HOMER'S HIGHLIGHTS

Rev. Dr. Homer Larsen
Radio Speaker

REJOICE! YOU ARE FORGIVEN

I believe many people live with a burden of guilt. They may not come right out and tell you how they feel. However, once you get to know and listen to them, their guilty feelings surface.

A widow says, “I was such a poor wife. I should have done so much more for my husband while he was alive.”

A young woman says, “I ruined my life. My folks pleaded with me not to marry Bob, but I wouldn’t listen. Now I know what a loser he was.”

A neighbor says, “My brother and I were raised by the same parents. Look what he has achieved and see what a zombie I am. He isn’t more intelligent than I am; Ronald just applied himself, and I didn’t.” And so it goes.

God, speaking in his Word, asks, Wouldn’t you like to get rid of this guilt and enjoy the rest of your life?

Remember the story of David and Bathsheba in II Samuel 11 and 12. Two of David’s many sins were committing adultery with Bathsheba and then having her husband, a soldier, killed in the midst of battle. His behavior angered God, so the Almighty sent the prophet Nathan to confront the king with his sin.

When Nathan arrived, he didn’t mince any words. Looking at the king he said, All Uriah had was a beautiful wife, whom he loved, and she loved him. But you destroyed their relationship. See what a wretched person you are!

The Holy Spirit worked in David’s heart. He replied, “I have sinned against the Lord.” Then Nathan said, “The Lord has taken away your sin.”

The burden of guilt was lifted from David’s soul. With joy in his heart he wrote a song that is included in our Bible. It is from Psalm 103:1-3a:

“Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits –
who forgives all your sins . . .”

Many of us are confused about forgiveness. We need to let God’s Word help us understand what it means to be forgiven. You might feel the forgiveness given to David was too simple. Shouldn’t he have been punished? It is correct that sin must be punished, but Jesus took David’s punishment upon himself. His death on the cross included David’s terrible sins with Bathsheba and Uriah.

First, David had to confess his sin. St. John has made this clear for us: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins” (I John 1:9). We cannot try to excuse ourselves. David could not justify his actions by saying Bathsheba put the temptation right before him when she bathed where he could see her. No. He was responsible, and his sin had to be confessed.

This is the point where we often become confused about dealing with our sin. We deny our guilt by blaming others or the circumstances under which we were raised – or now live – for our sins. Confession brings us to our knees. I have sinned. Without confession there is no forgiveness.

Second, we must turn to Christ and receive him as our Savior, for he alone can pay the price for our sin. Only then is the burden on our soul taken from us. David also adds this truth to his song: “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our sins from us” (Psalm 103:12).

Third, once our sin is forgiven, we then claim that forgiveness. We may, however, live with some marks of our sins. David did. The child whom he fathered with Bathsheba died. David prayed that the child would live, but God said no. After the child’s death, David claimed God’s forgiveness, and life went on.

If you are living with the guilt of unforgiven sin, remember these three biblical teachings. To be forgiven there must be confession, faith, and thanksgiving, which demonstrate that we have claimed our forgiveness.

I am a sinner. But praise God, I am a forgiven sinner!