Forgiveness of sin

 Every person should be able to read their Bible and understand the proper attitude to have toward someone who is need of and seeks forgiveness.

 Every time we talk to people there should be the attitude of forgiveness. Hebrews 10: 1-4, 16-18 for the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices, which they offered year by year continually, make the comers thereunto perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? Because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. But in those sacrifices, there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

The conditions of forgiveness are discussed in detail in the book of Acts. Under the covenant of the new testament sins are forgiven and forgotten by God and must be forgotten by Christians. Matt 6:14-15. For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespass, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Read Matt 18: 23-35. The Bible should be read by every person every day as we take up our Cross and follow Jesus. Man must respect the true value of people that need forgiveness as God respects that need and its value. Indian Chief Maskepetoon said upon confronting his father’s murderer, “You have killed my father, so now you must be my father. You shall ride my best horse and wear my best clothes.”

 A small son of Christian parents went to the mailbox to get a package he had ordered. A man drove by while intoxicated and killed the boy. The intoxicated man now sits beside the parents of the dead boy every Sunday in worship.  Romans 5: 6-11. For when we were yet without strength in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will on die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son; much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. Matthew 18:11-13. For the son of man is come to save that which was lost. How think ye?

If a man has 100 sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doeth he not leaves the 99, and go into the mountains and seek that which was lost? And if so be that he finds it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more over that sheep than the 99 which went not astray. Christians must act toward the person forgiven as God acts toward him. A husband and wife were trying to solve some problems. One with harsh criticism and the other with love and compassion. Ephesians 4:32. Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ`s sake forgiven you. Colossians 3:12,13. Put on therefore as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering, forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so ye forgive them. Psalm 103: 10-12. He hath not dealt with us after our sins, nor reward us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven are high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

For us to be Christians we must do the same to our fellowman that God does when his sins are forgiven. Remember that God`s forgiveness depends on us forgiving others, just like Christ did. Father forgive them for they know not what they do. In the O. T. when anyone found out they had sinned they were to go to the tabernacle and offer a sacrifice. Today when men realize they have sinned what must they do? They must read the Bible and find out what it says.  Do not rely on what men say. Some of them will not tell you the truth. There are many false teachers in the world. Next you must believe that Jesus is the son of God. Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved. Next, he must confess that that Jesus is the Christ the son of God. Romans 10:10. Next he must repent. Luke 13:3 Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish. Next, he must be baptized. Acts 22:16. Why tarriest thou Paul? Arise and be baptized and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. I Peter 3:21. The like figure (the flood) whereunto even baptism doth also now saves us. Please come to Piney Church of Christ and join us in worship to God our Father. 

Piney Church of Christ, Rhinehart Parkway, Spencer, Tennessee. Worship Sunday at 10:30. a.m., Wednesday night 6:30 p.m.