|
. Living
Hope Fellowship Church
Basic Bible Study Course
SALVATION
(LESSON
#18), PART # 4-2
MERCY
AND FORGIVENESS
1. KEEP YOURSELF UNDER THE MERCY OF GOD
2. CHASTENED, NOT FORSAKEN
3. FORGIVENESS: OUR SINS ARE BLOTTED OUT
4. ACCEPTED? BELIEVE GOD TO FORGIVE YOU.
5. UNFORGIVENESS AND BITTERNESS
6. THE IMPORTANCE OF FORGIVENESS
7. ONE WAY
Definitions
(Webster's Dictionary)
repent
- to feel so contrite over one's sins as to change, or decide
to change, one's ways.
remission
- forgiveness; pardon, as of sins or crimes.
forgive
- to give up resentment against or the desire to punish; stop
being angry with; pardon. to give up all claim to punish or
exact penalty for an offense; overlook. to cancel or remit.
MERCY
AND FORGIVENESS
1. KEEP YOURSELF UNDER THE MERCY OF GOD
(26)
For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge
of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
(27) But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery
indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. (28) He that
despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three
witnesses: (29) Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye,
shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the
Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith
he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite
unto the Spirit of grace? Hebrews 10:26-29.
Keep
yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our
Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. Jude 1:21.
2. CHASTENED,
NOT FORSAKEN
Jesus
deals with us in his mercy. He gives us a chance to stop doing
wrong. Read how He chastens us according to Hebrews 12:1-11.
Some put out the false doctrine that God won't hurt you because
he is a loving God. 1 John 4:8 tells us that God is love but
he is also a jealous God (Exodus 34:14) and has the power
to cast us into hell if we reject him (Luke 12:5, 7, & 9).
The LORD
killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave,
and bringeth up. 1 Samuel 2:6.
Hide
not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger:
thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me,
O God of my salvation. Psalm 27:9.
I have
been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous
forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. Psalm 37:25.
Let your
conversation be without covetousness; and be content with
such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave
thee, nor forsake thee. Hebrews 13:5.
For God
is my King of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth.
Psalm 74:12.
Wherefore,
my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence
only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation
with fear and trembling. Philippians 2:12.
For the
LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our
king; he will save us. Isaiah 33:22.
Read
Colossians 1:13-14 how we are translated into the kingdom
of God. We are chastened so that we can learn and grow up
to the full stature of Christ Jesus and live according to
2 Peter 1:1-11. Verse 10 tells us that if we do the things
it lists there we would never fail and an entrance into the
everlasting kingdom would be ministered to us.
3. FORGIVENESS:
OUR SINS ARE BLOTTED OUT
BLOT:
(Webster's D.) means to erase or cancel. In order for us to
be forgiven and our sins blotted out, we need the blood of
Jesus to cleanse and cover our souls.
SO, why
die, when the way has been made to have life and that more
abundantly (John 10:10). All have sinned; all are dirty and
guilty with sin before a holy God. When he forgives us we
are washed clean in the blood of Jesus and made a new creature
(2 Corinthians 5:17). We can stand clean before God, because
he sees Jesus' blood covering us. God created us for his pleasure,
and has no pleasure in the death of the ungodly (Revelation
4:11 and Ezekiel 18:30-32).
Say unto
them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in
the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his
way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why
will ye die, O house of Israel? Ezekiel 33:11.
He will
turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue
our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the
depths of the sea. Micah 7:19.
The Lord
is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness;
but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should
perish, but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9.
God wants
sinners to repent, and then serve God without sin. It is possible,
because Jesus did and He is our example. (Exhortation on living
without sin) Read Hebrews 4:15-16, 1 Corinthians 10:13, Matthew
5:48, and Philippians 3:15.
For thou,
Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy
unto all them that call upon thee. Psalm 86:5.
We have
two choices:
1. God
will blot out our sins when we ask for forgiveness, and our
name will be in the book of life.
OR
2. God
will blot our name out from under heaven if we continue in
sin and die therein.
Blot out
sin:
I, even
I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own
sake, and will not remember thy sins. Isaiah 43:25.
I have
blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as
a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.
Isaiah 44:22.
Repent
ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted
out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence
of the Lord; Acts 3:19.
He that
overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and
I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but
I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
Revelation 3:5. Read also Mark 8:38.
Hide
thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Psalm
51:9.
The LORD
will not spare him, but then the anger of the LORD and his
jealousy shall smoke against that man, and all the curses
that are written in this book shall lie upon him, and the
LORD shall blot out his name from under heaven. Deuteronomy
29:20.
4. ACCEPTED?
BELIEVE GOD TO FORGIVE YOU.
WILL GOD
ACCEPT OUR CONFESSION AND REPENTANCE, AND FORGIVE US?
WILL WE
ACCEPT FORGIVENESS AND GIVE UP SIN AND THE GUILT THAT GOES
WITH IT?
ACCEPT:
means to take what is offered or given, receive something
willingly, to believe in, to agree to, to respond in the affirmative.
Have
you heard people say, I don't think the Lord will accept me?
