Blessing of Forgiveness and New Life

u003c!u002du002d wp:heading u002du002du003enu003ch2u003eIntroductionu003c/h2u003enu003c!u002du002d /wp:heading u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennOur lesson this week is the second lesson of the second unit of lessons where we are taking a look at the u003cemu003eblessingu003c/emu003e of forgiveness and new life found through the gospel of Christ.  We will learn today that the Lord is both faithful and just to forgive us our sins should we confess our sins to Him.  God, we will learn, will cleanse us from u003cemu003eall u003c/emu003eunrighteousness to restore us back to righteousness.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:heading u002du002du003enu003ch2u003eInheriting Eternal Lifeu003c/h2u003enu003c!u002du002d /wp:heading u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennBefore we jump into our lesson this week, I want to take a moment to remind you what it means to be blessed.  To be blessed means that one has been made happy and content.  When we talk about being blessed by God, we are saying that the Lord has done something to our u003cemu003ebenefit u003c/emu003eto uplift and make us happy and content in our soul.  The main thing that the Lord has done for u003cemu003eall of us u003c/emu003eis give us His only begotten; Jesus is the greatest blessing (act) to bring happiness and contentment to our soul.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:heading {u0022levelu0022:3} u002du002du003enu003ch3u003eFellowship with Christu003c/h3u003enu003c!u002du002d /wp:heading u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennSo, reconciliation was a u003cemu003emajor u003c/emu003epart of u003ca href=u0022https://newfoundfaith.org/blessing-of-reconciliation/u0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022 data-type=u0022postu0022 data-id=u002210154u0022u003eour lesson last weeku003c/au003e.  God gave us His only begotten Son to the world for the work of reconciling – restoring and bringing harmony – His relationship with mankind.  You see, God and mankind had a wall between them because of the sins of mankind.  With Christ dying for the sins of man, that wall of separation is torn down for all who are of genuine faith.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennSo, our lesson this week opens with John testifying of the Word of life (v.1).  The Word of life, John says, was seen and held.  Of course, John is speaking of Christ who he said in his gospel was the Word.  John, you will recall, said that the Word was with God in the beginning and u003cemu003ewas u003c/emu003e(or is) God (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+1%3A1u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eJohn 1:1u003c/au003e).nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennJohn, we will see, was encouraging his readers to join into u003cemu003efellowship u003c/emu003ewith other believers, but most importantly, he was encouraging them to join into fellowship with Christ (v.3).  John states plainly that by joining into fellowship (a close relationship) with Christ, one’s soul will be filled with joy (v.4).nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennJohn, I want you to understand, was ministering and declaring eternal life to all who would read this epistle.  Eternal life is promised through Christ, as clearly stated in John’s gospel (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+3%3A16u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eJohn 3:16u003c/au003e), and can be enjoyed by u003cemu003eall u003c/emu003ewho enter into fellowship with Him by genuine faith.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennLet’s understand that when one enters into fellowship with Christ, they are entering into fellowship through the Lord’s grace and mercy.  Why do I say this?  Well, I say this because the u003cemu003eonly u003c/emu003eway that one can truly be in fellowship with Christ is if they have truly u003cemu003eturned away u003c/emu003efrom wickedness.  You see, God is not going to enter into a close relationship with someone who is still living in wickedness.  As I said before, the Lord has a wall raised to separate Him from wickedness (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Is.+59%3A2u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eIs. 59:2u003c/au003e).nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:heading {u0022levelu0022:3} u002du002du003enu003ch3u003eEntering into fellowship with Christu003c/h3u003enu003c!u002du002d /wp:heading u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennNow, God u003cemu003edesires u003c/emu003eto be in fellowship with us; He has u003cemu003ealways u003c/emu003edesired to be in fellowship with us.  However, our nature of sin blocks us from being able to enter into fellowship with Him.  Our soul wasn’t always polluted and corrupted by sin.  In fact, God has not always had a barrier raised between Him and mankind.  When God created mankind, He did not create us as sinners.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennWhen God created man, scripture tells us that He breathed the breath of life into man’s nostrils and man became a u003cemu003eliving soul u003c/emu003e(u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Gen.