Sermons on Forgiveness of Sins
Psalm 32
Psalm 32 proclaims one of the greatest blessings the gospel offers: the forgiveness of sins. In this psalm, David does not speak abstractly about forgiveness, but as one who has felt the crushing weight of guilt before God—and who has experienced the profound relief that comes when sin is confessed and forgiven. This sermon explores why forgiveness is so precious by first considering the unbearable weight of unconfessed sin. David describes the toll that guilt took on his whole being:…
Genesis 20:1-18
In Genesis 20:1-18 Abraham sins in the same way he did in chapter 12. Rather than protect his wife, he lies by calling her his sister, which leads to her being taken by Abimelech to become his wife. This sin is all the worse because Sarah is about to give birth to Isaac, the promised seed. Abraham’s actions, therefore, appear to jeopardize the promises of God. God, however, is merciful to Abraham and, as He did in Egypt, defends Sarah…
Genesis 19:12-22
In Genesis 19:12-22 the angels promise judgment will fall upon Sodom. Many, however, are unwilling to leave. Lot’s future sons-in-law think it is a joke. Lot himself must be dragged out of the city. How difficult it is to leave the city of destruction! Many grow to love the world of sin found there and will be unwilling to leave even as they hear of the sure judgment to come.
Deuteronomy 31:14-32:47
In Deuteronomy 32 Moses teaches the people the Song of Moses, meant to be a witness against the people when they sin. God is always good. All of heaven and earth testifies to this. There is never any excuse for sin. Even as we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself.
Matthew 9:9-13
In Matthew 9:9-13 Christ calls Matthew who, seeing that his sins can be forgiven by following Christ, immediately leaves his life of tax collecting to follow Jesus. The Pharisees, believing themselves to be righteous, have not concept of the forgiveness of sins. Christ shows that he has come for people like Matthew, who recognize their sins, rather than for people like the Pharisees who believed themselves to be righteous.
Matthew 9:1-8
In Matthew 9:1-8 Christ heals a paralytic, but the healing of the paralytic is not the emphasis in the story. This miracle is actually used to prove a more significant point: Christ has the authority to forgive sins. If you believe in Christ, then take heart, your sins are forgiven. If you doubt like the scribes, you will be counted as a blasphemer.