THE BASICS OF FORGIVENESS and CONFESSION

PSALM 51

Pastor 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 is Based on the Love of God [v. 1]

2. Sin Removal is Based on the Blood of Christ [v. 2, Rev. 1:5]

And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

3. Confession Precedes Forgiveness (confess=agree) [v. 3]

(1) The Lost Must Confess Christ as Saviour [Rm. 10:9-13]

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

(2) The Saved Confess Their Sin to God [1 Jn. 1:9]

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (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. 4:8]

- And one (seraphim) cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.

- And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

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]

- What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

- But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

 

III. THE BASICS OF WHAT CONFESSION DOES FOR CHRISTIANS

1. Allows Forgiveness to be Applied to the Specific Area

[v. 7, Is. 1:18] Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

2. Allows Joy to Return [v. 8]

3. Allows Fellowship to Resume [v. 9, Ps. 66:18]

If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:

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, 1 Co. 9:27]

But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

7. Allows Worship in Work and Words Alike [v. 14-19, Jn. 4:24]

God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.