I've been too bad, God cannot forgive me! Read John 3:16;
it says whosoever.
Wherefore
he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto
God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for
them. Hebrews 7:25.
(40)
And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat
to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. (41) There
was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed
five hundred pence, and the other fifty. (42) And when they
had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me
wherefore, which of them will love him most? (43) Simon answered
and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And
he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. Luke 7:40-43.
Wherefore
I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for
she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth
little. Luke 7:47.
We must
accept the gospel of Jesus Christ in order to be accepted
of God. We must press toward the mark according to Philippians
3:10-16. Read 2 Corinthians 5:9-10.
I beseech
you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present
your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God,
which is your reasonable service. Romans 12:1.
Sin brings
guilt. There are many reasons given for not getting saved.
When Jesus saves a soul, he erases the sin and the guilt and
that soul is clean, washed in the blood of Jesus. After being
saved, it is the devil who brings condemnation for past sins.
(16)
Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings
from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; (18) Come now, and
let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be
as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be
red like crimson, they shall be as wool. Isaiah 1:16 & 18.
Who can
be saved? Who will God accept? Can some people be saved and
others not be saved? Are all people created equal in God's
sight? Read Romans 2:1-11, Galatians 3:22, Romans 11:32, Acts
13:26, Romans 10:9-10, Acts 10:34-35, Colossians 3:25, 1 Peter
1:17, Matthew 10:32-33, and Acts 17:26.
But in
every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness,
is accepted with him. Acts 10:35.
Even
the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ
unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
Romans 3:22.
The Bible
says in Romans 3:23 that all have sinned and come short of
the glory of God. There are many examples in the Bible of
those who did wrong and God forgave them. Jacob lied against
his brother for the birthright. When he "prayed through" God
changed his name to Israel and blessed him mightily. Many
times in Psalms David said, "The mercy of the Lord endureth
for ever." He committed adultery and had someone killed, yet
God forgave him. He suffered for his sin greatly, but God
forgave him. God forgave Paul for having Christians killed
and then used Paul to preach the gospel mightily. God showed
Paul what he had to suffer for Jesus. Moses killed an Egyptian.
God forgave him and used him greatly.
The Bible
teaches us that all have sinned, so all need forgiveness.
Don't wait too late to ask God for forgiveness. Today is the
day of salvation. When you have heard the gospel, don't harden
your heart and say you'll do it another day. God doesn't promise
a tomorrow. Read 2 Corinthians 6:2.
Jesus
came to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8). Because
of the devil and our own lusts we are tempted to sin. Jesus
made a way out of sin and hell (the wages of sin is death),
by his innocent death on the cross of Calvary. God accepted
the clean and holy blood sacrifice of the body of Jesus so
we could be forgiven of all our sins. There is no substitute
for the blood of Jesus covering our sins. His blood makes
us clean and acceptable to God.
God hates
sin. Jesus said to be perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect
(Matthew 5:48). That means blameless, without sin, and without
spot. The Bible tells us that before the flood, God wanted
to destroy man completely (Genesis 6:6). He was sorry he made
man. God does not tolerate sin. All sinners that don't repent
and get forgiveness from God will go to hell according to
God's Holy Word. God doesn't lie or change (Malachi 3:6).
Read Hebrews 13:8, Matthew 16:27-30, Titus 1:2.
Noah
found grace in the eyes of the Lord, and there are other men
of God who have found grace and honor from God. There comes
a time when God will cut people off if they continue to sin,
knowing the mercy and forgiveness of God. Read Proverbs 6:15-19,
Proverbs 29:1 (no remedy), James 4:17, and Jeremiah 15:1.
Thus
saith the LORD unto this people, Thus have they loved to wander,
they have not refrained their feet, therefore the LORD doth
not accept them; he will now remember their iniquity, and
visit their sins. Jeremiah 14:10.
Time
is important. Jesus admonishes us to be saved when he calls
us. John 6:44 says we cannot come to be saved except the Father
(God) draws us. There is an accepted time to be saved. 2 Corinthians
6:2 says, ". . . now is the day of salvation." Some try to
get to God without feeling the conviction of sin. Some may
try to get accepted by God without going through Jesus. Read
John 10:1-3, Luke 21:36, John 3:35-36, James 4:6-7, and 1
John 3:22.
Then
Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time
is alway ready. John 7:6.
Be prepared
to meet God at any time. Mark 13:33 teaches us to watch and
pray for we do not know the time when Jesus is coming.
References:
Psalm 19:14, Psalm 69:13, Proverbs 10:32, Romans 12:1-3, Hebrews
12:28, Genesis 4:7, Matthew 26:40-41, Mark 14:38, Matthew
25:13, 1 Thessalonians 5:17.
5. UNFORGIVENESS
AND BITTERNESS
God knows
if you want a clean heart more than you want to keep the grudge,
the hurt feelings, and the "get back" attitude and actions.
Our willful flesh demands satisfaction that they "get what
'they' deserve" for _________________ (you fill in the blank).
God's way is this: if we don't forgive others, he doesn't
forgive us. He knows the intents of our hearts. If we don't
know we have unforgiveness, he will reveal it to us when we
pray. Read Hebrews 4:12-13, Philippians 3:15 (otherwise minded),
and Galatians 5:24-25 (about crucifying the flesh).
