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Pardoned From Sin Hebrews 8:12
Cooper Abrams |
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The young man replied, "Leave me alone. I want to die!" Everyone urged him to change his mind. The law were checked in this unusual case, and it was found that the pardon must be accepted in order to be valid. Because he rejected the pardon he was executed.
Many said he was crazy and a fool not to accept the pardon. Perhaps there were right. However, thousands of people who are on sin's death row are doing the same thing. Rejecting God's offer of free pardon and the gift of eternal life.
I. The Penalty of Sin.
A. John 3:18 says "he that does not believe is condemned already because he has not believed in the name only begotten son of God."
1. Under state law a man is innocent until proven guilty.
2. Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned - (Romans 5:12)
The "ALL" covers everyone with no exceptions.
3. As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one; (Romans 3:10)
4. The reason: "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23)
5. God must deal with sin, which means he must judge the sinner.
The penalty must be paid.
B. The penalty of sin is death. It is not only physical death, but also spiritual death.
1. Rev. 20:14, calls it the second death. Those that experience the second death will spend eternity in Hell.
2. One sin and we are guilty. For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one {point}, he is guilty of all. (James 2:10)
3. The liar is as guilty as the murder. The
one who takes God's name in vain as guilty as the harlot.
4. The person who does not love his neighbor as guilty as the thief.
C. Thus God says all are guilt and all are under the penalty of death.
1. Simply stated: All men are on death row.
2. Some have tried various means to avoid the penalty.
Most try some form of religion: All nations on earth have varying religions.
Some have even joined churches, been baptized in order to avoid the penalty.
Many look on it like an insurance policy. Hate to deal with insurance men, pay the premiums. After you get the thing done you can forget it and go about your business are usual.
Some feel after you get the business of joining a church and getting baptized out of the way everything can get back to normal. All you have to do is come to the morning service once in a while and things are OK.
However the Bible, which is God's word on the matter is entirely different.
II. God's Payment for Sin.
A. Barabbas was a murderer. He was awaiting execution. The jailer came and told him that the Jews and asked for his pardon and the Roman's governor gave it.
He was free!
1. He probably was confused. He probably questioned? What happened?
2. The jailer replied, that Jesus was to die instead of him.
B. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)
1. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. ( 1 John 2:2)
2. Christ died in our place.
3. As hard as it may be to understand, the fact is simple. Christ died, He was innocence, yet He paid our sin debt.
III. God's Plea.
A. If then in truth all men are under the penalty of death, then hearing that someone else paid our penalty in order that we might be pardon...you would think that men everywhere would leap at the opportunity to be set free.
B. There are two reason men do not rush to accept God's free pardon.
1. The influence of Satan in the world. He is real.
"But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them"(2 Corinthians 4:3-4)
2. The lure and love of sin.
And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. (John 3:19)
3. Thus it can be easily seen that there is a reason everyone does not trust in Christ and receive free pardon for sin.
C. Yet, God offer stands. God pleads with men.
Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. (Isaiah 1:18)
And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. (Luke 14:17)
Come unto me, all {ye} that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)
B. And with His plea God warns:
Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: (Isaiah 55:6)
IV. God's Promise.
A. Man is condemned, however there is more to the story. God provided each and everyone a pardon.
1. God not issues the pardons and sends His preacher and witnesses who themselves have receive it.
2. He Send them with the good news!! "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved".
3. God has preserved this good news in the Bible, which is His Word.
"And this is the promise that he hath promised us, {even} eternal life" ( 1 John 2:25).
"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Romans 10:13)"
"All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out" (John 6:37).
V. God's Pardon.
A. This is not the time for foolishness. It is serious business to consider where one will spend eternity.
1. I am sure those on death row, at the Point of the Mountain, in the Utah State Penitentiary. think the sentence of death they are under is serious.
2. As each day goes by they go closer to the date of execution. They future is very important to them.
And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27)
B. Note that pardon is not penance. Not turning over a new leaf, or saying we will not do it anymore.
That will not get a prisoner out of jail!
Some feel like good moral living will get them into heaven. Sure they sinned in the past and some now but they are trying to live a pretty good life now.
Penance is trying to reform.
Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law {is} the knowledge of sin. (Romans 3:20)
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; (Titus 3:5)
C. Pardon is also not parole.
1. The pardoned man is free.
2. The paroled man is still under the threat of his sentence.
D. Pardon is also not payment.
1. He a man serves his sentence them he is not pardoned.
2. Man does not have any way to pay his sin debt no matter what he does.
Conclusion:
For everyone there is a pardon waiting. Some have received it. They believed and trusted what God has said.
There is no reason why anyone should perish. Why would one want to go to hell? Especially when they do not have too.
The pardon is at this moment being offered.
Will your receive it?