March 17, 2019

Forgiveness

Preacher:
Series:
Passage: Luke 5:17-26
Service Type:

Introduction

  • We meet a poor paralytic man - characteristics
  • We meet Pharisees - characteristics
  • A comparison
  • Jesus often made comparison between the religious and the poor
    • Example
    • The paralytic man goes home rejoicing as he has been healed and forgiven of sin
    • The pharisee continues with evil in his heart
    • The religious can be like this
  • Our greatest need - is the forgiveness of our sins
    • The paralytic must have been aware of his sin
      • Perhaps the Jewish misunderstanding that his ailment was due to sin
      • He was troubled and weighed down by his sin
      • He hears the words he most needs to hear - "Your sins are forgiven you"
    • Do we really understand what it means to forgive?
      • We must understand the holiness of God - we have broken Gods law and are condemned because of sin
        • Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness - the Pharisees understood this
  • Look at the passage: v17-20

His difficulty led him to Jesus

  • Many religious leaders
    • From all of Judea, Galilee and Jerusalem
    • They have come to investigate Jesus
    • They do not like what Jesus is teaching
  • The pharisees
    • Called the separated ones
    • From the Gentiles
    • From nominal Jews
    • Very zealous for the traditions of the fathers
    • Built up tiny laws
  • The Scribes
    • A responsibility to interpret and apply the law
  • Jesus is performing miracles
    • He could not always perform miracles
    • There was much faith at present
    • Jesus had been praying in the wilderness
  • The paralytic's friends
    • Very concerned for him
  • The paralytic
    • Many practical implications
    • Perhaps his greatest need was physical healing, emotional healing, economic help, love and friendship
  • The hidden things of the passage
    • Jesus saw his greatest need - the forgiveness of sin
    • The hearts of the pharisees
    • God is interested in the matters of the heart
  • Do you see that your greatest need is forgiveness?
    • It only comes on the basis of something very costly
    • The sacrifice of Jesus Christ
    • We must repent
    • Examples of sin
    • Do you see that your greatest need is forgiveness?

We need at times to help others find forgiveness

  • The paralytic's friends
    • Tried their best to bring the man to Jesus but they faced many obstacles
    • Imagine what it must have been like for the man to be lowered through the roof
    • The friends trust and act in faith
  • If we want to bring our friends to Christ - are we prepared for sacrifice and cost?

Only God can forgive

  • v21
  • No human beings can forgive sin
    • The pharisees were theologically correct, but the application of their theology was totally wrong
    • They had not understood that Jesus is co-equal with God
  • Jesus proves He is God
    • He knew their evil thoughts
    • He healed a paralytic
    • He called Himself by the Messianic Title "Son of Man" (v24) - cf. Dan 7:13
  • Jesus was able to forgive sin, because:
    • He is God
    • He is the mediator between God and man
    • Through His atonement - all who believe in Him are forgiven
  • Have you believed in Him?
    • The pharisees went away hardened
    • The crowds were amazed and in fear
      • Some would have come to faith
      • The paralytic and his friends

Closing Remarks & Recap

  • We need to be led to Jesus
  • God must draw us - we must respond by faith
  • Jesus is Lord over sin and sickness

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