+2%3A7u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eGen. 2:7u003c/au003e).  So, our soul comes from the Lord and John says, God is light and u003cemu003ein Him u003c/emu003eis no darkness (v.5).  We know that God is u003cemu003ebenevolent u003c/emu003e— He is perfect; He is without sin.  What this means is, again, God is incapable of creating sin and when He created us – our soul – was created in light.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennWhen God created man, He created man in His image and likeness with the u003cemu003eintent u003c/emu003eto dwell with mankind eternally (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Gen.+1%3A26u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eGen. 1:26u003c/au003e).  So, initially, man was like God in that man was perfect and without sin — we were righteous.  However, mankind lost its glory and righteousness in the garden when man disobeyed the Lord and ate fruit from the forbidden tree.  It was at this point that the soul of mankind became polluted and corrupted by sin.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennSo, to enter into fellowship with the Lord, we know that we must have u003cemu003etrue faith u003c/emu003ein His Son.  Sadly, not many of us are taking advantage of the opportunity to enter into fellowship with Christ.  Some, John said, will say that they have fellowship with Christ, but still walk in darkness (sin).  Let us understand that those who do this are hypocrites.  As John said, they are hypocrites because they do not practice the u003cemu003etruth u003c/emu003e(v.6).nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennWhat is the truth?  The truth is the u003cemu003eWordu003c/emu003e of God — Jesus Christ.  Jesus taught us that u003cemu003eall of us u003c/emu003eare in u003cemu003eneed u003c/emu003eof God if we truly desire to be happy and content in our soul.  Jesus taught us that all of us stand in the need of His help should we desire to ever be lifted up from our sin.  Jesus, you will recall, stated, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.  And you shall know the truth, and tu003cemu003ehe truth shall make you freeu003c/emu003e (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+8%3A31-32u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eJohn 8:31-32u003c/au003e).”  This is the truth lifting us up by u003cemu003efreeing u003c/emu003eus from the bondage of sin.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennJesus also taught that the truth will lead us to the kingdom of heaven.  Jesus, we will recall, said, “I am the way, u003cemu003ethe truth, u003c/emu003eand u003cemu003ethe lifeu003c/emu003e.  No one comes to the Father except through Me (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+14%3A6u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eJohn 14:6u003c/au003e).”  Again, all freedom from sin and the way to heaven is all made possible through one turning from sin and turning to God.  Repentance is one turning their life from a way of wickedness to a new life.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennWhen we turn to Christ, we are choosing to abide in and walk in His light!  Therefore, we are choosing to enter into fellowship with Him.  How does one enter into fellowship with Christ?  Through genuine faith and by u003cemu003erepentanceu003c/emu003e.  Through our repentance and genuine faith, we are washed clean of our unrighteousness by the shed blood of Jesus and we become a new creature.  As Paul said, the ways of old have passed away after this washing and all things – life – become u003cemu003enew u003c/emu003e(u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Cor.+5%3A17u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003e2 Cor. 5:17u003c/au003e).nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:heading {u0022levelu0022:3} u002du002du003enu003ch3u003eGod’s mercy and forgivenessu003c/h3u003enu003c!u002du002d /wp:heading u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennNow, there are some that think to themselves that God would u003cemu003enever u003c/emu003eforgive them of their sins.  Is there any truth behind this thought?nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennWe will see that there is absolutely no truth behind this thought.  The truth is just as John said:  “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  u003csupu003e u003c/supu003eIf we confess our sins, He (God) is faithful and just to forgive us u003cemu003eouru003c/emu003e sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (v.8).”nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennWe u003cemu003eknow u003c/emu003ethat the Lord is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins because of the many examples we see of God’s forgiveness throughout scripture.  I think of God’s promise to Noah which shows that He is merciful and a God of second chances.  I also think of the woman caught in the act of adultery; the religious sought to stone her to death because of her actions but Jesus moved with mercy and forgiveness towards her.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennAgain, the truth is that God is a faithful God – a God willing to forgive and give us a second chance.  