## 💡Big Idea >- ### Takeaways and Next Steps - ## 📖Bible Passage >[!NOTE]+ Psalm 103:12 >![[Ps-103#v12|Psalm 103:12]] ## Points - God has removed our sins from us. - Oh how great is our sin. What a heavy burden or Him to remove, yet for Him it is nothing. - What could be further than East from West? - [[Isa-41#v12|Isaiah 41:12]]: *You shall seek them[^1] and not find them.* - This evening we look at the glory of our forgiving God. - Thomas Watson: *It is God's mercy that makes all His other attributes sweet to us.* - When God forgives He forgives on a divine scale. - His justice is divine. - When God forgives He forgives in a divine way. - In verse 12 God reveals a problem, our transgressions. Our sins, which separate us from God. - These sins cling to our souls like tar. - [[Ps-51#v3|Psalm 51:3-4]] These sins belong to me. They are mine and really mine. - Transgressions are an act of aggression and rebellion against God. - What is the problem of our transgressions? - they are not a theory, they are a painful and present reality. - Our transgressions separate us from God. - And there is nothing that we can do to remove our transgressions from us. - If our transgressions remain then they will sink us to the depths of Hell. - Hell is also not a theory, but a painful and present reality. - Second, in this text God reveals a solution, God. - It is God who intervenes, separating us from our transgressions. - God intervenes because no one else can accomplish what He can through Christ. - Some people seek to remove their sins by visiting a human priest. - But can a human priest free you of your sin? - Some people want a program to save themselves. Some want an assurance of pardon spoken by a human, or find hope in philosophy, or government. - But none of these face the real problem. They do not remove or even deal with sin and transgressions. - Only God can forgive sins. - Third, there is also a wonder here. Who is this? - This is the holy one, the law maker and giver, the one who is offended by sin. - [[Ps-103#v6|Psalm 103:6]]: This might terrify you of His justice, but He protects and cares for the oppressed. - When God comes to us, not with justice and wrath but mercy, it astounds us. - [[Isa-43#v25|Isaiah 43:25]] : *I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake; and I will not remember your sins.* - How will we be freed from our transgressions? God steps in and says *I will do it.* - Transgressions are against the LORD, but mercies flow from Him. - This is not only about pardon, but **renewal**. - It's not only God saying *I have removed* your sins, but *now you are **free**, liberated to live as my people.* - Your transgressions are real, personal and legal. - But your transgressions are now really, personally, and legally separated from you, because of Christ. - [[Heb-08#v8|Hebrews 8:8-12]]: *I will remember there sins no more.* - [[Ps-32|Psalm 32]] : *Blessed is he whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is covered.* - [[1 Pet-02#v24|1 Peter 2:24]] - [[Lev-16|Leviticus 16]]: - There are 2 goats: - One goat is killed to pay for sins. - the other goat receives all the guilt, shame and sin, and is sent away to be torn apart by the wild animals. - Christ Himself, has born all our guilt and shame and He has taken them far away from us. - Who is it that enjoys these great mercies? - It is *those who fear Him*. [[Ps-103#v11|Psalm 103:11]] - The fear of the LORD is a way that the bible talks about those who follow God. - If you do not fear God, seeking to obey His commandments, trusting in Him alone, then **you will not enjoy His forgiveness**. - **You cannot keep the practice and pleasure of your sin and yet be cleansed from the stain of your sin.** - This is the problem when we humans attempt to remove sin. - The priest proclaims to the confessor that *your sins are absolved*. Wrongly. - The psychologist tells us that you are not really a sinner. - The magistrate and politician desperately tries to hone in citizens through new structures to force morality (even though they deny that morality objectively exists). ## Application - Take comfort in knowing that God has truly removed your transgressions forever. - His work is effective and complete. - From the east to the west, from sunrise to sunset. - This distance is incomparable, incomprehensible, and immeasurable. - Your guilt is gone, removed, and can never return. - [[Rom-08#v1|Romans 8:1]]: *There is therefore no condemnation, for those who are in Christ Jesus.* - David, the murderer and adulterer repented of his sin. - Nathan, the prophet said: *You shall not die. The LORD has put away your sin.* - This is the incredible grace of God. - When troubles come over us, when we are tempted, when Satan the accuser spits lies at us, take comfort in the mercy of God. - I am a transgressor, but I am a cleansed sinner. - My sin, not in part but the whole, is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more. - Therefore rejoice greatly! - If Heaven rejoices over even one repentant sinner, how much more should we rejoice! --- ## Further Study - --- ## 💬Discussion Questions 1. # Footnotes [^1]: All those who are incensed against you.