5/24/2015
Forgiveness
“Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven!”
Jesus’ Teaching Attracts People
Matthew 9:1 Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to His own town. Some men brought to Him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat.
God’s Power Resides Where Jesus Is
Luke 5:18-19 …the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick. Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus.
Forgiveness Renews Hope
Matthew 9:2 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven!”
Forgiveness Is The Central Message of The Gospel
Luke 24:45-47 He opened their minds, to understand the scriptures, saying to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”
To Claim Something That Only God Can Claim WOULD Be Blasphemous
Matthew 9:3 At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!”
Mark 2:6-7 …some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming!
Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
Emmanuel Is Not Blasphemy
John 10:24-33 The Jews gathered around Him, saying, “How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in My Father’s name speak for Me, but you do not believe because you are not My sheep. My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of My hand. My Father, Who has given them to Me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and the Father are One.” Again the Jews picked up stones to stone Him, but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone Me?” “We are not stoning You for any of these,” replied the Jews, “but for blasphemy, because You, a mere man, claim to be God.”
Only God Can Know Our Thoughts
Matthew 9:4 Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts?”
Talking Or Doing—Which is Best?
Matthew 9:5 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?
The Authority to Forgive Sin Is Proven By the Actions Of God’s Son
Matthew 9:6-8 “But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins…“ He said to the paralytic, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” And the man got up and went home. When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to men.