Sermon # 124 Series:
Isaiah
Title: God’s
Non-Remembrance of Sin
Text: Isaiah 43:25
Subject: Forgiveness
Date: Sunday Evening –
July 26, l992
Introduction:
My subject is God’s
Non-Remembrance of Sin. In our text
the Lord God declares- “I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions
for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.”
Proposition: In this
text of Scripture our God declares that he so thoroughly forgives the sins of
his people that he does not remember them.
That is an amazing, astounding
declaration. It might seem to be too
great to grasp; but it is a statement of fact.
It is not an exaggeration. It is
not a hyperbole. It is a fact. God’s pardon of sin is so thorough, so
complete that he declares it to be a non-remembrance of sin. Moreover, the Lord God is so anxious for you
and me to realize this blessed fact of his grace that he has repeated it three
times in Holy Scripture.
Jeremiah
31:34
Hebrews
8: 12
Hebrews
10:17
I am about to talk to you now about the great lovingkindness of God. I want you to see that there is no depth to which the arm of grace cannot reach, no stain of sin the blood of Christ cannot wash away. Do you hear me? Though you may be the very chief of sinners, I want you to know that Christ came to save the chief of sinners.
Read this 43rd chapter of
Isaiah carefully, and you will see who these sinners were to whom the Lord God
made this broad, sweeping declaration of mercy.
A. They were a Prayerless People- (v. 22).
No doubt they said many prayers; but they did not pray. They repeated many prayers with their lips; but no prayer was found in their heart. Yet the Lord God declares, “I even I am he that-
B. They were a People who Despised the Worship of God (v. 22).
Remember these were Jews. Wherever they went, they kept their sabbath days, observed their ordinances of worship, read their Bibles, chanted their songs, and kept their ceremonies, but they despised the very religion they meticulously practiced and would die to maintain. They were weary of God! Yet God says- v. 25)
C. They were a Thankless People- (v. 23-24).
Though the Lord had greatly blessed and prospered them, they were altogether without grace. They paid their tithes. Their religious laws required that; but they did no more. They made no thank offerings to God. Yet God says, “I, even I, am he that…”
D. They were a Useless People- (v. 24).
It has been well said that the chief end of man is to glorify God. God made all things to praise him. But these men and women not only did not glorify him, they made him to serve with their sins and wearied him with their iniquities- Yet the Lord says, “I, even I am he that…”
E.
They were Sanctuary Sinners.
These sinners were to be found in the house of God, among God’s saints, raised to fear God and worship him. Yet, they despised him. The very worst of sinners are sinners in Zion, because they sin against light and knowledge. Bunyon describes such sinners as those who go to hell over the cross of Christ. The very worst road to hell is by the cross of Christ, by trampling under foot the precious blood of Christ! Yet, even to these, the Lord God declares, “I, even I am he that…”
This promise of forgiveness is made to sinners. If you are good and righteous, I have no gospel to preach to you. But if you are a sinner, the very worst sinner in all the world, this word from God is for you!
The question might seem redundant to some; but God’s forgiveness of sin is altogether different from any human forgiveness. Understand what this forgiveness is.
A.
It is Divine Forgiveness.
Only God can forgive sin!
B.
It is Free Forgiveness.
(I Cor. 2:12).
Forgiveness with God is altogether absolute and unconditional. It cannot be won, earned, or merited. And it cannot be forfeited!
C. It is a Just Forgiveness. (I John 1:9).
It is a blood bought forgiveness, forgiveness based upon the satisfaction of Justice. (Rom. 3:24-26).
D.
It is a Present Forgiveness.
“Blotteth out”- That is present tense.
E. It is a Complete Forgiveness. (Col. 2:14).
Martin Luther to the devil- “Bring me the catalogue of my sin. Write this at the bottom of the scroll- “The blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanseth from all sin!” That is my full discharge!” “Nothing will make you want to give up sinning like knowing that he has taken and remitted all your sin, past, present, and future.”
“For mine own sake!”
“For the Sake of thy Son (Eph. 4:32).
“For the Glory of My Name (Ps. 106:8).
IV. What is God’s Non-Remembrance of Sin?
In this text of Scripture the Lord God declares that
he “will not remember thy sins.”
A.
He
will not store up our sins in his memory.
B.
He
will not think over and brood upon our sins.
C.
He
will not recall the sins of his pardoned ones.
D.
He
will never seek or require additional atonement for our sins.
E.
He
will never charge his people with sin.
F.
He
will never punish us for sin.
G.
He
will never treat us with suspicion because of sin.
H.
He
will never treat us any the less graciously because of sin.
I am declaring to you the absolute forgiveness of all sin
through the blood of Jesus Christ- (Jer. 50:20; Rom. 8:32-34).
V.
How Can I Obtain this Forgiveness?
A.
God
the Father had to will it! (Jer.
31:34).
B.
God
the Son had to Procure It! (Eph. 1:7).
The only way my sin can be forgiven is by the Son of God
bearing it away.
C.
God
the Spirit has to Apply It! (Heb.
9:12-14).
D.
I
have to Receive It (Acts 10:43).
Believing on the Lord Jesus Christ, I receive the gift of
the Holy Ghost-
Application:
“Believe
on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved!” Trust Christ, trust Christ; and God will remember your sins no
more.