"COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS: God forgives all your sins.” - 6-20-21

 "COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS: God forgives all your sins.” - 6-20-21

INTRODUCTION

“Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. 

Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits— who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed. 

He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel: The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children— with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts. 

The Lord has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all. Praise the Lord, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word. Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts, you his servants who do his will. Praise the Lord, all his works everywhere in his dominion. Praise the Lord, my soul.”

‭‭ Psalms‬ ‭103:1-22‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I.   GOD FORGIVES

 

During an edition of the news program 60 Minutes, Dan Rather interviewed Jack Welch, the outspoken former CEO of General Electric. At the end of the interview, Rather asked Welch, “What’s the toughest question you have ever been asked?”

Welch replied, “Do you think you’ll go to Heaven?”

When asked how he had answered that question, Welch said, “It’s a long answer, but I said that if caring about people, if giving it your all, if being a great friend counts—despite the fact that I’ve been divorced a couple of times, and no one’s proud of that. I haven’t done everything right all the time. I think I got a shot. I’m in no hurry to get there and to find out any time soon.”

The truth is no one is good enough to get to Heaven except for Christ.  We must trust Him and Him alone to forgive our sin and save our soul.

“The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.” Ps 103:8

A.  God is compassionate.

B.  God is gracious.

C.  God is slow to anger.

D.  God is abounding in love.

Ontology - the study of being.  God is __________.

II.  GOD FORGIVES ALL OUR SINS

“He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat  us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.  For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”

Psalm 103:9-12

The English artist George Romney fell in love and married a young lady, but then left her so that he could pursue his career wholeheartedly (although he did support her financially). His paintings brought him much income, but he eventually became too old to work and went back to his wife who took care of him until he passed away. The spirit that his wife showed in caring for him was worth more than all the paintings he ever produced.

We often ignore Christ until we need Him, but He always loves us and stands ready to forgive and restore us.

A.  We are sinners.

B.  God forgives our sin.

C.  God’s love is greater.

III.  GOD WILL FORGIVE YOU

“As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children— with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.”

Psalm 103:13-18

The story of is told of a girl who regretted breaking her engagement and wrote this letter:

“Dearest Tommy, No words could ever express the great unhappiness I’ve felt since breaking our engagement. Please say you’ll take me back. No one could ever take your place in my heart, so please forgive me. I love you, I love you, I love you! I love you!”

Yours forever,

Marie

PS: And congratulations on winning the state lottery.

God doesn’t forgive you because you have changed.  He loves you because of who He is, not who you are.

A.  God knows we are fragile.

B.  God loves those who fear him

C.  God gives righteousness to ongoing generations to those who keep his  covenant and remember to obey his precepts.”

“Responsive faith”

CONCLUSION

God forgives.  God forgives our sins.  God will forgive you.

CHALLENGE

Our challenge will remain the same each week of this sermon series.  I just ask that you keep in mind the topic of each week’s message as you write down your weekly 3-2-1.  The topic this week is forgiveness.

Write down 3 ways God bears your burdens daily.  Write down 2 needs God has met this week.  Write down 1 spiritual blessing in Christ that you cherish most.  Acknowledge God’s blessings.

INVITATION

It is our custom to offer an "invitation" following the preaching of the Word.  You may want to follow Jesus.  You may want to proclaim your faith.  You may want to repent (stop doing ungodly things and start doing Godly things).  Perhaps you want to be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Possibly, if you have already responded to God’s call in these ways, you would like to become a member of Kenwood Church.  If you have been moved by the Holy Spirit to make a decision in your life, you can come forward now.  If you would like, I would be honored to speak with you following the service about what God is doing in your life.