Amazing Forgiveness

• Romans 6:12-16
• Relationship between grace and holiness is delicate
• Without balance, you will struggle
• Lose sight of grace - burden of legalism - or weight of guilt
• Lose sight of holiness, look at the cross as a license to sin
• Both are equally unhealthy
• We must understand the balance God has created
• Before we can go on, we must understand what makes us righteous

• What does not make us righteous? Isaiah 64:6
• Intent is clear, nothing we can do will take us beyond our sin
• Righteousness is not something we can create, it must be imputed
• Only righteousness that reflects the holiness of God is acceptable
• Only when we are covered by His righteousness can we be acceptable to God
• Isaiah 61:10 - clothed salvation robe of salvation
• Literally wraps His righteousness and salvation around us
• If you don't feel clean or worthy enough to come before Him, you are on the right track
• Jesus said, "Those who are well don't need a physician, but those sick...didn't come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance
• The irony is that Jesus said this to leaders in response to assc with sinners, then He repeatedly called them children of the devil and in judgement of God
• We must first see our ungodliness or we won't repent and can't gain forgiveness
• We must also see the failure of our attempts at righteousness
• Phil 3:8-9, not having my own righteousness...but that which is through faith in Christ
• Bible says, God is the God who forgives but takes vengance on our deeds
• That vengance was paid on the Cross to those who receive it by faith - 2 Corinthians 5:21
• God invests His goodness in us when we have faith and put trust in completed work of Christ

• Two deciding factors are: our will, choosing God's plan or rejecting it for love of the world; and how we deal with sin
• God's mercy helps to overcome the world, doesn't condone being overcome by it
• We must walk between the lines of grace and accountability - Matthew 7:13-14
• Understand the marriage between grace and accountability
• Lose sight of accountability and obedience, will be drawn into sin
• Lose sight of grace and only see accountability...legalism or discouragement
• Both rob us of joy, abundance and all that flows from God
• We already looked at how we become righteous, lets look at the balance of grace and obedience

• Can't get outside the reach of grace
• God will not always strive with you, but His grace is always there
• You can't see grace and remain neutral. Grace always requires a response
• Your heart either grows tender toward repentance, or grows hard and callous
• Whenever God hardened someone's heart, He did so through grace and mercy
• Pharaoh saw the need to repent each time, but changed his mind and grew harder each time
• 10 times God showed mercy and 10 times Pharaoh recognized it and rejected
• We are the same. God shows us mercy and the life He designed for us, we look and tender or harden
• Why do people who admit they are empty and miserable reject God and choose misery? The are hard
• Where sin abounds, grace more abounds. Not freedom to sin for grace but God's grace sets us free from the deepest rooted sin.
• Part of growing is learning how to let God overcome your faults
• You can't change your sin nature, you can only submit and surrender it to God
• People have a misconception that temptation ends when we come to Christ and they fall from grace out of shame as they run away from God
• Works don't make up for sins
• We all have sin and are usually drawn by seemingly harmless compromises...
• We are tempted when we are drawn by our own desires...whoever controls your desires, controls you
• Must cruicify flesh...let God prune old desires and give new focus on Him and His purposes
• Biggest trap - feeling rejected by God because of sin
• God does not despise you...just your sin
• We sin because of unbelief...must trust God's ways
• Walking with God we have the promise of 100% forgiveness
• 1 John 1:6-10
• When we walk with Jesus, we have this promise
• Forgiveness and repentance can't be separated...if you don't want to leave sin, you are still in it
• When we repent, God keeps NO records of wrong - Psalm 103:11-12
• North meets south and south meets north, but east and west never meet
• God's forgiveness is out of love...love keeps no record of wrongs
• Everytime is the first time and our attitude should be that it is the last time
• Promised to those who fear His ways...seek His purposes and honor His ways
• Temptation draws us out of an ongoing relationship...just far enough to capitalize on weaknesses
• We fall, repent, and surrender weaknesses to be crucified and learn how to live in the spirit
• Flesh will fight till the end...think we are sinless, we make him a liar
• Only by clinging can we obtain strength
• The greater sin is that when we sin, we don't trust in His forgiveness
• Those who allow guilt to drive them away need faith first

• The risk of teaching grace is that people will misunderstand it as a license to sin
• If we confess...we are forgive...qualifying statement is fellowship
• God's promises - including forgiveness are claimed through obedience.
• 1 John 3:6-12
• The phrase 'does not' sin literally translated means to abide, tarry, commit or to celebrate
• When you invite Christ...become the temple...Spirit no longer allows you to celebrate sin
• Grieving the Spirit will grieve you
• The Bible says if we say we know Him and refuse to walk with Him, we are lying
• If sin doesn't bother you...examine yourself...are you His?
• Hebrews 12 says, the Lord chastens those He loves as a child in whom He is pleased
• Don't despise chastening
• I take care of my kids, not the neighbor's. If God doesn't deal...are you His?
• Even if everyone is doing it, I won't allow my kids to do what is wrong
• Sometimes we mistake God's patience as tolerance
• God loves us...hates sin, if we love God, we should hate sin
• If calling and wooing doesn't work, God will discipline by whatever measure we choose
• If we want the world, we don't see the fruits, blessings and joy God has designed
• There is a counterfeit grace...draws us away from repentance and justifies sin
• Romans 6:12-18
• Anyone who belongs to Christ and follows, will not be dominatate by sin
• May struggle at times, but not in bondage

• Hebrews 12:1-3
• Jesus is the author and finisher. Beginning of faith and the goal we reach for
• Luke 9:23-24...if anyone desires to come after me
• God has already designed your path...you just have to recognize its value
• Joyfully long for heaven and look forward to "Well done, good and faithful. Faithful in few, I will make you ruler over much"
• Grace overcomes sin, but our will can override grace
• Must decide where our citizenship will reside
• Can't choose Christ without becoming a child of God and changing citizenship