Forgiven

“He rescued us from the domain of darkness…”

(Col 1:13a)

• To appreciate forgiveness we must accept our guilt

• Our sins are a violent insult to the love of God (Rom 5:10)

• Sin destroys our fellowship with God (1Jn 1:5-6)

The Implications of Forgiveness - Guilt

"21 And although you were formerly

alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil

deeds,”Colossians 1:21

(NASB95)

“…Transferred into the kingdom of His beloved Son”

(Col 1:13b)

• God’s love for us is seen in the cost of forgiveness

• “grace” was “freely bestowed on us in the Beloved (Eph 1:6-7)

• We can see the love of God in every blessing we enjoy (Eph 2:4-7)

The Implications of Forgiveness - Love

"20 and through Him to reconcile

all things to Himself, having

made peace through the blood

of His cross…”Colossians 1:20

(NASB95)

“in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins”

(Col 1:14)

• Forgiveness provides a unique freedom

• Redemption is release from the slavery of sin (Gal 5:1)

• The forgiven are emancipated to choose who they will serve (Rom 6:14)

"1 It was for freedom that Christ set us

free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.”Galatians 5:1 (NASB95)

The Implications of Forgiveness - Freedom

“Who pardons all your iniquities…”

Psalm 103:3 (NASB95)

• Only God has the authority to forgive

• “Who can forgive sins but God alone” (Mk 2:7)

• All spiritual blessings are in Him (Eph 1:3)

The Character of Forgiveness

"20 and through Him to reconcile

all things to Himself, having

made peace through the blood

of His cross…”Colossians 1:20

(NASB95)

“to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond

reproach” (Col 1:22)

• Our forgiveness is absolute

The Character of Forgiveness

"7 Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous;”

1 John 3:7 (NASB95)

“to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond

reproach” (Col 1:22)

• Our forgiveness is absolute

• The one who practices righteousness…

The Character of Forgiveness

"7 Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous;”

1 John 3:7 (NASB95)

“to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond

reproach” (Col 1:22)

The Character of Forgiveness

"7 Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous;”

1 John 3:7 (NASB95)

• Our forgiveness is absolute

• The one who practices righteousness…

• Is declared righteous (forgiven) by God

“to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond

reproach” (Col 1:22)

"7 Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous;”

1 John 3:7 (NASB95)

The Character of Forgiveness

• Our forgiveness is absolute

• The one who practices righteousness…

• Is declared righteous (forgiven) by God

• This righteousness is absolute

“yet He has now reconciled you”Col 1:22a

“23 if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of

the gospel…”Colossians 1:23

(NASB95)

• The forgiveness of God is undeniable

• To doubt my forgiven state is to doubt God’s power and grace (Col 1:23; Rom 8:31-35)

The Character of Forgiveness

“an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life”

1Tim 1:16"15 It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that

Christ Jesus came into the world to save

sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.”

1 Timothy 1:15 (NASB95)

Living Forgiven

• Paul never forgot the sins of his past

"26 When he came to Jerusalem, he was trying to

associate with the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, not

believing that he was a disciple…

28 And he was with them, moving about freely in

Jerusalem, speaking out boldly in the name of the Lord.”Acts 9:26,28 (NASB95)

Living Forgiven

• Paul never forgot the sins of his past

• The consequences of his sin followed him but did not cripple him

“an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life”

1Tim 1:16

"14 I am under obligation both to

Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the

foolish.”Romans 1:14

(NASB95)

Living Forgiven

• Paul never forgot the sins of his past

• The consequences of his sin followed him but did not cripple him

• Paul viewed his forgiven state as an obligation to serve

“an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life”

1Tim 1:16

Forgiven