I DON'T FEEL FORGIVEN!

Text: Romans 8:31-39

I. Have you ever struggled with feeling forgiven? Sure you have. You are a Christian and you, heaven forbid, commit a sin. Maybe it is a one time thing. Many it is a sin that constantly seems to return. But you are very sorry for doing it. You confess it to God. You repent of it. You commit yourself to never do it again. You know there is no way you can make restitution for it. To your knowledge, you have done all you can do. But you still feel guilty and as though God hasn't really forgiven you. Why?

Let's read Revelation 12:10.

Illustration: Imagine a scene in heaven. You are in the throne room of God. Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father. Satan intrudes to scream, "Now look what your child is doing! And you think he is so good!".

With eyes that pierce through eternity, the Lord Jesus Christ raises His nail-pierced hand and Satan is silenced as the eternal reminder of his defeat is raised for the hosts of heaven to see.

Then, Satan, this tormentor-accuser, turns his fire-burning arrows at the target of your mind. He can't shake God, so he goes to work on you. He can't hurt God, but if he can hurt God's child, then he has hurt God.

That is when you feel guilty and unforgiven. He brings thoughts about your sin and whispers questions such as, "How could you?" And even says, "You don't really believe God forgives you - how could He if you continue to do such things?"

Does all this sound familiar? Sure it does.

Satan, as the prince of this world (John 12:31 and Revelation 12:9), has a certain degree of power which he wields, especially against Christians. After all, why should the devil go after people in the world when he already has them in his sway? The Christians are his enemies.

Satan's plans are designed specifically to wear the Christian down, to weary us, to exhaust us, to make us lose heart, and to turn us against God. Satan tempts us to murmur, complain, criticize, and give up on the Lord. Satan tries jerking the Christian's chain and too often the Christian winds up dancing to the tune Satan plays - even in the Church, even with the brethren and sisters.

The wedges Satan attempts to put between us and the Father are every real. They are especially designed to make us stop loving and trusting God. Satan is attacking God indirectly through His children - us.

II. God warns us about Satan's strategy. "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom [which Christian] he may devour" (I Peter 5:8).

Our greatest battle in life isn't to fight! Did you hear me? Our greatest battle in life isn't to fight. If it isn't to fight, then, what must we do as Christians? What God has asked us to do is easy. Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, was very careful to repeatedly use the word - Ephesians 6:11-14. Did you see and hear the word which he repeats?

Paul told the Christian to "stand".

1. When Satan accuses you of being a miserable failure, then don't disagree, just stand. You are a

miserable failure - but God loves you and you are His miserable failure.

3. When your co-workers or class mates mock you, don't try to get even, just stand.

3. When you are accused falsely, don't defend yourself, but stand.

We get in trouble when we attempt to fight the battles we aren't suppose to fight. Remember, the battle is over, the war is won; Jesus paid it all; all to Him we owe. Even the Archangel, Michael, didn't say anything against Satan. He simply stood his ground and said, "the Lord rebuke you!" (Jude 9).

III. Let me tell you something. The fact God has forgiven you is settled. The difficulty is in your feelings. And feelings can be changed when you choose to believe the Truth.

When you surrendered your life to Jesus - God justified you. "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit" (Romans 8:1).

God took your files of sins and erased them. "As far as the east is from the west, so far has God removed our transgressions from us" (Psalm 103:12).

Once that was done, it would be absurd to suppose that God would again condemn you after He has purged your records. Once your record was purged, a new record is started, but not one of your sins, but of your good works for the kingdom of God.

Are you smiling? You ought to be! This fact should bring a peace to your heart that is warm and comforting. It is this peace and joy that Satan is trying to rob from you - God's child.

Instead of feeling guilty - you should be rejoicing.

Instead of wondering if God can forgive you - claim His wonderful love and allow Him to fill

your very being.

Instead of feeling like a failure - you should feel like a child of the King.

Instead of sad heart - there ought to be a song in your hearts.

Instead of disliking yourself - you ought to like yourself because God does.

"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:2).

Faith in Jesus gives our life a sure anchor and a compass.

Illustration - Paid In Full

After living a "decent " life your time on earth came to an end. The first thing you remember is sitting on a bench in the waiting room of what you thought to be a court house. The doors opened and you were instructed to come in and have a seat by the defense table.

As you looked around you saw the "prosecutor", he was a villainous looking gent who snarled as he stared at you, he definitely was the most evil person you had ever seen.

You sat down and looked to your left and there sat your lawyer, a kind and gentle looking man whose appearance seemed very familiar to you. The corner door flew open and there appeared the judge in full flowing robes. He commanded an awesome presence as he moved across the room and you couldn't take your eyes off of him.

As he took his seat behind the bench he said "Let us begin." The prosecutor rose and said "My name is Satan and I am here to show you why this man belongs in hell." He proceeded to tell of lies that you had told, things that you had stole and in the past when you cheated others.

Satan told of other horrible perversions that were once in my life and the more he spoke the further down in my seat you sank. You were so embarrassed that you couldn't look at anyone, even your own lawyer, as the Devil told of sins that even you had completely forgotten about.

As upset as you were at Satan for telling all these things about me, you were equally upset at my representative who sat there silently not offering any form of defense at all. You know you had been guilty of those things, but you had done some good in your life - couldn't that at least equal out part of the harm you've done.

Satan finished with a fury and said, "That man belongs in hell, he is guilty of all that I have charged and there is not a person who can prove otherwise. Justice will finally be served this day."

When it was his turn, your lawyer first asked if he might approach the bench. The judge allowed this over the strong objection of Satan, and beckoned him to come forward. As he got up and started walking you were able to see him now in his full splendor and majesty. Now you realized why he seemed so familiar, this was Jesus representing you, your Lord and your Savior.

He stopped at the bench and softly said to the judge, "Hi Dad" and then He turned to address the court. "Satan was correct in saying that this man had sinned, I won't deny any of these allegations. And yes the wages of sins is death and this man deserves to be punished."

Jesus took a deep breath and turned to His Father with out-stretched arms and proclaimed "However, I died on the cross so that this person might have eternal life and he has accepted Me as his Savior, so He is mine."

My Lord continued with "His name is written in the book of life and no one can snatch him from Me. Satan still does not understand yet, this man is not to be given justice but rather mercy."

As Jesus sat down, He quietly paused, looked at his Father and replied, "There is nothing else that need to be done, I've done it all."'

The Judge lifted His mighty hand and slammed the gavel down and the following words bellowed from His lips, "This man is free - the penalty for him has already been paid in full, case dismissed."

As your Lord led you away you could hear Satan ranting and raving "I won't give up, I'll win the next one." You asked Jesus as He gave you instructions where to go next "Have you ever lost a case?"

Christ lovingly smiled and said, "Everyone that has come to me and asked Me to represent then has received the same verdict as you, - Paid in Full."

(Preached at Woodville Baptist Church, Mitchell, Indiana on January 23, 2000 by Glenn A. Hamer, Senior Pastor.)