The Gospel of Christ and the Problem of Sin

The Gospel Addresses The Guilt Of Sin

TEXTRom. 3:23;  6:23;  7:24;  Acts 2:38

INTRODUCTION:

A.      OUR PREVIOUS LESSONS WE HAVE DISCUSSED HOW THE GOSPEL

          ADDRESSES THE PROBLEM, LOVE, PRACTICE AND STATE OF SIN.

B.      WHAT IS THE GOSPEL'S ANSWER TO THE GUILT OF SIN?

I.      THE GUILT OF SIN.

A.      ALL ARE "GUILTY" BEFORE GOD IN REGARDS TO SIN.

          1.       The first major point in the epistle to the Romans( Rom. 3:9-11 ).

          2.       Even if a person breaks only one commandment!( James 2:10-11 ).

B.      THIS "GUILT" REFERS PRIMARILY TO LEGAL GUILT.

          1.       In the sense of having violated the LAW of God.

                   a.       In this way, EVERYONE has sinned( Rom. 3:23 ).

                   b.       This makes them "transgressors" of the law( 1 John 3:4 ).

                   c.       Synonyms are used to describe those who have violated God's law:

                       1) "lawless"( 1 Tim. 1:9 )              3) "workers of iniquity"( Luke 13:27 ).

                       2) "disobedient"( Titus 1:16 ).       4) "ungodly"( 1 Pet. 4:18 ).

          2.       This "legal guilt" is real, whether or not a person...

                   a.       Is aware of their actual "guilt."

                   b.       Feels any sense of "emotional guilt."

                   c.       Still held accountable before God as "guilty" of sin:( 2 Cor. 5:10 ).

C.      THERE IS ALSO EMOTIONAL GUILT, FEELINGS OF GUILT.

          1.       A side effect of legal guilt.  Involves anxiety, depression, fear, doubt

                   ( Isa. 48:22 )  "There is no peace, saith Jehovah, to the wicked."

          2.       Some don't experience this( 1 Tim. 1:19-20;  4:1-2 ).

          3.       But such people are guilty of "legal guilt", nonetheless!

D.      THE GOSPEL DECLARES THAT WHEN WE OBEY THE COMMANDS OF THE

          GOSPEL, WE RECEIVE THE PROMISES.  IT IS THE PROMISE OF REMISSION OF

          SINS THAT ADDRESSES GUILT.

II.     THE REMISSION OF SINS.

A.      REMISSION OF SINS HAS A PROMINENT PLACE IN THE GOSPEL.

          1.       The blood of Jesus was shed for the remission of our sins( Matt. 26:28 ).

          2.       Remission of sins was preached in Jesus' name to all( Luke 24:45-47 ).

          3.       Peter told people they could receive remission of sins in the name of Jesus

                   a.       By believing in Jesus( Acts 10:42-43 )

                   b.       By repenting and being baptized in His name( Acts 2:38 )

B.      WHAT DOES THIS REMISSION OF SINS INVOLVE?

          1.       remission, aphesis-"1) release from bondage or imprisonment;  2) forgiveness

                   or pardon, of sins (letting them go as if they had never been committed),

                   remission (forgiveness) of the penalty"( Thayer ).

          2.       Other terms found in the Bible to describe the "remission" of sins:

                   a. taken away( John 1:29 )               e. not imputed( Rom. 4:8 ).

                   b. blotted out( Acts 3:19 )                 f. set free( Rom. 6:17-18 ).

                   c. washed away( Acts 22:16 )           g. purged( Heb. 1:3; 2 Pet. 1:9 ).

                   d. covered( Rom. 4:7 ).                    h. remembered no more( Heb. 8:12 ).

          3.       A legal term justified dikaioo, "to render just or innocent"( 1 Cor. 6:11 ).

C.      NOT JUST REMOVAL OF LEGAL GUILT, BUT EMOTIONAL ALSO!

          1.       We can now have a perfect conscience.

                   a.       Something the Old Law could not do!( Heb. 9:8-10;  10:1-4 ).

                   b.       The blood of Jesus affords a perfect conscience( Heb. 9:14;  10:22 ).

          2.       Perfect in that we have reason to not feel guilt, our sins are totally forgiven!

          3.       Instead of the melancholy of guilt, we have PEACE and JOY through the

                   justification that comes by grace( Acts 8:39;  Rom. 5:1-2 ).

CONCLUSION:

A.      THE GOSPEL'S SOLUTION TO THE GUILT OF SIN IS REMISSION!

B.      HOW DOES ONE RECEIVE THIS PROMISE OF REMISSION?

          1.       By believing in Jesus( Acts 10:42-43 ).

          2.       By repenting and being baptized in His name( Acts 2:38 ).

          3.       In obedience to the commands of Jesus( Heb. 5:8-9 ).

          4.       Please note how baptism in particular answers the problem of guilt.

                   a.       First, the LEGAL guilt( Acts 2:38;  22:16 ).

                   b.       But also EMOTIONAL guilt( 1 Peter 1:6-9 ).

C.      HAVE YOU ACCEPTED THE GOSPEL'S PROMISE OF REMISSION OF SINS BY

          OBEDIENCE TO THE COMMANDS OF JESUS?