THE COMFORT OF SINS FORGIVEN
Text: Isaiah 6; 40:1; 43:25; 44:22
1 April 2007
(I) THE COMPLICATIONS WHICH SIN BRINGS
1. Wake of sin
“For all have sinned and short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23
2. Wages of sin
“For the wages of sin is death…” Romans 6:23
3. War within
“But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind…” Romans 7:23
4. Wretchedness
“O wretched man that I am…” Romans 7:24
(II) THE CONDEMNATION OF SIN
1. The wrath of God
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness” Romans 1:18
2. The judgment of God
a) Judgment according to our deeds
“Who will render to each one according to his deeds” Romans 2:6
b) Judged by the law
“…as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law” Romans 2:12b
c) Judged by Jesus
“In the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.” Romans 2:16
(III) THE COMFORT THAT COMES FROM GOD
1. The promise of comfort
” ‘Comfort, yes, comfort My people!’ Says your God.” Isaiah 40:1
2. The promise of sins blotted out
“I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake;
And I will not remember your sins.” Isaiah 43:25
“I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions,
And like a cloud, your sins.
Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.” Isaiah 44:22
3. The promise of cleansing
“Come now, and let us reason together,’ Says the LORD,
‘Though your sins are like scarlet,
They shall be as white as snow;
Though they are red like crimson,
They shall be as wool.” Isaiah 1:18
(IV) THE CHALLENGE TO MAKE APPROPRIATE RESPONSES
“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.”
1 John 1:8-10
1. Repentance versus denial of sin
2. Returning to God in humility versus claims of innocence
3. Redemption from a faithful and just God