ABOUT FORGIVENESS OF SINS? (1)

1. Introduction

a) Sin is disobedience to God's commandments, either by doing what is forbidden or failing to do what is required. (Mark 7:20-23, Galatians 5:19-26)

b) In the Bible, sin is a serious evil that disrupts our relationship with God. (Matthew 5:29-30, Mark 9:42-48, Romans 8:7-8, Romans 6:23)

2. Availability of Forgiveness

a) The good news is that, no matter how serious the sin, God is always seeking us out and is willing to forgive and forget our sins and give us a fresh start. As long as we live, it is never too late to ask for forgiveness and make a new start!

Luke 15:3-7
So Jesus used this illustration: "If you had one hundred sheep, and one of them strayed away and was lost in the wilderness, wouldn't you leave the ninety-nine others to go and search for the lost one until you found it? And then you would joyfully carry it home on your shoulders. When you arrived, you would call together your friends and neighbors to rejoice with you because your lost sheep was found. In the same way, heaven will be happier over one lost sinner who returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven't strayed away!

b) When we have sinned, we can ask God for forgiveness, as in the Lord's Prayer: 

i) and forgive us our sins, just as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us. (Matthew 6:12)

c) Related verses: Psalms 25:7, Psalms 32:1-2, Isaiah 43:25, Matthew 1:21, Matthew 18:12-14, Matthew 26:28, Luke 15:11-32, Acts 10:43, Acts 13:38, Romans 4:7-8, Hebrews 10:17.