"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 >>
This document (last modified February 06, 1999) from Believerscafe.com
Sister Projects: Wikichristian | WikiMD
BelieversCafe is a large collection of christian articles with over 40,000 pages
Our sponsors:
