Sermon # 88 Series: Isaiah
Title: ”Forgiven!”
Text: Isaiah 33:24
Subject: The Forgiven Sin
Date: Sunday Evening –
October 6, 1991
Introduction:
Jerusalem
was on the brink of destruction. When
all hope of earthly help was gone, in utter helplessness, Hezekiah called upon
God to deliver his people. When he did
God arose, stretched forth his mighty arm, destroyed the Assyrians, and
delivered his people. When Hezekiah
prayed, God gave him this word of promise concerning his people, who were in
the depths of anguish because of their unbelief and sin – “The inhabitant shall
not say, I am sick: the people that
dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity-“(v.24).
The
great result of God’s gracious dealings with his afflicted people was that they
glorified his name. In this chapter God
is spoken of as being “exalted; for he dwelleth on high.” (v.5). He is called “the glorious Lord.” (v.21).
Truly, God never appears more glorious than when he condescends to
deliver us from the extremities of trouble and sorrow which we bring upon
ourselves by our own sin and unbelief.
Throughout this chapter, I can hear the echo of David’s words, “Oh that
men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the
children of men” (Ps. 107:8).
This
whole chapter is a message from God to his people who are in the depths of
utter extremity. When they had been
made to drink the bitter drops of God’s providential chastisement, in their
great need, God arose! When worst had
come to worst, he made bare his holy arm and brought deliverance to his
people. I say to you, my brothers and
sisters who are in great distress, be not afraid, take comfort, be of good
cheer. When all else is gone, when you
have no other hope and no other strength.
God remains the same, God will appear.
“He abideth faithful!” He will
never leave you nor forsake you! When
you have no strength, it will be your strength to set still. When you can do nothing to help yourself, it
will be your wisest course of action to “stand still and see the salvation of
the Lord!”
Proposition:
Though the Lord chastens his own, he will yet be merciful,
he will forgive the iniquity of his people.
Divisions:
This
is the message of our text. I want to
show you four things in this test:
I. Our heavenly father wisely and
lovingly chastens his erring children.
Jerusalem was in the mess they were in because of their
sin and unbelief. The history of Israel
reveals much to us about God’s providential judgments upon his people. They are not judgments of wrath but of
mercy, love, and grace. Be sure you
understand this. God does not punish
his people for sin, in the strict sense of that word. He punished our sins in Christ, when he suffered the wrath of God
as our Substitute. But God will not
allow his children to get by with sin and disobedience. As a loving Father he disciplines his
household (Heb. 12:5-11).
I
do not say that all suffering and sorrow endured by God’s saints is to be
looked upon by them as being the result of some personal sin. It is not.
And let none of us be like Job’s miserable friends, accusing our
afflicted brethren of wickedness because they suffer. Self-righteousness is never more obnoxious than when it shakes
its condemning finger at a man or woman in great trouble and sorrow.
But
do understand this, God’s providential judgments do come upon his erring
children. God will use the rod of
correction to drive the sin which he hates from the soul he loves.
Illustration: David
The Corinthians
A.
When God chastens his children it is
painful.
B.
But when the Lord chastens us, it is
always profitable.
II. But forgiveness is promised to
every penitent sinner.
Our text promises forgiveness. “The people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their
iniquity!” “Forgiven”- what a blessed
word. In our text, it is forgiveness
promised to God’s erring, fallen, sinful saints. Child of God, hear this and rejoice – As God forgave David and
forgave Peter, so he promises to forgive you (I John 2:1-2). As he forgave Hezekiah and Judah, so he will
forgive me and so he will forgive you!
But
let me broaden the text. This word of
grace is not to God’s saints alone.
Forgiveness is promised to every penitent sinner (Isa. 55:6-7; I John
1:9).
A. We all have one thing in
common – we are all sinners in need of forgiveness – “All have sinned!”
1. Our sin is fourfold:
a.
We are all sinners by nature.
b.
We all have the old man of sin in us.
c.
We are all sinners by choice and
practice.
d.
But the root of sin is in our hearts.
·
We sin in principle.
·
We sin in thought.
·
We sin in motive and attitude.
“The Lord
looketh upon the heart!”
2. We are constant mass of sin.
In thought,
in word, in deed, we have sinned, we are sinning, and we will sin, even in our
best performances (Isa. 64:6). What I
am saying is true of us all, believers and unbelievers. We are all sinners in need of forgiveness.
3. We must learn to look upon sin as it really is, in its
true character (Lk. 16:15).