In all of the miracles that Jesus performed, in many of them He would tell people to go and u003cemu003esin no moreu003c/emu003e.  Jesus, I want you to understand, was offering them forgiveness and new life.  This is an offer that He offers all of us today rather than leaving us to drown in the guilt of our sins.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennThis is the blessing of forgiveness:  new life in Christ.  The new life in Christ is one that is u003cemu003eeternalu003c/emu003e.  The new life that is eternal that John spoke of was one spent with Christ where we will dwell in fellowship with Him forever.  We either end up living eternally with the Lord or we can end up living separated from God for all of eternity.  Personally, I would rather live with the Lord for all of eternity than without.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:heading {u0022levelu0022:3} u002du002du003enu003ch3u003eOur advocate that speaks for usu003c/h3u003enu003c!u002du002d /wp:heading u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennJohn felt the same way as I do.  We know this because as we saw him say earlier, he was declaring eternal life to his readers.  As our lesson enters into the second chapter of this epistle, we will see that John was still encouraging declaring eternal life to his readers.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennJohn writes, “My little children, these things I write to you, u003cemu003eso that you may not sin u003c/emu003e(u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+2%3A1u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003e1 John 2:1u003c/au003e).”  The hope for John was that his readers would see that God is a forgiving God and would turn away from their sins for a much better life.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennHowever, within that same verse, it was very clear that John understood that none of us are perfect.  Yes, we may strive to live a life free of sin but the truth of the matter is that we are still capable of falling to sin.  Even though this is the case, John tells us not to stress because we have an u003cemu003eAdvocate u003c/emu003ewith the Father who will stand on our behalf.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennAn advocate is someone that stands and speaks on behalf of another.  Our advocate, John tells us, is Jesus Christ – the only begotten Son of God.  Our Advocate, also became our u003cemu003epropitiationu003c/emu003e (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+2%3A2u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003e1 John 2:2u003c/au003e).  To be our propitiation is to be our atonement offering; Jesus was the atonement offering for u003cemu003eall u003c/emu003eof mankind – all who choose to believe in Him.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennWe have a great advocate in Christ!  When we erred, Jesus died for us.  When we continue to error, Christ stands before the Father for us and speaks up for us!  You will find no better advocate that can go before the Lord on your behalf.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:heading {u0022levelu0022:3} u002du002du003enu003ch3u003eKnowing and practicing the love of Godu003c/h3u003enu003c!u002du002d /wp:heading u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennI believe we should love Christ today.  Why?  Because He gave Himself for us.  Through giving Himself for us, we learn that we find mercy and forgiveness in the eyes of God.  Because we find mercy and forgiveness in the eyes of God, we learn that there is a new life that we find.  This new life, I want to point out, comes with living under the u003cemu003egrace u003c/emu003eof God!nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennSo, we now know love – true love.  Because we know what true love now is through God giving us His only begotten Son, shouldn’t we carry ourselves in that love?  Absolutely!  John tells us, again, if we say that we know God, but are not keeping His commandment by moving in His manner of love, the truth is not in us.  You u003cemu003ecannot u003c/emu003esay that you are a child of God but be filled with all kinds of hatred.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennu003cemu003eUndeserved u003c/emu003eand unconditional love has been shown to us, should we not show the same kind of love to all of those around us?  Absolutely.  We show that we love God by being obedient to His Word and His Word calls on us to love our neighbors as we love ourselves.  We will see our lesson is concluded with John stating, “whoever u003cemu003ekeeps His (God’s) wordu003c/emu003e, truly the love of God is perfected in him.  By this we know that we are in Him (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+2%3A5u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003e1 John 2:5u003c/au003e).”nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennSo, to go along with all that we have learned today, we learn again the most important lesson:  we must love others as the Lord has loved us.  As God has shown us mercy, forgiveness, and new life, we must be willing to do the same for those around us.  The believer should also learn to be merciful and forgiving; we should be willing to give others a second chance.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e