THE FULLNESS OF FORGIVENESS

The Freedom of Forgiveness

April 24, 2016

Please turn in Bibles in your Bibles to Romans 3:21-28 (NIV)

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should

be called children of God! And that is what we are!

1John 3:1(ref. 1John 1:7b, Romans 3:23-24)

Luke 15:22: “But the father said…”

1As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7in order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—9not by works, so that no one can boast.

Ephesians 2:1-9

Big Idea: you can’t be a servant in the Kingdom when you’ve already been accepted by the Father as a son

Our Relationship with God

1. We all fall short and cannot earn favor from God by anything we do or say

2. We must approach God on the basis of His acceptance of us as sons and daughters

Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God—13children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

John 1:12-13

Bottom line (The Freedom of Forgiveness): You can’t make yourself a servant in the house of God when He has called you His son.

What is God’s Spirit speaking into your life today? How must you respond?