiveness of sin is, life God's promises, conditional; it is based upon sincere confession - I John 1:9 -- "He that covereth up his sins shall not prosper" - Prov. 28:13
   2. Secondly, we must not only confess our sins, but we must willingly forsake them Is. 55:7; Eph. 4:28; John 5:14; 8:11
   3. Now God's means to cover our sins is through the blood of Jesus Christ - Rev. 1:5 and I Pet. 1:18,19
   4. Christ and Christ alone is the basis of the forgiveness of our sins - Acts 4:12
3. The nature of the forgiveness of sin:
   1. Forgiveness of our sins is the restoration of a broken relation and a renewal of fellowship with God - Eph. 2:11-15; I John 1:3-9
   2. It is making us efficient for God's service--we become God's witnesses for truth - Is. 43:10; Acts 1:8
   3. A third effect of the forgiveness of sin is that we become fellow heirs of God's promises present and future - Luke 23:42-44; 19:9

1. Do we believe, and have we experienced the power of the forgiveness of our sins?
   1. Have we truly and from the heart confessed our sin--known and unknown?
   2. Do we believe that God for Christ's sake hath forgiven us our sin?
2. Some unmistakable evidence of the forgiveness of sin:
   1. I have known people who were in doubt that their sins had been forgiven. They brooded over what they called uncertainty of the forgiveness of sin
   2. The presence and indwelling of the Holy Spirit in our life is positive evidence that our sins are under the blood of Jesus--that Christ has forgiven us, and that the gift of the Holy Spirit is the earnest of the promise
   3. notice prayerfully the following: Acts 2:38-39 as compared with Eph. 1:13-14; Rom. 8:16; and 2 Cor. 3:17,18
3. A definite change of our attitude toward sin is still another positive proof that we have the forgiveness of sin--note what Paul writes:
   1. Rom. 7:22; 8:1-10
   2. Jesus also laid down the rule of relationship - Matt. 6:24
   3. The evidence of the divine nature in our life is still another indisputable proof that we have passed from death unto life, from the power of darkness unto the power of the resurrection to life - 2 Pet. 1:2-8; I John 3:3-10