“Sin is the
transgression of the law.” That is the
outward act of sin. But it is much more
than that.
·
Sin is rebellion against God, a
denial of God’s right to be God!
·
Sin is unbelief!
·
The root of sin is self-righteousness
and pride.
B. But I am here to proclaim to
you the good news of the gospel, There is forgiveness with God (Ps. 130:4; Mic. 7:18).
How
can we be sure that there is forgiveness with God? Certainly, we have no hope in ourselves. We cannot atone for our sins! But I know that there is forgiveness with God for these
seven reasons:
1.
God’s name is forgiveness (Ex. 34:5).
2.
All the prophets of the Old Testament
proclaimed forgiveness (Acts 10:43).
3.
All the sacrifices of the Mosaic age
portrayed and promised forgiveness- “When I see the blood”
4.
Christ came into the world to obtain
forgiveness for his people (Matt. 1:21; Heb. 9:12, 26).
5.
The Holy Scriptures sent to convince
the world of the forgiveness of sin in and by Christ – (John 16:8-11).
·
Our Sin – (v.9).
·
Christ’s Righteousness – (v.10).
·
God’s Judgment of our sin in Christ –
(v.11) Forgiveness!
6.
Christ told his disciples to tell the
whole world that he would forgive sin (Lk. 24:44).
7.
I have experienced and am
experiencing the forgiveness of sin (Ps. 32:5; I John 1:7).
II. When sin is forgiven, the
consequences of sin are removed.
Jerusalem was about to be ruined with pestilence. But when God promised forgiveness, he
promised to remove the pest which has been caused by their sin. He said, “The inhabitant shall not say, I am
sick; The people that dwell therein
shall be forgiven their iniquity.”
A. My friend, if you come to
Christ, God will not only forgive you of your sin, he will also heal you of all
the consequences of your sin!
B. Child of God, as soon as your
Father hears your confession he will both forgive your sin and take away the
rod of correction – (Isa. 54:7-10; Song 5: 2-16;
3:1-5; Rev. 3:20).
Illustration: One of Augustus Toplady’s friends had a beloved son who
died. When some of his friends come by
to offer their condolences, he said, “I would be content, were it possible, to
lose a son every day in the year, might I but be favored with such
manifestations of God’s presence and love as I have experienced on this
occasion.”
IV. Do
you ask when this forgiveness can be expected?
Look at Isaiah 33 again, and you will see that – As soon as the rod of
correction has done its work, forgiveness is sought and forgiveness is granted.
As soon as Hezakiah was humbled he
sought the Lord. And as soon as he
sought the Lord he was forgiven.
A. Pardon was granted when prayer
was offered – “O Lord, be gracious unto us.” (v.2).
Illustration: The
Prodigal – (I John 1:9).
B. Pardon was given when God was
exalted in the hearts of his people –“The Lord
is exalted.” (v.5).
God does not grant forgiveness to men until they recognize
and acknowledge his greatness.
Illustration: Nebuchadnezzar
(Dan. 4).
C. God grants pardon when men are
humbled before him. (v.7).
Illustration: The
Publican (Lk. 18).
D. God grants pardon when sinners
are terrified by reason of their sin. (v.14).
Illustration: Soul of
Tarsus (Acts 9).
E. God will pardon sinners when
he is acknowledged as Lord and King (v.22).
“Kiss the Son, lest he be angry!” God will never grant pardon to any
who refuse to bow to his rule. Christ
will not save until you cease to cry.
“We will not have this man to reign over us.”
F. God forgives our sin as soon
as we trust in him – “He will save us!” (v.22).
Personal
faith in Christ brings the peace of perfect pardon to the believing heart.
Come to Christ and be forgiven! |
All who come are heirs of heaven; |
Confess your sins, bow before Him, |
Sinner, be reconciled to Him. |
|
Through the blood of His Son,
Jesus, |
God is just, but ever gracious, |
Faithful to His covenant promise, |
Pardon, full and free, He gives us! |
|
Forgiven of all transgression, |
I praise God for His salvation! |
Precious Savior, great Redeemer, |
To Your rule I now surrender! |
|
Blessed Sov’reign, chosen Master, |
Your servant, this ransomed sinner, |
Longs for grace to serve and honor, |
Your great name, my God, my Savior. |
|
Will you grant me this petition? |
Take this sinner You’ve forgiven, |
By Your grace, which name can
measure, |
And use me for your own pleasure. |