<< Previous | Index | Next >>"THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST AND THE PROBLEM OF SIN" The Gospel's Answer To The "Guilt" Of Sin (The Remission Of Sins) INTRODUCTION 1. We have been examining how the gospel saves us from the PROBLEM of sin in this series of lessons 2. Our last three lessons dealt with COMMANDS found in the gospel which, when obeyed, effectively answer some of the specific problems of sin a. The command to BELIEVE, when obeyed, solves the problem of the LOVE of sin b. The command to REPENT, when obeyed, solves the problem of the PRACTICE of sin c. The command to BE BAPTIZED, when obeyed, solves the problem of the STATE of sin 3. In this lesson and the two to follow, we shall concentrate our attention on the PROMISES of the gospel... a. Again, bear in mind that the gospel of Jesus Christ contains: 1) FACTS (or good news) to be believed 2) COMMANDS to be obeyed 3) PROMISES to be received b. We have seen how keeping the COMMANDS of the gospel deals with the problem of sin c. Now we want to be sure to appreciate how the PROMISES we receive upon obeying the gospel are also effective in dealing with sin... [In the first lesson, in this series, we touched briefly upon the "GUILT" of sin. Let us first elaborate on this point...] I. THE "GUILT" OF SIN A. THE BIBLE DECLARES THAT ALL ARE "GUILTY" BEFORE GOD IN REGARDS TO SIN... 1. This was Paul's first major point in writing the epistle to the Romans: 9 What then? are we better [than they]? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; 10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. (Romans 3) 2. Even if a person breaks only one commandment! As James says: 10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one [point], he is guilty of all. 11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. (James 2) B. THIS "GUILT" REFERS PRIMARILY TO "LEGAL" GUILT... 1. In the sense of having violated the LAW of God a. In this way, EVERYONE has sinned: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Ro 3:23) b. This makes them "transgressors" of the law; as the apostle John wrote: Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. (1 Jn 3:4) c. Other synonyms are used in the Bible to describe those who have violated God's law: 1) "lawless" 2) "disobedient" 3) "workers of iniquity" 4) "ungodly" 2. This "legal guilt" is real, whether or not a person... a. Is aware of their actual "guilt" (IGNORANCE does not excuse one of guilt before God) b. Feels any sense of "emotional guilt" (more on this shortly) -- They are still held accountable before God as "guilty" of sin: For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things [done] in [his] body, according to that he hath done, whether [it be] good or bad. (2 Co 5:10) C. FOR THOSE WHO KNOW GOD'S LAW, AND HAVE A SENSITIVE CONSCIENCE, THERE IS ALSO THE "EMOTIONAL GUILT"... 1. But this really only a SIDE EFFECT of the "legal" guilt of sin a. Though it does include some terrible consequences: ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, FEAR, DOUBT b. As it is written: [There is] no peace, saith the LORD, unto the wicked. (Isa 48:22) 2. There may be some who don't experience the emotional consequence of "legal" guilt... a. If so, it is because they have "rejected" their conscience to the point of it being "seared" b. Even as Paul spoke of several in this condition: 1) 19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: 20 Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme. (1 Timothy 1) 2) 1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; (1 Timothy 4) c. But such people are guilty of "legal guilt", nonetheless! [But the gospel of Christ declares that when we obey the COMMANDS of the gospel, then one of the PROMISES we receive is the REMISSION OF SINS, which can effectively deal with the GUILT of sin...] II. THE "REMISSION" OF SINS A. CONSIDER THE PROMINENT PLACE "REMISSION OF SINS" HAS IN THE GOSPEL 1. The blood of Jesus was to be shed for the remission of our sins - Mt 26:28 2. Remission of sins was to preached in the name of Jesus to all nations - Lk 24:45-47 3. Peter told people they could receive remission of sins in the name of Jesus... a. By BELIEVING in Jesus: 42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God [to be] the Judge of quick and dead. 43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. (Acts 10) b. By REPENTING and BEING BAPTIZED in His name: Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:38) B. WHAT DOES THIS "REMISSION OF SINS" INVOLVE? 1. The word remission means "to remit", and involves a dismissal, release 2. A key synonym often used in some translations is the word "forgiveness" 3. Other terms and metaphors found in the Bible to describe the "remission" of sins: a. "taken away" - Jn 1:29; Ro 11:27 b. "blotted out" - Ac 3:19 c. "washed away" - Ac 22:16 d. "covered" - Ro 4:7 e. "not imputed" - Ro 4:8 f. "set free" - Ro 6:17-18 g. "purged" - He 1:3; 2 Pe 1:9 h. "remembered no more" - He 8:12 4. All of these signifying the REMOVAL of the GUILT of sin from the sinner! a. A legal term used to describe a sinner whose sins have been so forgiven is the word "JUSTIFIED", b. Which means "NOT GUILTY" - cf. 1 Co 6:11 C. "REMISSION OF SINS" INCLUDES NOT JUST REMOVAL OF "LEGAL GUILT", BUT "EMOTIONAL GUILT" ALSO! 1. We can now have a PERFECT conscience a. Something the OLD LAW could not do! - cf. He 9:8-10; 10:1-4 b. But by the BLOOD OF CHRIST, it is possible to have this "perfect" conscience - cf. He 9:14; 10:22 2. A PERFECT conscience in the sense that we have real reasons to not feel guilty for our sins: they are TOTALLY forgiven by the blood of Christ! a. Therefore, there is no need to have FEAR, DOUBT, ANXIETY, or DEPRESSION over our spiritual condition b. Instead, we have PEACE and JOY through the justification that comes by grace: 1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (Romans 5) CONCLUSION 1. This is the PROMISE given to those who obey the GOSPEL that effectively deals with the problem of the GUILT of sin! a. Your sins are remitted! b. You are released from the guilt of your sins! 1) Both your LEGAL GUILT for breaking God's law... 2) And your EMOTIONAL GUILT brought on by a sensitive conscience 2. Again, how does one receive this PROMISE of "remission of sins"? a. By obeying the COMMANDS of the gospel... 1) Believe in Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God, who died for your sins! 2) Repent of your sins, deciding in your mind to turn from sin and turn to God 3) Be baptized into Jesus Christ, by the simple act of immersion in water in which by God's grace you are raised to walk in newness of life! b. Please note how the last command (baptism) in particular answers the problem of guilt... 1) First, the LEGAL guilt: Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:38) And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. (Acts 22:16) 2) But also EMOTIONAL guilt: The like figure whereunto [even] baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: (1 Peter 3:21) (The "answer of a good conscience", or as the NASV puts it, "an appeal to God for a good conscience") 3. Have you accepted the gospel's PROMISE to deal with the GUILT of your sins, by submitting to the COMMANDS of the gospel...?<< Previous | Index | Next >>
The "Executable Outlines" Series, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 1999
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