THE GOSPEL’S FORGIVENESS
Text: Mt 9:1-7
1 And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.
2 And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.
3 And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.
4 And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?
5 For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?
6 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.
7 And he arose, and departed to his house.
1. The Bad News
1) The problem is sin
In God’s eyes, the healing of the body and the healing of the soul are not that far apart. Both problems have the same root cause –
- Sin is the ultimate cause of every human problem.
- Sin is behind every wrong in our world.
- Sin is behind every problem of substance in the universe.
We are sinful by birth; we are sinful by nature; we are sinful by action.
- Sin is in us. It is not just the cause of our problems. Sin is our problem.
2) The prognosis is death (Rom. 6:23; cf. John 3:16)
- Perish is a serious reality that has to be solved.
- Perish means to suffer in hell, to experience the wrath of a holy and just God.
- Perish equals an eternal
2. The Good News
1) God’s
- You can choose to be forgiven. (cf. Ex. 34:6-7a; Ps. 86:5; Ps. 103:12; Mic. 7:19; Ps. 32:1)
- Forgiveness is available, but not automatic. It’s a choice.
- Forgiveness is provided for us, but it is not cheap. Christ paid for it by His own
2) Christ’s
- All of God’s anger for sin; all of God’s wrath and justice was poured out upon Jesus on the cross. His death satisfied and paid our debt.
To truly believe you have to overcome pride. I’m choosing God’s way, not my way.
“I did it my way” is the anthem of the throngs on the highway to hell.
God has only given one solution for the forgiveness of sin – faith in the finished work of Christ.
The choice that you must make is to