Mat 9:1-8; It’s Not Your Fault, or Is It?

Sunday November 3, 2024

Main Idea: Christ has removed our shame by grace.

Psa 32:1-2

How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,

Whose sin is covered!

2 How blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity,

And in whose spirit there is no deceit!

Intro: What is shame? Shame is a sense of falling short of the standards and ideals of oneself or others, making the person feel small, inferior, or worthless.

What is guilt? Guilt is a failure in behavior. You did something bad.

Shame is falling short of a standard. You are bad.

Psa 103:1-5.

How wonderful to be freed from it all. But there is some work to do on the way to this comfortable home, where I serve my Lord.

Mat 9:1-8

The authority to forgive sin lies with God. The Son of Man is God.

The man is forgiven without works - he can’t even walk up to Jesus.

This is his first conflict with religious leaders in Matthew, but from here the conflict will intensify quickly (9:11-13; 14-17).

Blasphemy will be the charge they seek at His final trial (Mat 26:65-66).

He has the authority to forgive sins on earth. Are you forgiven of all your sins?

You could never serve the Lord if you did not know that all your sins are forgiven – get up and walk! Eph 1:7; Col 2:13

The forgiveness of sins on earth by an authority from heaven had come.

The Lord wants no one to live in shame, but to live in Him.

Jesus has authority over sickness, disease, demons, and now to forgive sins. Who else can change your heart?

How does He change your heart? You follow Him, learn of Him, watch Him, hear Him.

Your faith only has to be little to begin the journey.

He will challenge you, and only He can do that without condemnation.

Christ will supernaturally change your heart through His Word (won’t happen without the continued knowledge of His Word) so that you can think and do the most important things - serving Him.

Evil and good come from the heart. “Why do you think evil in your heart?” Mat 12:33-37; Heb 13:8-14.

There always has been, and always will be conflict in the world between those who know and accept grace and those who don’t.

The graceless fear. Forgiveness without works?!

The conflict stirs at home in your own soul: Gal 5:1. The Word of God will enable you to overcome (1Jo 4:15, 17).

Application: If you have sinned, confess it to God, 1Jo 1:9. And if it is required for peace, confess to others.

Remember that God alone forgives you: Isa 43:25.

Confess your sin and move on. If you have accepted His forgiveness, you can live free of guilt and shame.

If you accept His forgiveness, know that you have to forgive others.

Shame is heavy and raw. It tells us we aren’t just flawed, but irredeemably so.

Do not be ashamed of seeking professional help. If you are a believer and are still feeling shame, do not dismiss seeking professional help. I did.

Also, if sinfulness is the cause of your shame, seek God’s help through study and prayer and heed God’s discipline. Remember that repentance and recovery is a supernatural process that begins with God’s assurance of forgiveness and His love that shows you a better way, an ultimate way, and He makes your heart ache for it.

“Take heart, child. Your sins are forgiven.”

Lord’s Supper: Peter’s denial – the Lord Jesus restored him and gave Peter the power to overcome while not denying that he once denied the Lord.