Forgiveness : Part 2

Craig and I spent some time really searching through scripture regarding forgiveness after we had experienced some deep hurt. Deep hurt doesn't cut it, we felt almost destroyed. People would boldly tell us how to behave or what to do without even understanding the situation.  This actually caused more harm than good.

I have been reading through Job and it just hurts when I read it. We experienced  Jobs 'friends' when they spoke into a situation assuming truth was what was needed when in reality we needed someone to share grief, listen, give a safe place to vent the pain and suffering, show some compassion and understanding.

Thankfully our community also provided us with good people who listened over months of hurt and processing who loved us as we healed.

It started us on a journey of looking into what God set out as the forgiveness process. Last week we took a look at how God modeled forgiveness with Adam and Eve. Today we will look at how God reset forgiveness with Jesus and how that impacts our lives when we follow the Biblical model.

There are scriptures throughout the new testament supporting these steps.

New Testament: Jesus brings in The New Covenant
For salvation it is required that we go through these steps, consistent with the requirements in the Old Testament.

Recognition of sin and Confession:
We have lived independently from God
Romans 1:20-21
For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
(Luke 13:3,John 3:16, 2 Peter 3:9)

Repent:
Accept his Lordship
Romans 10:9-10
...if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.
(Acts 16: 31, Acts 20:21

Restitution:
Jesus paid this price for us
Hebrews 9:22
...and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. (NASB)
Romans 5:8
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 

This is the end of the sacrificial system. Over and over in the new Testament we are told that Christ died once for all sin.  This price has been paid in full, never to be paid again. This is the reset that Christ began.
(Romans 6:10, Hebrews 10:10, 1 Peter 3:18)

Forgiveness:
1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  (NASB)
(Psalm 32:1-6, Proverbs 28:13)

Reconciliation:
When we do this we are given the relationship of sons and daughters.
(John1:12, 2 Corinthians 6:18, Romans 8:16, 1John 3:1)
We are invited to know, pray and relate to God.
Hebrew 4:16
For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. 

The pattern is the same as what we saw last week when God related to Adam and Eve.

The difference here is that Christ paid for us. He made restitution to appease the price sin demands.

How do we live this out? we will take a look next week.