TEN LIES ABOUT GOD “GOD CAN’T FORGIVE ME!” 04/11/2010 Dr. Dane Boyles

Psalm 130:3-4 3 If you, O LORD, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? 4 But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared.

Psalm 130:5 5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope.

“GOD CAN’T FORGIVE ME!” –We’ve all said at one time or another, “God can’t forgive me.” –We ascribe human characteristics to God. –When you think about God, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? –My thought is: Jesus rescued me from my sin.

“GOD CAN’T FORGIVE ME!” So why is it that we as human beings want to continue to believe that “God Can’t Forgive us”? –Who are you?

“GOD CAN’T FORGIVE ME!” –Here’s the point: The culture in which we live is suffering from a major identity crisis.

“GOD CAN’T FORGIVE ME!” –We all think that our identity is what we do with whom we have a relationship the stuff we’re into the things we’ve accomplished.

“GOD CAN’T FORGIVE ME!” –The truth is: Only in Jesus will we really find who we are.

“GOD CAN’T FORGIVE ME!” –The beginning of our identity is in what God did for us—and not what we did against him. That’s why some believe God can’t forgive them.

“GOD CAN’T FORGIVE ME!” Christ’s purpose for coming into the world was to save sinners. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matt. 1:21)

Luke 19:10 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” (Luke 19:10)

1 Timothy 1:15 15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.

Matthew 9:2 2 “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”

Matthew 28:19 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (Matt. 28:19)

Matthew 28:20 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.

Luke 24:46 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day,

Luke 24:47 47 and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. (Luke 24:47; see also Mark 16:15-16; John 20:21-23)

“GOD CAN’T FORGIVE ME!” Redemption Was Planned Before the Creation of the World. 9 who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, (2 Tim. 1:9)

“GOD CAN’T FORGIVE ME!” –God purposed our salvation before time began. 7 No, we speak of God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. (1 Cor. 2:7)

1 Peter 1:20 20 He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.

“GOD CAN’T FORGIVE ME!” –God didn’t foreordain man to sin. 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. (2 Cor. 5:19)

“GOD CAN’T FORGIVE ME!” This may sound innocent enough but it can ultimately derail your faith because it makes biblical reasoning almost impossible. –All the devil has to do is create a level of pessimism about the truth and it’s done for many people.

“GOD CAN’T FORGIVE ME!” –The gospel is different. 12 I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ. (Gal. 1:12)

“GOD CAN’T FORGIVE ME!” “I just can’t understand how God could forgive me!” The gospel rejects the whole idea that it should be submitted to self- understanding.

Galatians 1:6 6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—

“GOD CAN’T FORGIVE ME!” 7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. (Gal. 1:7) If someone doesn’t believe God can forgive, he/she misses the essence of the gospel.

“GOD CAN’T FORGIVE ME!” –That’s why when we hear the gospel, we should think of the power of God! 16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. (Romans 1:16)

1 Corinthians 1:18 18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Matthew 22:29 29 Jesus replied, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.

“GOD CAN’T FORGIVE ME!” Man Cannot Know God through Human Wisdom. 20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? (1 Cor. 1:20)

1 Corinthians 1:21 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.

“GOD CAN’T FORGIVE ME!” –Jesus is Immanuel, God with us, Deity with humanity! 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1)

John 1:14 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Hebrews 9:14 14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!

TEN LIES ABOUT GOD “GOD CAN’T FORGIVE ME!” 04/11/2010 Dr. Dane Boyles