Sermon on the Mount Part 5

Sermon on the Mount Part 5
(Click here for Sermon Audio)

 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

Matthew 5:7

Mercy: Not receiving the deserved punishment. Versus  Grace: Receiving undeserved favor.

Notice the conditional forgiveness to Israel found in Matthew 6:14-15.

Before the mystery of the cross was revealed to Paul forgiveness came to Israel only if they forgave others. Their forgiveness was conditional to their obedience.

1.        Forgiveness is offered to all, but it is offered differently:

- Phrases used for forgiveness: hide sins, to remit, cover, blot out, or impute not iniquity

- Moses: Animal sacrifices atoned for forgiveness - Lev 4:20

- David: Forgiveness through the covenant - Psalm 25:18, 32:1, 86:5, 103:4-5

- Prophets: God promised forgiveness … Jer 31:34

- John: Water baptism for the remission of sins – Mark 1:4, Acts 2:38

-Jesus: Conditional forgiveness, unforgivable sins, Matt 6:12-15, 12:31-32, 18:21-22

         *Remission to many  the faithful remnant – Mat 26:28

-Peter: Forgiveness for the obedient - Luke 24:47, Acts 3:19, 5:31-32

        *If we confess our sins… 1 John 1:9 / * Prayer of faith … James 5:15

-Paul: Forgiveness to the ungodly according to his grace; Rom 4:7, 5:8, Eph 1:7, 4:32

- Forgiveness is offered now freely through the blood of Jesus!

2.        Asking for Forgiveness Today

The blood of Christ once appropriated by faith forgives all your sin, imputes to you God’s righteousness, and places you into the body of Christ!

You are forgiven now and forever! God saw your sin on the cross and the riches of his grace was sufficient to redeem you from your debt.

The proper attitude towards your sin is to stop doing it by reckoning yourself to be dead (Romans 6:7,11).

Then thank God for his kindness and mercy.

For the saved man to pray for forgiveness as the publican would be to ignore Christ’s blood on the cross. Paul writes that we have already been forgiven! (Eph 4:32, Col 2:13)