Rev. David Holwick J
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey
March 24, 1996
1 John 1:5-10
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I. Encountering barriers.
A. Barriers can be tough.
1) Vacation, Florida Keys campground: wheelchair camper
struggled to get over rim of shower stall.
Hopped chair up and down, strained till he was inside.
Part of me wanted to help him, but I knew he had to do it
on his own.
2) This generation faces barriers of its own.
a) We are richest, yet consumed with anxiety.
b) We are most focused on relationships, yet so many
fall apart.
c) We are undergoing a spiritual revival, but the moral
decay of our society is accelerating and many
Christians feel defeated.
B. Theme this week is accepting God's grace and forgiveness.
1) 1 John is written to give assurance of salvation. 1 Jn 5:13
2) We struggle with our sinfulness, failure to live up to
the ideals of our salvation.
C. Barrier-free access.
1) Public buildings must be barrier-free.
a) Reason one bathroom has an extra-wide door.
b) Also why we have a concrete ramp out back.
2) Our spiritual life must also be barrier-free.
a) Remove spiritual barriers in way of forgiveness.
b) Three barriers must be overcome.
II. Denial of sin. 1 Jn 1:8
A. Forms of denial.
1) Denial when told we have a serious illness.
2) Alcoholics deny their true condition.
3) Denial of our sinfulness. 1 Jn 1:8
B. Justifying ourselves spiritually.
1) We don't want to face guilt.
2) We don't want to take blame.
3) We don't want to accept responsibility.
C. We justify in order to protect ourselves.
1) Childhood experiences or memories can hurt.
2) We may react by crusading, withdrawing, or blaming others.
3) However, these don't help us to face our real selves.
D. Conviction of the Holy Spirit. John 16:8
1) God uses guilt to reach us when we violate his Word.
2) We can hide from it, or admit it.
3) Barrier-free access to God means overcoming denial that
we have any problems, needs, or sin, even as Christians.
III. Confession of sin. 1 Jn 1:9
A. Second barrier is our inability to confess our failure to God.
1) Whenever we sin against a person, we also sin against God.
2) (Psalm 51.)
B. We need to confess before God.
1) It is hard for us to be vulnerable and admit weakness.
2) We must say we are sorry for sin, and be specific.
C. God knows our limits.
1) He loves us while we are sinners. Romans 5:8
2) Other people can help as mediators/assisters.
IV. Accept forgiveness. Matthew 6:12-15
A. The barrier of not forgiving ourselves.
1) "I know God forgives me, but I can't forgive myself."
2) We can be forgiven, and yet not feel it.
3) It is easier to persecute ourselves than to accept God's
forgiveness.
A long backpack hike I took in Boy Scouts, and how heavy
the pack felt.
At end of day, took pack off and seemed to float on air.
"Mission" movie, where Robert DeNiro carries armor up
a mountain to symbolize his sins as a hardened soldier.
At the top he tosses armor over cliff, and experiences
release from guilt.
4) Claim God's forgiveness.
a) You don't deserve it, but he gives it anyway.
B. God says: walk in light, not darkness. 1 Jn 1:7
1) Means living under God's care, and with his standards.
a) Doesn't mean we are perfect - we have to be purified.
2) Walking in the light is tied with fellowship.
a) Relationships suffer most when we don't forgive ourselves.
b) God sees worth in us apart from our performance.
C. Other side: Forgive those who have hurt, oppressed, or damaged us.
1) We CAN forgive others.
2) Treat others the way God has treated you.
3) Don't be mean-spirited.
4) For hard cases, pray about them specifically.
V. Barriers can be overcome.
A. First barrier - denial of sin and guilt.
1) Antidote: Acknowledge sin, identify it in life.
B. Second barrier - we think we don't have to deal with indiv. sins.
1) Antidote: Confess sins to God, personally and individually.
C. Third barrier - we cannot feel God's forgiveness, and withhold
it from others.
1) Antidote: Accept God's forgiveness, extend it to others.
D. Approach God with confidence, knowing he accepts us.
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Study notes:
"Barrier-free forgiveness," by Rev. Laurie Morris.
I. Introduction.
A. Guilty, but honest, prisoner is released.
B. Theme this week is accepting God's grace and forgiveness.
1) 1 John is written to give assurance of salvation. 1 Jn 5:13
2) We struggle with our sinfulness, failure to live up to
calling and salvation.
C. Barrier-free access.
1) In public buildings.
2) Removing spiritual barriers in way of forgiveness.
3) Three barriers must be overcome.
II. Denial. 1 Jn 1:8
A. Forms of denial.
1) Denial when told we have a serious illness.
2) Alcoholics.
3) Denial of our sinfulness.
B. Justifying ourselves spiritually.
1) We don't want to face guilt.
2) We don't want to take blame.
3) We don't want to accept responsibility.
C. We justify in order to protect ourselves.
1) Childhood experiences or memories can hurt.
2) We may react by crusading, withdrawing, or blaming others.
3) However, these don't help us to face our real selves.
D. Conviction of the Holy Spirit.
1) God uses guilt to reach us when we violate his Word.
2) We can hide, or admit it.
3) Barrier-free access to God means overcoming denial that
we have any problems, needs, or sin, even as Christians.
III. Confession.
A. Second barrier is our inability to confess our failure to God.
1) Whenever we sin against a person, we also sin against God.
2) Psalm 51.
B. We need to confess before God.
1) It is hard for us to be vulnerable and admit weakness.
C. God knows our limits.
1) He loves us while we are sinners.
2) To experience it, we must say we are sorry for sin.
3) Other people can be mediators/assisters.
IV. Failure to walk in the light.
A. The barrier of not forgiving ourselves.
1) "I know God forgives me, but I can't forgive myself."
2) We can be forgiven, and yet not feel it.
3) It is easier to persecute ourselves than to accept God's
forgiveness.
B. God says: walk in light, not darkness. John 6:37
1) Walking in the light is tied with fellowship.
2) Relationships suffer most when we don't forgive ourselves.
3) God sees worth in us apart from our performance.
C. Forgive those who have hurt, oppressed, or damaged us.
1) Treat others the way God has treated you.
2) Don't be mean-spirited.
V. Conclusion.
A. First barrier - denial of sin and guilt.
1) Antidote: Acknowledge sin, identify it in life.
B. Second barrier - we think we don't have to deal with indiv. sins.
1) Antidote: Confess sins to God, personally and individually.
C. Third barrier - we cannot feel God's forgiveness, and withhold
it from others.
1) Antidote: Accept God's forgiveness, extend it to others.
"Experiencing God's Grace and Forgiveness." by Rev. Richard Dill
I. Sin is a big deal.
II. Sin is not unforgivable.
III. We can forgive others.
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