Forgiveness on SermonAudio

In Exodus 32:1–14, Israel's idolatry exposes humanity's tendency to reshape God in our own image. Yet God remains faithful to his promises, not because of our goodness, but because of his character. Through Jesus' sacrifice, God upholds his justice while extending mercy and forgiveness to sinners. From our Sunday service at Grace Bible Church of Bend.

How do we escape deception in God's word? How do we help others escape deception? If you think you "know it all" you will never learn anything else. How many of us still ask God for forgiveness when we pray? How many of us still believe water baptism is part of our salvation? How many of us are afraid to "change our minds" after we see the truth?

True repentance involves acknowledging sin and relying on God's power to cleanse and transform the heart.

Beloved in the Lord Jesus: Jacob made the mess he was in and he had to clean it up… and he needed help to clean it up! Because he was afraid of his brother Esau, he sent his servants with 550 animals to bribe his brother back into friendship. In doing this, he endangered himself, his wife, children, and his future work of establishing himself in Canaan and wait for Messiah to come to save the world. But Jacob met with Jesus! At first, he wrestled with Jesus in his own stubbornness, but then when Jesus humbled him, he moved from wrestling to clinging to Jesus. Jacob then pleaded for blessings and Jesus reassured him of help to occupy the land and wait for Messiah. It was a reminder Jacob did not need Esau's help. See today how Jacob had to dig his way out…with help – help from his Covenant God! Our headings are: 1. Jacob's Actions to Pacify Esau 2. Esau's Acceptance of Jacob's family 3. Esau's Acceptance of Jacob's gift Our goals are: That you will be warned not to think you are wiser than God, but you will submit to his guidance as you work to establish Jesus' kingdom throughout the world.

This sermon explores the theological significance of the Lord's Supper by examining the context of the Upper Room meal in Matthew 26. It addresses the question of who is present at the table, emphasizing that it is for sinners who rely on the Savior, and refutes legalistic barriers to participation. The exposition clarifies the nature of the sacrament, rejecting transubstantiation in favor of the spiritual presence of Christ, and highlights the covenantal link between the Old Testament Passover and the New Testament sacrifice. The message connects the ordinance to the broader narrative of redemption, from the Garden of Eden to the future consummation of the Kingdom, encouraging believers to approach the table with faith, repentance, and gratitude for the finished work of Christ.

This sermon explores the biblical distinction between worldly sorrow and godly repentance, using the contrasting fates of Judas and Peter to illustrate that true repentance involves a change of mind that turns one back to God. The central focus is an exegesis of Psalm 51, where King David's confession serves as a model for genuine repentance, characterized by a plea for mercy rather than justice, an honest acknowledgment of sin without excuse, and a desire for spiritual cleansing. The message emphasizes that sin originates in the corrupt heart and must be called by its true name, as God delights in truth and requires humility and contrition rather than mere ritual or self-justification. By examining David's request for renewal and restoration, the sermon highlights that only through confession can believers regain their joy and fellowship with God. Ultimately, the preacher asserts that when individuals deal seriously with their sin, God responds with gentleness, forgiveness, and the restoration of a right spirit.

The sermon explores the theological principle that God is the sovereign agent behind both the blessings and the hardships in a believer's life, emphasizing that afflictions are often just responses to unrepentant sin. Drawing from 2 Chronicles, Proverbs, and Daniel, the message argues that acknowledging God's hand in one's suffering is the necessary precursor to receiving His forgiveness and restoration. The preacher challenges the audience to reject pride and the tendency to blame external forces, urging them instead to humble themselves, confess their specific transgressions, and seek God's face. This act of acknowledgment aligns the individual with God's justice, allowing Him to direct their paths and restore what has been lost. The tone is convicting yet ultimately comforting, presenting repentance not as a burden but as the gateway to experiencing the goodness of the Lord and finding true peace.

The sermon explores the theme of divine compassion and the necessity of seeking Christ for both physical and spiritual healing, using the accounts of the leper, the paralytic, and the man at the pool of Bethesda as primary illustrations. It highlights that while Jesus addresses immediate physical ailments, His ultimate concern is the forgiveness of sin, a truth underscored by the Old Testament ritual in Leviticus 14 where cleansing precedes the application of blood for atonement. The message transitions to the New Testament instruction in James 5, urging believers to maintain a posture of prayer and to seek the intercession of church elders when facing affliction or sickness. The preacher emphasizes that God is not bound by natural limitations and invites the congregation to rely on the prayer of faith, which saves the sick and forgives sins, rather than relying solely on worldly solutions or individual effort.

Psalm 25 is a prayerful meditation of David born out of his need for God's help in time of trouble that teaches us much of our merciful God and our dependence and dependent prayer upon Him. Great dangers and distress caused by enemies drive David to lift up his soul unto God for help. In doing so, he was reminded of the greatness of God and his own frailty in comparison. As David asks from God (1) to be delivered from his enemies and to not be ashamed before them, he also convicted to not be ashamed before his great God, and asks for (2) the guilt of his sin against God to be removed and (3) to be enabled to handle his difficulty in obedience to God, for God's glory. -- Psalm 25 begins with the memorable plea and theme of "To You, O LORD, I lift up my soul." David is humbly, trustingly, and meditatively offering up his very soul to his God… (1) …that he might be delivered from the enemies of God (vv2,19) (2) …that he might be forgiven for his sin against God (vv7,11,18) (3) …that he might be enabled unto obedience to the glory of God (vv2,4-5,20-21) I. Prayer (vv1-7) ---(v1) "I lift up my soul (to You)" ---(vv2-3) Trust in You and not be Ashamed ---(vv4-5) Teach me as I Wait on You ---(vv6-7) Remember but Remember not II. Meditation (vv8-15) ---(vv8-11) "Good and upright is the LORD." ---(vv12-15) "Who is the man that fears the LORD?" III. Prayer (vv16-22) ---(vv16-21) "Turn Yourself to me" ---(v22) "Redeem Israel…out of all their troubles!"

The sermon examines the exhortation in Ephesians 4:31-32 to discard the behaviors of the old self, specifically bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, evil speaking, and malice. It contrasts these destructive traits with the positive command to be kind, tender-hearted, and forgiving one another.