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Lesson 9

What The Bible Teaches About
The Forgiveness Of Our Sins

The Only Way To Salvation

1. Thanks to whom and to what are we saved?

1 Peter 2:24

1 Peter 2:24 (KJV)
24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

2. How much does salvation cost?

Romans 3:24

Romans 3:24 (KJV)
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Obtaining Forgiveness

3. What does the sinner need to sincerely recognize?

Luke 18:10-14

Luke 18:10-14 (KJV)
10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

4. What deep feeling is indispensable?

Acts 2:37-38

Acts 2:37-38 (KJV)
37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 38 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.

5. What must be done with sins?

Psalm 32:3-5

Psalm 32:3-5 (KJV)
3 When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long. 4 For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah. 5 I acknowledge my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.

The Sweet Certainty Of Forgiveness

6. What marvelous offer does God make?

Isaiah 1:18

Isaiah 1:18 (KJV)
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.

7. How complete is divine forgiveness?

Isaiah 43:25

Isaiah 43:25 (KJV)
25 I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.

WHAT MUST I DO?

1. Repent with all my heart.

Acts 3:19

Acts 3:19 (KJV)
19 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.

2. Confess all my sin.

1 John 1:9

1 John 1:9 (KJV)
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

3. Experience conversion.

Ezekiel 36:25-27

Ezekiel 36:25-27 (KJV)
25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. 26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

MY RESOLUTION

I ask forgiveness for my sins. I believe that God will forgive me. I want to live a holy life in Jesus.

Additional Study 9

Steps For Obtaining Forgiveness

  1. Recognizing the condition of the sinner. (1 John 1:8; Psalm 51:2, 3).
  2. Sincere repentance. (Acts 3:19; Luke 3:8; 13:3-5).
  3. Accepting Jesus as the only Savior. (Acts 4:12; 5:31; 10:43).
  4. Confession. Confession is indispensable (Psalm 32:1-5; Proverbs 28:13). Must name the sin that was committed (Leviticus 5:5). Will pay for the damages caused (Leviticus 6:4). Confession must be made to God (1 John 1:9; Isaiah 1:18; Psalm 103:3).
  5. Conversion. (2 Chronicles 7:14; Acts 3:19).

God's Marvelous Forgiveness. God forgives completely (Isaiah 43:25; Hebrews 8:12; 10:17). Forgiveness is free (Romans 3:24). We are forgiven in the act (Luke 23:39-43).

Obtaining forgiveness is like fixing a pending account. The sinner does not have something to pay the debt with; but Jesus paid for him on the cross at Calvary and offers the merits of his sacrifice to whomever wishes to accept them.

Forgiveness. True repentance consists of sincere and deep pain for having sinned (2 Corinthians 7:10). Repentance is indispensable for obtaining forgiveness (Acts 2:37, 38).

Confession. Sins must be declared to God because only He can forgive them. There cannot be forgiveness unless there is sincere and complete confession (Proverbs 28:13). "Confession of sin, whether public or private, should be heartfelt and freely expressed. It is not to be urged from the sinner. It is not to be made in a flippant and careless way... True confession is always of a specific character, and acknowledges particular sins. Confession will not be acceptable to God without sincere repentance and reformation. There must be decided changes in the life; everything offensive to God must be put away. This will be the result of genuine sorrow for sin."—Ellen G. White, Steps to Christ, pages 38, 39).

Conversion. As a direct result of repentance and confession a radical change happens in the sinner's character. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17).

"Those who become new creatures in Christ Jesus will bring forth the fruits of the Spirit, 'love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.' They will no longer fashion themselves according to the former lusts, but by the faith of the Son of God they will follow in His steps, reflect His character, and purify themselves even as He is pure. The things they once hated they now love, and the things they once loved they hate. The proud and self-assertive become meek and lowly in heart. The vain and supercilious become serious and unobtrusive. The drunken become sober, and the profligate pure."—Ellen G. White, Steps to Christ, pages 58, 59).

Justification. "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ... For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly... But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him". (Romans 5:1, 6, 8, 9).

"God's forgiveness goes far beyond the forgiveness of sin. God not only forgives, He justifies. This means that mean is truly without fault before God".—Billy Graham, The World Aflame, p. 167).

Sanctification. After justification with God's help, we must maintain ourselves without falling (Jude 24). There should not be voluntary sin (Hebrews 10:26). The secret of sanctification is to grow in the knowledge of God (Colossians 1:10). The only way to have this experience of continuous progress is to be intimately connected to Jesus and to trust in his power (Galatians 2:20; Romans 8:37).

"Our growth in grace, our joy, our usefulness,—all depend upon our union with Christ. It is by communion with Him, daily, hourly,—by abiding in Him,—that we are to grow in grace... Consecrate yourself to God in the morning; make this your very first work."—Ellen G. White, Steps to Christ, page 69.