Rev. David Holwick O Series: What Is Ours in Christ
First Baptist Church Baptism Sunday
Ledgewood, New Jersey
April 29, 2001
Psalm 130:1-4
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I. A beautiful word from a dangerous part of the world.
A. News of shot-down missionary plane misidentified as drug-runner.
1) Baptist mission, in Amazon area of eastern Peru.
B. Bible translators in that area made a poignant discovery.
When Wycliffe Bible translator Bob Russell sought a word
for "forgiveness" in the language of the Amahuacas of
eastern Peru, he discovered their unique way of asking
one another for pardon.
In that culture, if an offender wants to be reconciled with
someone he has offended, he says to him, "Speak to me."
Russell learned that Amahuacas who are unreconciled typically
refuse to speak to each other.
So when the offender asks the offended to speak, it's the
equivalent of saying, "Show me we're friends again by being
on speaking terms once more."
#19149 (also below)
1) Many Biblical terms illustrate the concept of forgiveness -
cancel debts, cast away sins, free the sinner.
2) The Amahuaca expression strikingly translates what is the
most important biblical meaning of God's forgiveness
- above all, it is a reconciliation, the restoration of
a friendship with him that has been marred by sin.
C. This forgiveness is one of the best gifts we have in Christ.
II. Out of the depths in Psalm 130.
A. The need for forgiveness is nothing new.
1) A sense of near-despair. Ps 69:1-2,14-15
2) Self-help is no answer.
B. His problem.
1) In many psalms it is illness or persecution.
2) Here it is guilt. How can we deal with it?
III. Lay the foundation.
A. Confess your sin.
1) Forgiveness is conditional upon our confession. 1 Jn 1:9
2) Failure to admit sin blocks forgiveness. Ps 32:3,5
3) Our refusal to confess is refusal to be "on speaking terms"
B. Practice humility.
1) Pride can keep us from recognizing our sin. Luke 18:9-14
2) Humility leads to forgiveness.
C. Cultivate faith in God's goodness and mercy.
1) A wrong understanding of God can lead to an inadequate
grasp of forgiveness.
a) Parable of the Talents highlights this. Matt 25:14-30
2) God rewards those who seek him. Heb 11:6
a) If we doubt that God is willing to forgive, we will
not be motivated to seek forgiveness. Ps 86:5
IV. Get a handle on sin.
A. Recognize the seriousness of sin.
1) As psalmist says, if God kept a record of our sins, we
would be doomed.
2) Even "small" sins are serious.
a) Woman who wiped Jesus' feet with hair recognized
seriousness of her sin. Luke 7:36-50
b) Simon loved little because he was forgiven little (in
his own eyes).
B. Fight against habits of sin.
1) The conscience blinded by habitual sin is unable to
recognize its need for grace.
a) Compare mocking thief on cross, Luke 23:39.
b) Both thieves were sinners, only one was forgiven.
2) Don't refuse God's grace by becoming seared. 1 Tim 4:2
V. Appreciate the magnitude of what Christ has done.
A. Recognize grace as a costly treasure.
1) Grace is free but not cheap.
2) If forgiveness is seen as cheap, we will put little value
on our restored relationship with God.
a) We will be more likely to persevere in sin.
b) In effect we are insulting God. Heb 10:26
B. Realize that no sin is greater than Christ's sacrifice.
1) We may think our sin is too big to be forgiven.
a) It is too great, tenacious or shameful.
When I went to high school in Heidelberg, Germany, a very famous
citizen lived in our town.
I should say infamous - his name was Albert Speer, one of the
last of the big-time Nazis.
In one of his books Chuck Colson tells about an interview with
Albert Speer that took place on ABC's "Good Morning, America."
Speer was in charge of Hitler's military factories during WWII.
He was so good, production increased even during the bombings.
Speer was the only one of twenty-four war criminals tried in
Nuremburg to admit his guilt.
He spent twenty years in Spandau prison as a result.
