1. God is Forgiving

2. Throughout Scripture, we find a God who is forgiving.  “Iniquities prevail against me: as for our transgressions, thou shalt purge them away” (Ps 65:3).  “Bless the L ORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases” (Ps 103:2-3).  “If ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you” (Matt 6:14).  “Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins” (Acts 5:31).

3. Throughout Scripture, we find a God who is forgiving.  “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace” (Eph 1:7).  “The prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him” (Js 5:15).  “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 Jn 1:9).

5. Everyone is a sinner.  “Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one” (Ps 53:3).  “For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not” (Eccl 7:20).  “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the L ORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Is 53:6).

6. SCRIPTURE OUTLINES SEVERE PENALTIES FOR THOSE WHO SIN. The Penalty for Sin is Severe

7. Sin brings spiritual death (Rom 6:23; Rom 7:11). Sin enslaves its practioners (Jn 8:34). Sin separates from God—both in this life & the life to come (Is 59:2; 2 Thess 1:9). Sin shall bring God’s wrath upon those who live in it (Rom 1:18; Eph 5:56).

9. The prophets often spoke about the coming forgiveness of God (Is 53:5; Zech 13:1). The sacrifices under the Old Testament testified to the need for Jesus’ sacrifice (Lev 5:10; Heb 10:11).

10. In the New Testament, we find God’s acting for man’s forgiveness.  The ministry of John the Baptizer (Matt 3:2-3; Mk 1:4).  The death of Jesus.  The blood of Jesus makes man’s forgiveness possible (Matt 26:28; Eph 1:7).  Jesus’ work was dying for the forgiveness of our sins (Matt 20:28).  The apostles’ proclamation of the gospel (Lk 24:47; Acts 2:38; Acts 3:19).

12. There is no sin that God cannot forgive.  The ministry of Jesus.  “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more” (Jn 8:11).  “Her sins, which are many, are forgiven” (Lk 7:47).  Pentecost (Acts 2). I need to abandon my sin (Rom 6:1-2; Rom 6:11; Gal 5:24). I have an obligation to forgive others (Matt 6:14; Eph 4:32).