Psalm 130
God's over-the-top way of forgiveness.
They always lead us into the depths.
"You know, my life really started to coming together the moment I began to do what I know is wrong."
It is our sin that leads our lives into disarray.
The first step in forgiveness is to acknowledge your sin.
Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.
(Proverbs 28:13 ESV)
1. When God Forgives, He Keeps No Permanent Record.
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For this reason God emphasizes again and again throughout Scripture that when He forgives, He forgets.
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You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea. (Micah 7:19)
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"I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more." (Isaiah 43:25)
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When you're forgiven, the slate is clean.
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God has forgiven us, but the memory of the sin still haunts us.
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We need to make it a point to choose to forget that which God has already forgotten.
2. When God forgives, a Right Relationship is Restored.
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An overwhelming understanding of God's awe-inspiring greatness.
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That God is in His rightful place in our lives.
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"I am no longer worthy to be called your son,"
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"This son of mine was dead and is alive again." (Luke 15:24)
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Our God is the God of restoration.
3. When God Forgives There is Full Redemption.
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Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you. (Deuteronomy 15:15)
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He delivers us from our sin, and leads us into victory.
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In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that He lavished on us. (Ephesians 1:7-8)
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God loves you far too much to leave you there.
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And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. (Ephesians 4:32)
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Forgiving love.
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God takes forgiveness seriously.
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When He forgives, He forgives completely.
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When you forgive, you do with away with the permanent record.
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The same mercy He lavished on us we are to lavish on others.