When
you don't forgive quickly and completely, you can become bitter,
hardhearted, and unclean in the eyes of God. Hatred and meanness
are sin. It will rapidly eat at your joy till it is gone.
It then becomes easy to completely backslide because the joy
of the Lord is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10).
Looking
diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any
root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many
be defiled. Hebrews 12:15.
Remember
that the tongue can defile the whole body (James 3:6-8) and
out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (Matthew
12:34). If there is anger, hurt, bitterness, or unforgiveness,
it will be manifested by what you do and say. Revelation 21:27
lets us know nothing that defileth will enter into the place
God has prepared for us. Asking God to forgive us will cleanse
us of sin and guilt and we can go on, refreshed and washed
clean by the blood of the Lamb (Acts 3:19 and Titus 3:3-7).
Did you know the Word says that if we hate our brother, we
are a murderer?
Whosoever
hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer
hath eternal life abiding in him. 1 John 3:15. Read verse
16.
Read
Luke 6:45 and Romans 12:1-3.
6. THE
IMPORTANCE OF FORGIVENESS: Your name is written in the book
of life if you are forgiven.
And the
LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him
will I blot out of my book. Exodus 32:33.
When
you get saved your name is written down in heaven. There is
a book of life. If you sin and don't repent, your name is
blotted out of the book of life. You will go to hell.
And I
saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books
were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book
of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which
were written in the books, according to their works. Revelation
20:12.
And whosoever
was not found written in the book of life was cast into the
lake of fire. Revelation 20:15.
Read
Philippians 4:3, Revelation 3:5, Revelation 13:8, Exodus 34:7,
Deuteronomy Chapter 28, Revelation 22:18-19.
7. ONE
WAY
Jesus
saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no
man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6.
Some
people use scriptures to try to justify their sin and say
they only need to be forgiven ONCE. Some say all they need
to do is say the right words. Bible scriptures are not to
be picked out and twisted but we are to eat and grow by the
knowledge of the Word (2 Peter 3:16-18). As we grow in Christ,
we are to put away ALL sin.
(14)
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling
of God in Christ Jesus. (15) Let us therefore, as many as
be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise
minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Philippians 3:14-15.
Remember,
there is only one way to God, and that is through JESUS!
For whosoever
shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Romans
10:13. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call
on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Acts 2:21.
All that
the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh
to me I will in no wise cast out. John 6:37.
Not every
one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom
of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is
in heaven. Matthew 7:21.
Therefore,
we conclude that we must do the will of God in order to be
accepted by him. The Word of God tells us his will for us.
Read and try to memorize Romans 12:1-3. Read Matthew 12:50.
Read Luke 20:18. Ask the Rock Christ Jesus for mercy and forgiveness
so that when you meet God you won't go to hell. Jesus is the
"one and only way" to get to God and eternal life.
Whom
God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his
blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins
that are past, through the forbearance of God; Romans 3:25.
Remission
of sins is the same thing as forgiveness of sins. Each time
we ask God to forgive us, it is for something we have already
done (past). If we sin again, we must ask forgiveness again,
until we overcome that sin. We are commanded to overcome and
cease from sin (Isaiah 1:16 and 1 John 2:1-2). How do we keep
from having to ask forgiveness for sin every day? Quit sinning.
Luke 1:77, Luke 24:46-47.
For this
is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for
the remission of sins. Matthew 26:28.
Submit
yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will
flee from you. James 4:7.
We must
accept the gospel of Jesus Christ in order to be accepted
of God. We must press toward the mark of the prize of the
high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Read Philippians 3:10-14,
2 Corinthians 5:9-10, 1 Timothy 1:15, Romans 12:1.
Scripture
references on mercy for further study: Psalm 57:1, Psalm 23:6,
Deuteronomy 5:9-10, Psalm 31:7-9, Psalm 86:15, Psalm 136:23,
1 Peter 2:10, Luke 6:36, Isaiah 54:8, Hosea 2:23, Nehemiah
9:19, Daniel 9:18, Psalm 147:11, Matthew 5:7, Exodus 33:19-23,
Numbers 14:18-19, Psalms 25:7, Psalm 32:10, Proverbs 3:3,
Jonah 2:8, James 5:11, Psalms 41:4, Daniel 9:4-5, Nehemiah
9:31, Romans 12:1, Luke 1:50, 2 Corinthians 4:1, Matthew 20:30-34,
Proverbs 21:21, Psalm 44:26, Micah 6:7-8, Hebrews 2:17, Psalm
119:41, 2 Chronicles 6:14, Micah 6:8, Luke 11:9-10, 1 Peter
5:5-6, Exodus 34:7, Psalm 103:17, Psalm 21:7, Matthew 10:28,
Psalm 51:1-3, Psalm 18:25, Psalm 25:10, Psalm 78:38.
CLICK
HERE to go to Lesson 18 Part 4-2 Exam.
©
Living Hope Fellowship, Inc.
E-mail
livinghopefellowship@lazernetwireless.net
Phone 618-634-2541
|
