KJV Sermon Outlines

God’s Forgiveness

Ephesians 1:3-8

What is forgiveness? It is, quite literally, the setting aside of a debt by the one to which the debt is owed. When we talk about forgiveness in this light, are we to understand that it is possible for us to “pay” God for our forgiveness?
Of course not. But it should cause us to realize, if we never have before, just how incredible and awesome God’s forgiveness toward us actually is. When I thought of it recently, it made me ask some questions...

1. WHY WOULD GOD FORGIVE?

His desire to forgive is rooted in His UNBELIEVABLE LOVE

a. God pursues a continuing love relationship with us that is real and personal.

b. 1 John 4:8 states that God IS love! It is His very essence. Love, properly defined, needs an object upon which to express itself. You can be an object of God’s love or an object of His wrath (Eph. 2)

c. God’s desire is fellowship with us.....John 17:20-21
while God desires fellowship with us, that prospect is spiritually impossible! What makes it impossible is His utter holiness and righteousness in opposition to our utter sinfulness and depravity!

d. But thankfully God didn’t let the story end there!
His desire / fellowship
His dilemma / our frailty
His decision / final, “It is finished”...what was finished? The way was
paved for God to have the fellowship with the crown of His creation.
We can have fellowship with God now because of Calvary!

WHAT IS GOD’S FORGIVENESS? IT IS MOST CLEARLY SEEN IN HIS UNBELIEVABLE LOVE ON THE CROSS!

2. WHO NEEDS GOD’S FORGIVENESS?
Those who are under the curse of UNIVERSAL SIN

a. What does the Bible say about man’s need of God’s forgiveness?
Genesis 6:5

b. The Bible indicates that our righteousness is as filthy rags.

WHO NEEDS GOD’S FORGIVENESS? ANYONE WHO MEETS THE BIBLICAL QUALIFICATIONS FOR BEING A SINNER (THOSE UNDER THE CURSE OF UNIVERSAL SIN)....EVERYONE!
 
3. WHAT IS GOD’S FORGIVENESS?
A little boy came to the Washington Monument and noticed a guard standing by it. The little boy looked up at the guard and said, "I want to buy it." The guard stooped down and says, "How much do you have?" The boy reached into his pocket and pulled out a quarter. The guard said, "That's not enough." The boy replied, "I thought you would say that." So he pulled out nine cents more. The guard looked down at the boy and said, "You need to understand three things. First, thirty-four cents is not enough. In fact, $34 million is not enough to buy the Washington Monument. Second, the Washington Monument is not for sale. And third, if you are an American citizen, the Washington Monument already belongs to you."
We need to understand three things about forgiveness. First, we can not earn it. Second, it is not for sale. And third, if we accept Christ, we already have it.


God’s forgiveness is His UNMERITED FAVOR. (Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast.) the “grace” and the “faith” are both not of ourselves)

a. What does God do with sins that He’s forgiven?
Psalm 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
He completely separates the sins from those who committed them.

Isaiah 43:25 I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins. - He forgets them! Critics charge that an omniscient God could never forget something. But they fail to recognize that an omnipotent God can do anything!

c. How many of you here today could appreciate God’s promise of a clean slate and a fresh start?

WHAT IS GOD’S FORGIVENESS? IT IS EXPERIENCING HIS UNMERITED FAVOR... YOU CAN’T EARN IT!

4. HOW TO EXPERIENCE GOD’S FORGIVENESS?
Anyone can experience God’s forgiveness by UTILIZING GOD’S PLAN

a. REALIZE your need
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;, 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

b. RESPOND to God’s provision
Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us
 
c. REPENT of your sin
Luke 13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

d. RECEIVE Christ as Savior
Romans 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. 10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.  

e. REJOICE in telling others
Mat. 10:32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. 33But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

WHO CAN EXPERIENCE GOD’S FORGIVENESS? ANYONE WHO WILL UTILIZE GOD’S FINISHED PLAN!

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