T HE W ONDERFUL F ORGIVENESS OF G OD

Our Father is a God Who Forgives ✤ Consider the power of these passages: ✤ Isaiah 55:7 Isaiah 55:7 ✤ Micah 7:18 Micah 7:18 ✤ 2 Peter 3:9 2 Peter 3:9 ✤ Ezekiel 18:21-23 Ezekiel 18:21-23

Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to the LORD, And He will have compassion on him, And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon. Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

 21 “But if the wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed and observes all My statutes and practices justice and righteousness, he shall surely live; he shall not die.  22 “All his transgressions which he has committed will not be remembered against him; because of his righteousness which he has practiced, he will live.  23 “Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked,” declares the Lord GOD, “rather than that he should turn from his ways and live?

It’s Ok to be thankful for God’s love Enthusiastic? Hopeful? Optimistic? Sharing the message?

21:3 – rebuilt the high places, built altars for Baal, the Asherah 21:4-5 – built altars for the the host of heaven in the temple 21:6 – offered his son in the fire of sacrifice 2 Chronicles 33:6 – son(s) offered sorcery, omens, dealt with fortune tellers, mediums, necromancers 21:7 – put carved Asherah in the temple 21:16 – fill Jerusalem with blood from end to end 21:11 – led Judah into deeper sin than the Canaanites Tradition: Had Isaiah sawn in two with a wooden saw, Heb. 11:37 21:12 – led to God’s decision to bring Judah down

2 Chronicles 33:11 – Rebelled against Assyria taken captive in hooks & chains to Babylon 2 Chronicles 33:12-13 – after twelve years entreated the Lord, restored to his kingdom given 20 more years to rule removed idols & altars, restored Lord’s altars commanded all Judah to serve the Lord God FORGAVE Manasseh

V. 5 - A Hebrew of Hebrews, student at best schools, respected V. 5 – as to the Law, a Pharisee, as to righteousness…blameless V. 6 – as to zeal – a persecutor of the church Acts 8:3 But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.

V. 5 - A Hebrew of Hebrews, student at best schools, respected V. 5 – as to the Law, a Pharisee, as to righteousness…blameless V. 6 – as to zeal – a persecutor of the church Acts 26: And I did so in Jerusalem. I not only locked up many of the saints in prison after receiving authority from the chief priests, but when they were put to death I cast my vote against them. 11 And I punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to make them blaspheme, and in raging fury against them I persecuted them even to foreign cities.

 13 though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief,  14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.  15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.

V. 5 - A Hebrew of Hebrews, student at best schools, respected V. 5 – as to the Law, a Pharisee, as to righteousness…blameless V. 6 – as to zeal – a persecutor of the church ravaged the church pursued, punished, and persecuted the saints But grace “overflowed” with love in forgiveness

Our God will forgive us! “Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. Isaiah 1:18

Romans 3:23 … for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. 1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

 God will forgive  God wants to forgive  God has shown his forgiveness  Have you taken advantage?