What is forgiveness?
(Psalm 25:1-20; 32:1-11; 38:1-22; 51:1-19; 85:2; 103:10-11; 130:1-8; 143) Blog Feb. 11-17, 2024
Prepared by Richard A. Marin: Present Truth PO Box 700, Fallbrook CA 92088-0700 USA
REVIEW: The Psalms reveal God as Sovereign Judge who brings deliverance to his people and destroys their enemies. He hears the prayers of those who love him and answers their pleas.
Sin
1. According to the psalmists when did we become sinners? We are all born legally condemned to eternal death because of Adam’s choice to sin & we become sinners the moment we are conceived because of our moral inheritance (Psa. 51:5; 58:3; Rom. 5:12-15; Eph. 2:3).
2. Since we are naturally bent toward sin, what do we need in order to resist sin? In order to resist sin, we need help from outside of ourselves (Psa. 36:1-3; 94:17-21; 127:1; John 15:5).
3. To whom can we turn for help to resist sin? Only from God by his Spirit & through his Word can we find help to resist sin (Psa. 119:11; 143:1-12).
4. How can we receive forgiveness of our sins? If we confess our sins to God, he will forgive them (Psa. 32:5; 38:18; 51:2-3; 86:5; 1 John 1:9).
5. When we hide our sins rather than confessing them, what do we experience? We become physically weak, restless, weighed down, & lose the joy of our salvation (Psa. 32:3-4; 38:3-4; 40:11-12; 51:12; 107:17).
6. When we don’t confess our sins do we lose our justification or salvation? No, but if we persist in evil & continue to hide our sins rather than confessing them, we run the risk of our heart being hardened to such a degree that we lose our justification (Psa. 95:7-11; Heb. 3:12-19).
Forgiveness
7. What is forgiveness? Forgiveness is a declaration by God that removes guilt. God covers the record of our sin with the blood of Jesus & does not impute it to us (Psa. 32:1-2; 85:2).
8. How are forgiveness and mercy related? Mercy is “to be treated better than we deserve” & that is what forgiveness is (Ex. 34:7; Psa. 86:5; 103:10-11).
9. What do we deserve when we sin? When we sin, we deserve punishment, even death (Psa. 6:1-5; 9:13; 68:21; Rom. 6:23).
10. When God treats us better than we deserve how should we respond? We should thank him for his merciful kindness & tell others of his goodness (Psa. 32:11; 51:13-15; Luke 7:47).
11. How long will God’s merciful forgiveness last? While the psalmists speak of God’s everlasting mercy, they also speak of the sorrows & destruction of those who refuse it. So, we must conclude that it is everlasting for those who repent & love God but after a time it ends for the wicked (Gen. 6:3; Psa. 1:4-6; 9:5-10, 17; 16:4-5; 25:10; 32:10; 37:10-11, 20, 28; 136:1-4; 145:20; Jam. 2:12-13).
12. On what basis does David ask for forgiveness? David asks for forgiveness based on God’s mercy (Psa. 51:1; 86:5).
13. Where can we go to find divine mercy? We can go to Jesus on the throne of grace to find mercy (Psa. 89:14; Heb. 4:16).
When God Acts
14. Does God forgive us because we repent? No, God forgives us because Jesus bore all our sins on the cross. We can never earn forgiveness no matter how much we sorrow & repent (Psa. 25:1-20; Rom. 3:25; Heb. 9:22).
15. Who did Jesus say that God would not forgive? Jesus said that God would not forgive those who did not forgive others (Matt. 6:15).
16. In Psalm 136 who had past the extent of God’s mercy? In Psalm 136 the psalmist lists the firstborn of Egypt, Pharoah’s army, & great kings like Sihon & Og who had past the extent of God’s mercy (Psa. 136:10. 15, 17-20).
17. Without forgiving mercy who can stand before a righteous God? Without forgiving mercy only Jesus can stand before a righteous God (Psa. 130:3; 143:2; Mic. 3:2; Rom. 3:10; 1 Pet. 2:21-22).