Daily Forgiveness

Lesson 2

Introduction:

This is really important information. As Christians we still sin. How do we handle this? Some have gotten discouraged and frustrated because they did not understand that obedience to God is a process to be learned, and it does not come the instant they believe in Christ. God has provided us with a solution when we sin.

As a child, if you disobeyed your father, what happened to your fellowship (friendship) with your father?

For most of us the fellowship with our father was strained in some way when we disobeyed. Perhaps poor communication resulted, or perhaps the father was angry. Perhaps we were sent to our room and could not communicate with our father.

Were you still his child?

In most healthy relationships the father will not be pleased with the actions of a disobedient child, but will not reject the child as their own. For many the father still loves a disobedient child.

What actions improved fellowship with your father?

A child can restore the friendship with the father by coming with a sincere apology, asking forgiveness for disobedience.

God is a healthy father and he continues to be our Heavenly Father even when we sin and break his heart. Though our sins are forgiven if we are God's child, our sin can affect fellowship with our heavenly father.

I. Relationship and Fellowship Contrasted

If we have invited Christ into our lives (see Lesson 1) we are God's child and God is our father. That is our relationship.

Inside the context of that relationship with God we can communicate with him, and he communicates with us. That is fellowship.

Relationship With God Fellowship With God

            Began when you received Christ             Began when you received Christ
                        (John 1:12)                                                    (Col. 2:6)
            Is everlasting (I Peter 1:3,4)                      Can be hindered (Psalm 32:3-5)
            Kept by God (John 10:27-29)                   Kept in part by us (1 John 1:9)
            Never changes (Hebrews 13:5)               Changes when we sin (Psalm 66:18)5

Explanation: Sin will affect our fellowship with God. We will not be on “good terms” if we sin. Our sin breaks God’s heart because He knows it hurts us and those that are around us.

But sin will not change the fact that we are God’s child. Our being a child of God is based on what Jesus did for us when he died on the cross and our belief in that death for us.

II. Impact of Disobedience

Our Fellowship With God is Hindered by Sin: In the section below there are very spicific sins mentioned. The contrast to those sins is later in the section. We are told to put sin away from us.

Colossians 3:5-14
5          Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.
6          Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.
7          You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived.
8          But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
9          Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices
10        and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
11        Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
12        Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
13        Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
14        And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. NIV

Based on the above, how would you describe sin?

Why do you think that a Christian who sins has difficulty in his fellowship with God?

The contrast between what we do when we sin and who God has made us as His children is very great. When we sin we do not reflect well the change that has happened to us, at the core of our being, when we came into a relationship with Christ.

Also God is so pure, and good, He cannot be in close fellowship with someone who’s choosing to sin.

Results of Not Admitting Our Sin

            Proverbs 28:13         We do not prosper
            Psalm 32:3,4            Our body wastes away, and loses strength
            Isaiah 59:2               God's face is hidden from us

Example of Continued Disobedience: A king in the Old Testament, Saul, continued to say he had done nothing wrong, even after being confronted by God’s prophet. He also blamed his evil on others, and the fear of what they would do to him. God rejected him as king because of his stubbornness. (I Samuel 15:10-26)

A Christian who is living in sin is a miserable creature. He or she knows they are sinning and feel a greater guilt than one who has not received Christ.

III. Confession

When we sin, as believers in Christ, we are commanded to confess our sin so that fellowship with God can be restored.

I John 1:9
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. NIV

Confession means to agree with God.

What does it mean to agree with God?

Agree with God that you have sinned.

Psalm 32:5
5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord" — and you forgave the guilt of my sin. NIV

Agree with God by thanking God that this sin is forgiven.

Hebrews 10:16-17
16 "This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord.
I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds."
17 Then he adds: "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more." NIV

Agree with God by doing what God wants you to do.

Romans 6:8-14
8          Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.
9          For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him.
10        The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.
11        In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12        Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.
13        Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness.
14        For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace. NIV 6

Example of Confession: Another King of Israel , David, sinned by committing adultery and killing his lover’s husband. When confronted by the prophet of God, he admitted his sin quickly. His prayer of confession is written in Psalm 51.

What were some of the results for David when he confessed?

IV. What about you?

You can make a list of your current sins, confess them, and write I John 1:9 across the list. Tear up the list to help you realize that God has forgiven you. 7

Explanation: If you are aware of a friendship that is hurt because of something you did against someone, you may need to go to that person and tell him or her that you are sorry for what you did (Matthew 5:23, 24). You can say, "I realize I have been wrong in . Will you forgive me?" If you have stolen from people you may need to restore what you have stolen. First, get counsel about this from a pastor.

A prayer of confession:

Lord Jesus, I admit I have sinned against you by____. Thank you that you have forgiven me through Christ’s death on the cross. I do not want to continue sinning. Help me to obey you in every part of my life. Lord if there is someone I have hurt, please give me strength to talk to them. In Jesus’ name Amen.

If you have confessed your sin, why might you still feel guilty?

The Bible explains that we have an enemy, Satan, who lies to us, and may give us false guilt for something which we have already confessed. Remember, Satan is a liar, and thank God that He has forgiven you.

Rev. 12:9, 10
9 The great dragon was hurled down — that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.
10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: "Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. NIV

If you have confessed your sin to God, you can know that your fellowship is restored completely. Now relate to God with a fresh and clean heart. Don’t dwell on what you did wrong, but pour your energies into living a guilt free life of freedom in Christ.

VI. Extra Reading

Continue to daily read a chapter in the book of John. Get to know the greatest person who ever lived. Write down questions you have. Read the following to learn more about God's forgiveness: Is. 1:18; 38:17, Hebrews 10:17, Psalm 103:12, Psalm 32:1.