Matthew 9:1-8
For Matthew 9:1-8, which records an event also witnessed in Luke 5:17-26, I dive right into the main message. The message: Jesus forgave the sins of the man. The personal message: Jesus offers the forgiveness of sins to anyone.
Though not a comfortable topic, the issue of sin is central to both the need of people and the mission of Jesus, because sin is what caused the separation of people from God, and the atoning sacrifice of Jesus is what will bring the redemption of a person so that he or she can be forgiven and united with God.
I do add that Jesus forgave this man of his sins prior to when He died as the atonement for sins on the cross. Whether it was simply temporary forgiveness, or eternal forgiveness by the atonement on the cross in advance, I do not know. Yet Jesus had authority to forgive sins, just as He said. The bottom line is Scripture reveals the atonement made by Jesus on the cross is permanent for any person who receives Christ. The atonement made by Jesus on the cross was not confined by time or space. All people before the time of Christ could be saved (see 1 Peter 3:18-20). All people at that moment could be saved. And all people until judgment day have an opportunity to be saved (see Acts 16:31). To be saved, a person must believe in Jesus.
Hunter
Please join me in considering one sin you have done recently. After thinking of one, you can ask God for forgiveness for that wrong doing.
And if you would like, close this time by saying the Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father
who art in heaven
hallowed be thy name
Thy kingdom come
thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread
and forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
And lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil
For thine is the kingdom
and the power
and the glory
forever and ever.
Amen.
