"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 2. Our last three lessons dealt with commands found in the gospel which, when obeyed, effectively answer several 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 those to follow, we shall turn our attention to the promises of the gospel... a. Again, bear in mind that the gospel of Jesus Christ contains: 1) Facts to be believed 2) Commands to be obeyed 3) Promises to be received b. We have seen how keeping the commands of the gospel deal 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 of 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 ALL ARE GUILTY REGARDING SIN... 1. This was Paul's first main point in writing the epistle to the Romans - Ro 3:9-11 2. Even if a person breaks only one commandment! - cf. Jm 2:10-11 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 - Ro 3:23 b. This makes them "transgressors" of the law - cf. 1Jn 3:4 c. Other synonyms are used 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 - 2Co 5:10 C. FOR MANY, 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. "There is no peace, saith the LORD, for the wicked." - Isa 48:22 2. Some may not experience the emotional consequence of "legal" guilt... a. Because they have rejected their conscience to the point of it being "seared" - e.g., 1Ti 1:19-20; 4:1-2 b. Such people have "legal guilt", nonetheless! [Yet the gospel of Christ declares that when we obey its commands, then one of the promises we receive is the remission of sins, which effectively deals with the guilt of sin...] II. THE "REMISSION" OF SINS A. THE PROMINENT PLACE OF "REMISSION OF SINS" IN THE GOSPEL... 1. The blood of Jesus was shed for the remission of our sins - Mt 26:28 2. Remission of sins is to be preached 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 - Ac 10:42-43 b. By repenting and being baptized in His name - Ac 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; 2Pe 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. 1Co 6:11 C. NOT JUST REMOVAL OF "LEGAL GUILT", BUT "EMOTIONAL GUILT"... 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 not to 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 can have peace and joy through the justification that comes by grace - Ro 5:1-2 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) From your legal guilt for breaking God's law 2) From your emotional guilt burdening your 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 a) By the simple act of immersion in water b) In which by God's grace you are raised to walk in newness of life! b. Note how the last command (baptism) in particular answers the problem of guilt... 1) First, the legal guilt - cf. Ac 2:38; 22:16 2) Also, the emotional guilt - cf. 1Pe 3:21 (The "answer of a good conscience", or as the NASV puts it, "an appeal to God for a good conscience") Have you accepted the gospel's promise of remission of sins to deal with the guilt of your sins, by submitting to the commands of the gospel...?


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