We Believe in the Forgiveness of Sins - Sermon Notes

August 12, 2012 - Sermon Notes

Sermon: “We Believe in the Forgiveness of Sins”

by: Vermon Pierre

Series: What We Believe - Preaching through the Apostle's Creed

The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God the Father Almighty; Maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried; the third day he rose from the dead; he ascended into heaven; and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit; the holy catholic Church; the communion of saints; 

the forgiveness of sins; 

the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

How we tend to deal with sin:

1. Do lots of good stuff/ do lots of religion
2. Pretend it’s not there/ ignore it

1 John – Sin is lawlessness

Timothy Brindle Song

The standard that God has set is good because God is good and righteous!

Some results of sin:

1.    progressive corruption

·      Selfishness that leads to XXX

2.    bondage

·      a slave to sin (a monstrous desire that hurts self and others)

3.    self-centeredness

4.    delusion

·      rationalize it

·      playing the victim

·      not admitting it for what it is (sin)

·      using but to explain yourself (moving around the real issue)

“We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts...We have left undone those things which we ought to have done, and we have done those things which we out not to have done, and (spiritually) there is no health in us.“ - Anglican Prayer Book

We should expect God to act on sin! The good thing is that we can talk about forgiveness because God has made a way for us to be reconciled to Himself.

Forgiveness is free, but not cheap!

·      Payment in blood for our sins - Ephesians 1:7

For forgiveness to happen, it means that someone has to take it in the chin!

·      2 Corinthians 5:21 - For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

·      Romans 5:1

·      Galatians 4:4-7

Forgiveness of sins is accomplished by GOD, 

all by his grace, 

all though faith!

1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness

Being forgiven by God is the basis for you to:

1.    Relate rightly to yourself

·      Freedom from slavery of selfish desires

2.    Relate rightly to God

·      Praise Him

·      Finding pleasure in Him more than anything else

3.    Relate rightly to others

·      Since you have been forgiven, you should be able to forgive others.

·      Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32 ESV)

To study more on this topic click here!