INTRODUCTION
1. The Scriptures reveal different instructions on how to obtain forgiveness...
a. To alien sinners outside of Christ – Acts
Acts
Acts
b. To erring Christians guilty of sin – Acts 8:22; 1 John 1:9
Act
1John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
2. The difference has been described by some as "God's Two Laws of Pardon"...
a. For the alien sinner, there is God's first law of pardon
1) Hear the gospel
2) Believe that Jesus is the Christ, who died for our sins
3) Repent of sins
4) Confess faith in Christ
5) Be baptized for the remission of sins
b. For the erring Christian, there is God's second law of pardon
1) Repent of sins
2) Pray to God
3) Confess sins to God
[As we evangelize, we often spend much time explaining the first law. As Christians seeking to maintain our relationship with God, we should be equally concerned with the second law. So let's take a closer look at "God's Second Law of Pardon"...]
I. WHAT CHRISTIANS MUST DO
A. WE MUST REPENT OF SINS...
1. Note that repentance is required in both laws of pardon – Acts
2. What does it mean to repent? Literally, it means "a change of mind"
a. it signifies that a person has changed their purpose and direction in life
b. this change of mind involves turning from sin and turning to God
3. Thus it involves making a decision to stop sinning
a. Just as the alien sinner is called to do so in becoming a Christian
b. So the erring Christian must do to return to the Lord
4. Repentance is produced by "godly sorrow" – cf. 2 Cor. 7:9-10
2Cor. 7:9-10 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
a. A sorrow for having sinned against God – e.g., Psalm 51:4
Psalm 51:4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
b. As opposed to worldly sorrow for getting caught or being exposed
5. Repentance is also prompted by God's goodness –
Rom. 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
a. Awareness of God's grace and kindness should lead us to repent
b. Frequent meditation on the Word of God will help in this regard
6. Repentance will be manifested by a remarkable change – 2 Cor. 7:11
2Cor. 7:11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.
a. Such as diligence and zeal to do right
b. Such as indignation for our sins and a desire to make right
-- So the first step for erring Christians is to repent of their sins!
B. WE MUST PRAY...
1. So Peter told Simon when he sinned after having believed and was baptized – Acts
2. Compare this to God's first law of pardon
a. Baptism is an act of faith, in which we make an appeal – 1 Pet. 3:21
1Pet.
b. Prayer is also an act of faith, as we appeal for forgiveness
c. Yet alien sinners are commanded to repent and be baptized – Acts 2:38
d. While erring Christians are commanded to repent and pray
3. The difference is understandable
a. Before baptism, one is not a child of God – Gal. 3:26-27; cf. John 3:3-5
Gal. 3:26-27 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
John 3:3-5 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the
b. After baptism, prayer is a privilege for those who are God's children – Gal. 4:6-7
Gal. 4:6-7 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
4. Praying is effective for the Christian because of our two intercessors
a. Jesus, who understands our feelings – Heb. 2:17-18;
Heb. 2:17-18 Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted.
b. The Holy Spirit, who communicates our feelings – Rom. 8:26-27
5. As we pray, we must do so with humility
a. Compare the difference between the Pharisee and the publican – Luke 18:9-14
b. God favors the humble and contrite in spirit – Psalm 34:18; Isa. 66:1-2
Psalm 34:18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
James 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
-- Having repented, the erring Christian humbly needs to pray!
C. WE MUST CONFESS...
1. So John wrote to Christians, to experience God's forgiveness – 1 John 1:9
2. Compare this to God's first law of pardon
a. Where confession is commanded, but not confession of sins
b. Instead, confession is made concerning Jesus Christ – Rom. 10:9-10; cf. Acts 8:37
Acts
3. Understanding the word "confess"
a. Comes from the Greek word homologeo
b. "lit., to speak the same thing; to agree with, admit" - Vine
c. In regards to sin, it means to openly and honestly admit sin without hiding it or offering excuses for it – Dan. 9:4-6, 10-11, 15
4. Confession of sins should be made...
a. Continuously - for John literally wrote "If we keep confessing our sins..."
b. For both known and unknown sins – Psalm
c. Always to God, sometimes to each other – James 5:16
James
-- So as the erring Christian prays, confession of sins should be made!
[Simple is God's second law of pardon: to repent and pray, confessing our sins! To encourage us to be diligent in taking advantage of this wonderful grace, consider now...]
II. WHAT GOD WILL DO
A. GOD WILL BE FAITHFUL...
1. As John promised in encouraging us to confess our sins – 1 John 1:9
2. This means He will be true to His promise
3. What promise? The promise found in the prophecy of the New Covenant!
a. Found in Jeremiah, repeated in Hebrews – Jere. 31:31-34; Heb. 8:7-13
Jere. 31:31-34 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they broke, although I was a husband unto them, saith the LORD: But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
Heb. 8:7-13 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: And they shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.
b. "For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." – Heb. 8:12
-- Thus we have the assurance of God's response!
B. GOD WILL BE
1. As John promised in encouraging us to confess our sins – 1 John 1:9
2. This means He will be righteous in forgiving our sins
3. How can this be? By virtue of the cleansing blood of Jesus!
a. A cleansing alluded to earlier – 1 John 1:7
1John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
b. So God can be both just and justifier of those who have obedient faith in Christ –
Rom. 3:24-26 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
-- Thus we have the basis for God's response!
C. GOD WILL FORGIVE
1. He will "forgive us our sins" – 1 John 1:9
a. The word forgive describes the act of canceling a debt and the restoration of the debtor
b. No longer will the guilt of our sins be held against us!
2. He will cleanse us from all unrighteousness" – 1 John 1:9
a. The word cleanse refers to making the forgiven sinner holy so that he is able to have fellowship with God
b. The word all is reassuring; no sin is beyond God's ability to forgive the penitent Christian who confesses their sin!
-- Thus we have blessedness of God's response!
CONCLUSION
1. With God's second law of pardon, the Christian who repents, prays, and confesses will...
a. Experience the continual cleansing of the blood of Christ!
b. Enjoy the blessedness of knowing your sins are forgiven!
2. Why would any Christian hesitate to obey God's second law of pardon...?
a. You can have the same joy of salvation as when you were baptized into Christ!
b. For you rise from prayer as cleansed from sin as when you arose from the watery grave!
If you want to have the same joy, the same assurance of salvation, as that new babe in Christ who comes forth to a new life, then take advantage of "God's Second Law of Pardon"...!
"Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon." – Isa. 55:6-7