FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS

 

Testimony:  Glen Dudley, cancer in “remission” for three years

Cancer is so limited…..
It cannot cripple love.
It cannot shatter hope.
It cannot corrode faith.
It cannot eat away peace.
It cannot destroy confidence.
It cannot kill friendship.
It cannot shut out memories.
It cannot silence courage.
It cannot invade the soul.
It cannot reduce eternal life.
It cannot quench the spirit.
It cannot lessen the power of the resurrection.

Remission:  (definition from National Cancer Institute)  Disappearance of the signs and symptoms of cancer. When this happens, the disease is said to be “in remission.” A remission can be temporary or permanent.

Sin is a disease … it’s genetically inherited, everyone has it!

Romans 3:23 – For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.

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IN

1.     Sin Does Not Satisfy

·   Sin can bring real pleasure – that’s why sin is so powerful. BUT THERE IS NO LASTING SATISFACTION IN SIN!

·   Hebrews 11:25 – Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.

2.     Sin Enslaves

·   When you sin, you tie yourself up. Instead of the sinner being free and the believer being “in bondage” it’s really the reverse!

·   Proverbs 5:22 – The evil deeds of a wicked man ensnare him; the cords of his sin hold him fast.

3.     Sin Degrades

·   Satan loves to mock the human race.  He loves to see men and women, the pinnacle of God’s creation, tossing and turning in guilt, wallowing in shame, drowning in embarrassment.  The devil loves to humiliate us! But Jesus loves to shower us with glory and honor!

·   Ecclesiastes 10:1 – Dead flies putrefy the perfumer’s ointment, and cause it to give off a foul odor; so does a little folly to one respected for wisdom and honor.

4.     Sin Steals Joy

·   Never underestimate the importance of JOY!

·   Nehemiah 8:10 – For the joy of the LORD is your strength.

·   Psalm 16:11 – In thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

·   Sin bursts the bubble of joy and breaks communion with God.

·   Isaiah 59:2 – But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

5.     The Wages of Sin is Death

·   Romans 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

·   ACTUALLY, SIN BRINGS DEATH RIGHT FROM THE START – It always kills something in us when we transgress.  It assaults our sensitivity, trashes our conscience, mauls our willpower, and defiles our soul.  You could almost say that every time we sin, something in us dies.  Then, at the end of the road, sin pays up with eternal death.

·   Galatians 6:7-8 – Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

Just like cancer, sin is fatal … unless we can put it in “remission.”

There is a New Testament word “remission.” It’s from the same Greek root (“aphesis”) as the word “forgiveness.” Forgiveness and remission are basically synonyms; their definitions greatly overlap. The real difference in the words is not their meaning, but their focus.

“Forgiveness” speaks of a removal of one’s anger toward another. “Remission” has to do with a release from a debt, penalty, or obligation. The former focuses on the inward feeling, while the latter focuses on the external consequences. “Remission” is closer in meaning to the concept of “pardon” than is “forgiveness,” and thus is used more in a legal way referring to the discharging of guilt and payment for wrongdoing.

Sabbath Year (Deuteronomy 15:1:

 

(KJV)  At the end of every seven years thou shalt make a release.

 

(NIV)  At the end of every seven years you must cancel debts.

 

(NASB)  At the end of every seven years you shall grant a remission of debts.

 

(NJB)  At the end of every seven years, you must grant remission.

 

(MSG)  At the end of every seventh year, cancel all debts.

 

(NCV)  At the end of every seven years, you must tell those who owe you anything that they do not have to pay you back.

Remission was paid for by Jesus’ blood!

Matthew 26:28 (KJV)  For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

Hebrews 9:22 (KJV)  And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

Baptism brings remission of sins!

Luke 24:47 (KJV)  And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

Matthew 28:19 (parallel passage)  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Mark 16:15-16 (parallel passage)  And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Acts 2:38 (KJV)  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Baptism is a necessity for remission (Cornelius’ household):

Acts 10:43-48 (KJV)  To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

When remission is found in the form of a verb (“to remit”) it has the added meaning of “sending away, separation, departure, cessation, completion, reversal.” That’s why a preacher is really a doctor who can baptize you in the name of a Savior who can put your disease of sin into REMISSION!

John 20:22-23 (KJV)  And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.