The Evidence of Forgiveness

THE EVIDENCE OF FORGIVENESS
TEXT: Psalm 130:4

SUMMARY: Man's ability to know he stands before God forgiven is built on the foundation of forgiveness laid by Jesus Christ and demonstrated by evidences: the existence of forgiven sinners; God's patience with the world; and the experiences of the saints in this world.

INTRODUCTION: a Basic Theology of Forgiveness:

1. God demands righteousness from His creatures.
2. Man is sinful and unable to fulfill God’s demands.
3. God is a God of wrath who must judge sin.
4. God extends forgiveness to sinners.
5. God uses forgiven sinners to testify that "there is forgiveness with God."

I. THE EVIDENCE OF FORGIVEN SINNERS.
A. Our Forgiven Forefathers.
B. "A Great a Cloud of Witnesses."

II. THE EVIDENCE OF GOD’S PATIENCE WITH THE WORLD.
A. At Times, Little Patience.
B. At Times, Great Patience.
C. At All Times, Patience Towards the Elect.

III. THE CHURCH: EVIDENCE OF FORGIVENESS AMONG THE SAINTS.
A. Made up of Individual, Forgiven Saints.
B. A Functioning Community of Forgiven People.