Interviewer David Hartman referred to a passage in one of Speer's
earlier writings:
"You have said the guilt can never be forgiven, or shouldn't be.
Do you still feel that way?"
Colson says he will never forget the look of pathos on Speer's
face as he responded:
"I served a sentence of twenty years, and I could say 'I'm a
free man, my conscience has been cleared by serving the
whole time as punishment.'
But I can't do that.
I still carry the burden of what happened to millions of people
during Hitler's lifetime, and I can't get rid of it.
This new book is part of my atoning, of clearing my conscience."
Hartman pressed the point.
"You really don't think you'll be able to clear it totally?"
Speer shook his head, "I don't think it will be possible."
For thirty-five years Speer had accepted complete responsibility
for his crime.
His writings were filled with contrition and warnings to others
to avoid his moral failings.
He desperately sought to pay for his sin. But it was no use.
Colson says he wanted to write Speer, to tell him about Jesus
and His death on the cross, about God's forgiveness.
But there wasn't time.
The ABC interview was Speer's last public statement; he died
shortly after.
#1714
2) Speer's attitude shows he grasps the magnitude of sin.
3) However, he never grasped the magnitude of what God has done
to forgive it.
VI. The fact of forgiveness is not in doubt. Ps 130:4
A. Forgiveness leads to fear.
1) Unusual result?
2) True sense of "fear of the Lord" is given.
a) It means "reverence" and implies relationship.
b) Cringing fear would have been diminished, not increased,
by forgiveness.
3) Clinched by verses 5-6.
a) It is the Lord himself, not just fear of punishment,
that he longs for.
b) Not just a wish but accepting a promise - in His word.
B. Night may seem endless but morning is certain. 130:6
VII. As forgiven people, forgive.
A. It is a two-way street.
1) God to us, us to each other.
B. Forgive others quickly and completely.
1) Holding grudges thwarts forgiveness. Matt 6:14
2) If we are unmerciful, God will be too. Matt 18:21-35
C. Bitterness blocks forgiveness.
1) What we refuse to grant others, we reject for ourselves.
VIII. On speaking terms again.
A. Psalm 130 ends on a note of triumph.
1) Forgiveness is available, free, and greater than our sins.
2) The psalmist calls it "full redemption."
B. Our experience of forgiveness depends in part on our response.
1) Strive to achieve it.
2) Strive to share it with others.
=========================================================================
This series is based on one in Discipleship Journal #114, Nov/Dec 1999.
This sermon follows the format of the article "Forgiveness - Coming Home
to God's Embrace," by Paul Thigpen, page 64.
SOURCES FOR ILLUSTRATIONS USED IN THIS SERMON:
# 1714 Quote by Chuck Colson in sermon "Who Will Take Away This Burden
of Guilt?" third week of November 1991, Dynamic Preaching;
Seven Worlds Publishing (www.sermons.com).
#19149 "Forgiveness: Coming Home To God's Embrace," by Paul Thigpen,
Discipleship Journal #114, Nov/Dec 1999, page 64.
These and 17,000 others are part of a database that can be downloaded,
absolutely free, at http://www.holwick.com/database.html
=========================================================================
Study notes:
"Forgiveness - Coming Home To God's Embrace," by Paul Thigpen,
Discipleship Journal #114, Nov/Dec 1999, page 64.
I. Word for forgiveness in Peru - Speak to me.
A. Above all, forgiveness is reconciliation.
1) Our fellowship with God is marred by sin. Isaiah 59:2
2) The cross of Jesus reconciles us. Col 1:13-14,21-22
II. It takes two.
III. Opening ourselves to forgiveness.
A. Confess your sin.
1) Forgiveness is conditional upon our confession. 1 Jn 1:9
2) Failure to admit sin blocks forgiveness. Ps 32:3,5
3) Our refusal to confess is refusal to be "on speaking terms"
B. Practice humility.
1) Pride can keep us from recognizing our sin. Luke 18:9-14
2) Humility leads to forgiveness.
