THE FREEDOM OF FORGIVENESS

PSALM 51

Rick Jackson

Everyone needs forgiveness. How do I know that? I know because all have sinned. Since all have sinned all need forgiveness. Forgiveness is not a given. It must be obtained. The alternative to forgiveness is condemnation. Condemnation is a given, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil” (Jn. 3:16-19).

I. THE BASICS OF FORGIVENESS

1. Mercy (not being condemned like we deserve) based on love (v. 1)

2. Removal of sin based on the blood (v. 2, Rev. 1:5)

3. Confession precedes forgiveness (to confess means to agree) (v. 3)

(1) The lost must confess Christ as Saviour (Rm. 10:9-13)

(2) The saved confess their sin to God I( Jn. 1:9)

---The saved already have a relationship with God hence the difference.

II. THE BASICS OF CONFESSION

1. All sin is against a thrice Holy God (v. 4, Is. 6:3, Rev. 4:9)

2. All humans are born sinners (v. 5)

---We aren’t sinners because we sin; we sin because we are sinners. A Cat is not a cat because it meows, it meows because it is a cat; it is the cat’s nature to meow

3. Confession allows God’s desire of fellowship with man (v. 6, Ps. 8:4, Is. 59:2)

III. THE BASICS OF WHAT CONFESSION DOES FOR CHRISTIANS


1. Allows the blood to be applied to the specific area (v. 7, Is. 1:18, passover)

2. Allows joy to return (v. 8)

3. Allows communication to resume (v. 9, Ps. 66:18)

4. Allows God to renew us (not resave us) (v. 10-11)

5. Allows God to restore the joy of salvation to our lives (v. 12)

6. Allows God to use us again (v. 13, I Co. 9:27)

7. Allows us to worship in work and words alike (v. 14-19, Jn. 4:24)