Forgiveness: A Clean Start

Did you ever think about how much of our time we spend cleaning?

Whether it is dust and dirt that keep us cleaning or keeping equipment in good working order, we have a lot of cleaning to do.

It is continuous warfare against dirt and dust. Whether it is in the house or in the garage, we clean it up and then, in a few days, or maybe in just a few hours, we have to go back and clean it over again.

And all kinds of equipment have been developed to make that cleaning easier --- washing machines, dry cleaners, street cleaners, vacuum cleaners, window washers, bathroom cleaners, brooms, dishwashers, showers, soaps, detergents, and those magic miracle cleaners that don’t work as advertised.

Cleanliness is big business. Americans spend almost 3.5 billion dollars per year on soaps and detergents alone.

Now, the Bible speaks at length about cleansing. But, as we might expect, it is much more concerned with internal cleanliness than with outward cleansing.

James wrote in his letter contained in our Bibles these words in chapter 4, verse 8 ( READ)

“Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

And, John wrote, in his first letter – 2 John 1:9, these words:

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

So, today I want us to look at God’s ways of cleansing the world – internally – as well as outwardly.

Forgiveness is a part of God’s cleansing system for His world.

He has designed two intertwined components of forgiveness.

First, there is the forgiveness in which God forgives mankind.

And then, there is the forgiveness that mankind is to have for all other inhabitants of the earth.

Many years ago – I think about 1954-55 – there was a new song written – I have forgotten who wrote it – but the title of the song was “HE”.

I remember that my uncle sang that song as a solo in church once.

One line in the song said: “Though it makes Him sad to see the way we live, He will always say, ‘I forgive.’

It is a beautiful song, but I believe the message treats forgiveness of mankind a bit lightly. The message of the song would be more Biblical if these words were added to the message: “He will always say, ‘I forgive, when we are repentant.”

It took the blood of Jesus to make forgiveness possible.

looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. Titus 2:13-14

and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood— Revelation 1:5

In order for God’s righteousness to be available to all of mankind, the perfect sacrifice was required. Jesus, in His love for His Father, and for all of mankind, provided\ that perfect sacrifice.

Isaiah provides a great description of sinners – lost ones – when he describes our condition without the cleansing blood of Jesus.

Hear Isaiah speak – Isaiah 63:6 –

“For all of us have become like one who is unclean. And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; And all of us wither like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.”

Paul writes about how we might be made the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:21)

and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood—

Jesus has delivered us from the power of darkness and

“In whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins.” – Colossians 1:14.

The message in all of those words from Isaiah and Paul sums up the reality that God’s forgiveness of man was made possible only by Jesus shedding His blood to cover our sin.

Forgiveness of others is a prime distinguishing feature of those who have been forgiven by the blood of Christ.

But it seems that our ability – or willingness to forgive others – that is, fellow Christians - so often is so weak – often ignored.

Paul writes about our need to put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience, bear with one another, forgiving each other ---- just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you (forgive others).

That is the way to cleanse the world – one person at a time – when people are truly forgiving of one another.

We could close the courts; we could close the generation gap; we could make vengeance and hostility disappear; hatred and bitterness would no longer exist.

Forgiving and being forgiven is a wonderful place to be.

When we goof up – say we are sorry – we can be received back into fellowship with the other person and continue in love together.

And, of course, it is not only the one who is forgiven that is blessed; the person who forgives is also blessed.

Offering forgiveness is like an amazing cleansing agent.

It frees us from negative, hateful thoughts and deeds.

It permits us to fill our minds with the goodness of life and God’s love for us.

Forgiving another person lifts a tiring load of conniving, plotting, and hatred from us. We can smile rather than look at the world with a frown and a bitter taste in our mouths.

Forgiving another person gives us a positive view of others.

Since we are forgivers, we can confidently approach life believing that others are forgivers too.

Conclusion:

So, God’s forgiveness, then, has been made possible through the shed blood of Jesus. And there are certain implications of God’s forgiveness of us.

It is closely linked to our forgiveness of others.(2 Corinthians 5:21)

He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

The Lord’s model prayer asks God to forgive us as we forgive others.

It must be remembered that if we want mercy before the mercy seat of God, we must be willing to grant mercy to others in this life.

Jesus elaborated on this section of the model prayer by saying further:

“For if you forgive men their trespasses (sins), your Heavenly Father will also forgive you; but, if you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” --- Matthew 6:14-15

It is no accident that a forgiving spirit is an element of a Christian’s mental health as well as his spiritual health.

 A highly effective way of cleansing your spirit today is to try a touch of forgiveness.

It is a wonderful blessing to able to begin again. Forgiveness is just that – a new beginning. It is God’s beginning again.

Sin separates us from God. God’ forgiveness enables us to begin again in a renewed relationship with Him.

Sin separates man from man. Forgiveness enables us to start over with a relationship that is uncontaminated by the mistakes of the past.

We have all heard the slogan that is the way many people live:

“I don’t get mad, I get even!”

You have seen that statement printed on T-shirts, license plates, and other places as well.

Our aim, as Christians, is to succeed in forgiving one another, accepting the forgiveness of others and, most important of all, seeking the forgiveness of our sins that Jesus died for.