C. Fight against habits of sin.
1) The conscience blinded by habitual sin is unable to
recognize its need for grace.
a) Cf. mocking thief on cross, Luke 23:39.
b) Both thieves were sinners, only one was forgiven.
2) Don't refuse God's grace by becoming seared. 1 Tim 4:2
D. Recognize the seriousness of sin.
1) Even "small" sins are serious.
a) Woman who wiped Jesus' feet with hair recognized
seriousness of her sin. Luke 7:36-50
b) Simon loved little because he was forgiven litte
(in his own eyes).
E. Recognize grace as a costly treasure.
1) Grace is free but not cheap.
2) If forgiveness is seen as cheap, we will put little value
on our restored relationship with God.
a) We will be more likely to persevere in sin.
b) In effect we are insulting God. Heb 10:26
F. Cultivate faith in God's goodness and mercy.
1) A wrong understanding of God can lead to an inadequate
grasp of forgiveness.
a) Parable of the Talents highlights this. Matt 25:14-30
2) God rewards those who seek him. Heb 11:6
a) If we doubt that God is willing to forgive, we will
not be motivated to seek forgiveness. Ps 86:5
G. Realize that no sin is greater than Christ's sacrifice.
1) We may think our sin is too big to be forgiven. [Speer]
a) Too great, tenacious or shameful.
2) This is failure to recognize magnitude of what God has done.
H. Forgive others quickly and completely.
1) Holding grudges thwarts forgiveness. Matt 6:14
2) If we are unmerciful, God will be too. Matt 18:21-35
3) Bitterness blocks forgiveness.
a) What we refuse to grant others, we reject for ourselves.
IV. On speaking terms.
A. Forgiveness is available, free, and greater than our sins.
B. Our experience of forgiveness depends in part on our response.
C. We need reconciliation to enjoy our relationship with God.
D. Strive to achieve it.
_________________________________________________________________________
Derek Kidner, Psalms 73-150, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, 1973.
Psalm 130
I. Out of the depths.
A. A sense of near-despair. Ps 69:1-2,14-15
B. Self-help is no answer.
II. His problem.
A. In many psalms it is illness or persecution.
B. Here it is guilt.
1) Only slight assurance of atonement in OT.
2) Christians would look to the fullness of the ransom rather
than the mildness of the reckoning.
III. The fact of forgiveness is not in doubt.
A. Alludes to unmerited pardon, made more complete in NT.
B. Forgiveness leads to fear.
1) Unusual result?
2) True sense of "fear of the Lord" is given.
a) It means "reverence" and implies relationship.
b) Servile fear would have been diminished, not increased,
by forgiveness.
3) Clinched by verses 5-6.
a) It is the Lord himself, not just fear of punishment,
that he longs for.
b) Not just a wish but accepting a promise - in His word.
C. Night may seem endless but morning is certain. 130:6
IV. Note of triumph.
A. Full redemption.
1) "Plentious" redemption in KJV, vivid phrase.
B. Full forgiveness.
1) All are sinners, all can be forgiven.
_________________________________________________________________________
"Only Christians Sin"
Polk City United Methodist Church
February 4, 2001
Portion of sermon by Rev. Mark Haverland
Sin is a by-product of faithful worship. Only Christians sin. The sins
of non-Christians are peccadillos, slipups, small potatoes. Christians
sense sin as a huge gap between us and our loving forgiving, seeking
Savior. Non-Christians weasel and whine when caught up in their foibles.
They grasp at the excuse that everyone does it, or that it is just human
to make mistakes, or that circumstances beyond my control made me do it.
When non-Christians sin, their only fear is that someone will notice.
But Christians know that sin lies deep in all human hearts.
I sometimes say that it is easier to ask for forgiveness than to ask
permission. I mean, of course, that you are more likely to be forgiven
than to get permission. This is, of course, a dangerous strategy. It's
just this kind of thinking that got Bill Clinton and Jesse Jackson in
trouble. It leads to the whimsical joke attributed to Mark Twain: "I
have a wonderful relationship with God. I love to sin and God loves to
forgive."
#19145
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