HOW THE GOSPEL ANNOUNCES GOD’S FORGIVENESS. By Josimar Salum
God has already forgiven all my sins. He is faithful and just to forgive me if I confess my sins.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 KJV
To forgive means to let go, to release, to set free.
“Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.
And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.
But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made.
The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’
Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.
“But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’
So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’
And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt.” Matthew 18:23-30 NKJV
Jesus prayed: ‘And we forgive our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.’ Matthew 6:12
Jesus revealed exactly what the Father had already done. He had already forgiven all who had offended Him. Though Jesus never sinned He prayed a prayer that He lived.
“And Jesus said, Father, forgive them, for you know not what they do. And they divided his garments among them, and cast lots.” Luke 23:34 KJV
To receive forgiveness, one must forgive, and confess one’s sins. To be forgiven, you must forgive others. God forgave when He shed His blood on the Cross. To receive forgiveness, there must be repentance.
If I do not forgive others their trespasses, my Father will not forgive me.
“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Matthew 6:14-15 NKJV
The Gospel is the announcement of God’s forgiveness to all men. This was an unilateral act of God. In the same way, we love Him, because He first loved us.
“We love Him, because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:19 NKJV
The Gospel is the announcement of God’s deliverance to all men. He accomplished this deliverance on the cross of Calvary.
“And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.” Revelation 12:10 KJV
The prisons have been opened, and we have all been forgiven.
The Gospel is not a proclamation of repentance so that you may be forgiven.
The Gospel is the proclamation that you have already been forgiven. Repent, then, so that you may receive forgiveness.
“And they opened their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures. Then he said to them, “This is what is written: The Christ must suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” Luke 24:45-47 NIV
“Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and that you may receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’” Acts 2:38
It seems like the same thing, but it is not.
God gave His only begotten Son… He did.
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
For God did not send His Son to the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
And this is the specification: That light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their works were greater.” John 3:16-19 NKJV
God gave Him so that everyone believes in Him…
“So David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works, saying, ‘Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.”
Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute sin.
For the promise that they would be heirs of the world was not made to Abraham or his descendants through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.” Romans 4:6-8, 13 NKJV
Justice did not come because I repented, but because Justice came I repented. Because He forgave me, I repent to receive His forgiveness.
#ASONE
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