Psalm 130:4; Matthew 6:14; Acts 5:31
Psa 130:4 But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.
There is forgiveness with God. God is never a tyrant because He exercises forgiveness to those that repent. We find that very request from David in
Psalm 25:11 where David says – “For thy name’s sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.”
We find repentance within this pleading of David. David recognized the greatness of his sin and requested forgiveness. Notice the inference, “For thy name’s sake. This is for the glory of God.
We see David coming to God again. Once again David speaks of the forgiveness of God when he says in
Psalm 86:5 – “For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.”
He speaks of the goodness of God in reference to forgiveness. In the forgiveness of God we find an abundance of mercy. It is the mercy of God where we find His forgiveness for a multitude of sin. We praise and thank God because of His great mercy which He shows to us in the forgiveness of sin. Yet there is something we need to consider about God’s forgiveness.
Mat 6:14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
God’s forgiveness is contingent upon our willingness to forgive. Forgiveness from us represents the “milk of human kindness.” This kindness is amply illustrated by those that have been born again by the blood of Jesus Christ.
Let me deviate here a little. The first hospitals were begun by Christians. They saw the need and the decision was not based upon monetary profit, but the compassion of heart for the sick. Later, there were those that saw the financial opportunity of hospitals and became involved not for christian feelings for the sick, but the financial benefits of charging for services rendered.
We must have a heart for the sick. We must have a heart of forgiveness for those that offend and also for those that need. We have the needy with us and are instructed in that area by
Proverbs. 21:13 – “Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.” We should hear the cry of the sick and the needy. But we are further instructed by
Ephesians 4:32 – “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” This is written to the church at Ephesus. This should be our relationship with the members of the church. We should have Kindness and be tenderhearted toward each other with the forgiveness of offenses.
Act 5:27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,
28 Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.
29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
33 When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.
Verse 31 is our key verse here. Through Jesus our Savior, we receive forgiveness. This is the supreme forgiveness we need because of sins that opens the door to heaven. This is a recounting of what happened to Jesus. His crucifixion, death, burial and resurrection for the sins of the world. This is the supreme forgiveness. The forgiveness of vile, wretched and unworthy men when Adam turned his back upon God and plunged the human race into the depths of the blackness of sin. Man needed a supreme forgiveness for his cleansing. This was accomplished through Jesus coming to earth wrapped in the flesh of man to become the perfect and complete sacrifice for man and bring forgiveness to all that repent. The Supreme forgiveness is found at the foot of the cross and the cleansing of the precious blood of Jesus the Son of God who has redeemed us from the curse of hell and provided an entrance into the glories of heaven and the presence of our LORD.
BLESSED FORGIVENESS
Psa 32:1 A Psalm of David, Maschil. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
2 Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.
The wickedness of sin is apparent in our lives. Then we need to come to the Lord and confess that we have been sinful. Confession brings the forgiveness of the Lord. This Psalm tells us what happens when we neglect confession of our sins. This is a confession, not to man or priest or rabbi, but to the Lord.
Sin brings guilt into our lives. Guilt can cause misery and bring sorrow that mars our spirit and our days and nights. David describes the lack of confession of sin and how miserable he was.
The Lord is our hiding place. A place of forgiveness and rest. A place of ease and comfort. To the Lord is where we need to rush and confess our sins and be healed of guilt in the precious arms of Jesus. In His arms we find mercy, and gladness and shout for joy. We have been forgiven.
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