GOD’S WORD FOR  SEPTEMBER 26

We are using Charles Spurgeon book, “The Risen King.”  It’s a collection of well chosen excerpts from Spurgeon’s  “Easter” sermons in devotional form, put together by Jeff Medders.   Pastor Spurgeon lived from 1834 to 1892  in London, England, and had a unique gift of understanding and showing the depth of our faith.  Thus, his reverential title as the Prince of Preachers.   Even though we’re not in or near that season, every day is a good day to focus on Christ’s sacrifice and victory for us!

FORGIVENESS FIRST

Matthew 9:2-7

“Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.”   And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, ‘This Man blasphemes!’     But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, ‘Why do you think evil in your hearts?  For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk’?  But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins’—then He said to the paralytic, ‘Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.’  And he arose and departed to his house.”

  The bearers of the man affected by paralysis broke though the tiling – whatever that material may have been – to get him near the Savior.  They had lowered him down over the heads of the eager gathering, and there he is upon his pallet before Christ, unable to stir hand or foot but looking up with that gaze of eager expectancy which Christ so well understood.

Christ dealt first with the chief evil which afflicted this man.  His paralysis would, secondarily, be a fountain of bitter grief to the sick man, and, therefore, the Savior dealt with it in the second place.  But, first and foremost, over and above all grief for his infirmity, was his painful sense of unforgiven sin.  Christ did not begin by curing him of the paralysis.  That was bad enough, but sin in the heart is worse than paralysis of every single muscle.

At the very beginning of this miracle, to show His lordship and His royal and divine power, Christ said to the man, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.”  (vs 2).  How I love to think of the blessed fact that Christ does not forgive us and then keep His forgiveness in the dark.  He says, “Son; your sins are forgiven.”  He gives the assurance of forgiveness to the sinner whom He forgives!

The realization of pardon is a delightful feeling.  Oh, if there is a joy outside of heaven that is higher than all others, it is the joy of a sinful soul when divine forgiveness is granted.  I think that people would readily give up all the pleasures of this world and count them as nothing if they could but know the bliss of forgiven sin.  Our Lord Jesus Christ makes us drink of the sweetness of forgiveness.  It is not merely that He burns the books that recorded our debts;   He also tells us He has done so. 

“Your sins are forgiven.”  It is Christ’s business to pardon.  It is His bliss to pardon.  It is His glory to pardon.  He came here on purpose that He might pardon the guilty.  Oh, that all sinful ones would go to Him for forgiveness!

This is how Christ behaves towards us poor, paralyzed sin-bound men and women.  He sees our faith, and then puts our sin away where it shall be seen no more forever, for He is the King, He is God, and He is able to forgive and blot out all iniquity when we truly turn to Him in repentance, turning  around to live for Him.

I heard of one man, having been under a great sense of sin, and being relieved of it, who for a long time could only cry out, “He is a great Forgiver.!  When there were other things to be attended to, he could not see to them or speak of any other kind of business but this:  “He is a great Forgiver.”  I hope every reader will join me in saying,

“He is a great Forgiver!”

For all who will trust His great atoning sacrifice shall also know that He is a great Forgiver.

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Ephesians 1:7

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace

Luke 7:47

Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little

Luke 17:4

And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.

Acts 8:22

Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you.

Colossians 2:13

And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses,

1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 2:12

I write to you, little children, Because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake.

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