THE WONDER OF FORGIVENESS

ISAIAH 44:2

A. "I HAVE BLOTTED OUT, AS A THICK CLOUD, THY TRANSGRESSIONS, AND AS A CLOUD, THY SINS: RETURN UNTO ME; FOR I HAVE REDEEMED THEE. SING, O YE HEAVENS; FOR THE LORD HATH DONE IT...BREAK FORTH INTO SINGING, YE MOUNTAINS, O FOREST, AND EVERY TREE THEREIN."
  1. There are three ways in which we can regard Divine forgiveness:
    1. We may regard it as impossible, in a universe of adamantine law
    2. We may regard it as a secret of God, far beyond our finite comprehension
    3. Or we may regard it as a thing of wonder, so amazing to be incredible were it not vouched for in innumerable lives!
  2. To the prophet it is so amazing that he calls upon heaven and earth to help him to celebrate
    1. This is the tenor of priests, prophets, and kings, in the writings of Moses and the prophets.
    2. It is repeated in the writings of the New Testament
B. LET US NOTE SOME OF THE WONDERS OF DIVINE FORGIVENESS
  1. The wonder of Divine forgiveness and how it affects a sinner's relationship to God and to men
    1. It removes all barriers between God and the sinner - Eph. 2:11-15
    2. Sin is a terrible barrier between God and man - Is. 59:1-3
    3. Divine forgiveness opens the door and closes the gate of hell - Gen. 28:12-16; Rom. 8:1
  2. The Wonder of forgiveness lies also:
    1. In the overcoming of the obstacles caused by sin
    2. There is the obstacle of divine justice--the law of what a man sows that shall he reap - Gal. 6:7-8
    3. There is the law of upholding the claims of God's law - I John 3:4
    4. The removal of the death sentence passed upon the guilty because of sin - Rom. 6:23
  3. Again, the wonder of forgiveness lies in its fullness:
    1. It reveals that with God there are no half measures
    2. Examples: parable of the prodigal son - Luke 15:11-32; thief on the cross - Luke 23:42-44; woman of Samaria - John 4:1-28
    3. Saith the prophet Micah: "Who is God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage...he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea." Micah 7:19-20
  4. There are no reservations, no exceptions, and no "let us see first" in the forgiveness of God
    1. the Bible is very clear on this
    2. Said the prophet, "for he will abundantly pardon" - Is. 55:7
C. A FINAL LOOK AT THE WONDERS OF DIVINE FORGIVENESS
  1. It is, indeed, a full revelation of God's love:
    1. That love finds its full measure in the gift of the only begotten Son - John 3:16
    2. God's love made Him sin who knew no sin to make the divine forgiveness effective - 2 Cor. 5:19-21
    3. The Son of God became a curse so that we might be righteous - Gal. 3:13
  2. This divine love was displayed with the bright colors of Heaven on the cross of Calvary:
    1. "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do" - Luke 23:34
    2. So long as the Son of God bears the nail prints on His body, the redeemed have full assurance of divine forgiveness
  3. And, if that is possible, the eternal joy of the redeemed in God's kingdom:
    1. Will continue to re-echo the prophets celebration of the wonders of the divine forgiveness
    2. Even then all things in heaven and in earth, all creation, will join in the eternal song of praise of the wonder of divine forgiveness
    3. Dear reader, how does the message of the prophet affect you? Are you ready to celebrate the unspeakable gift of God--the gift of Divine forgiveness?


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