Introduction

When you sin, your conscience begins accusing you and you feel guilty.

Believers are taught to run to God and to confess their sins to God.

But deep down we grapple with a question.

Will God ever be able to forgive me?

Then also believers when they sin tend to highly value forgiveness, but when others sin against us, we see it as a violation of justice.

 

When God forgives:

• He is in fact releasing sinners from judgment and the divine penalty for sin.
• He extends grace towards those who do not deserve it.
• He is displaying Mercy as well as justice.

How does God show Mercy while remaining just?

God’s demands for justice is satisfied in Christ.

 

Romans 3:25–26 LSB

God applies that declaration of not being guilty to those who trust in Jesus.

Romans 4:5 LSB

You might say I get this, but how can I know that Jesus in fact can forgive me.

What evidence is there that when Jesus declares a person forgiven, that the person is infect forgiven.

 

What evidence is there to support the fact that Jesus has the authority to forgive?

 

Historical Background

Matthew had set out to prove that Jesus is the true Messiah.

Part of that proof revolt around proving the authority of the Messiah as the Son of God.

Matthew had demonstrated various examples of the Messiah’s authority:

authoritative teaching in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7)

 

Jesus’ authority over the physical body:

• in healing a Leper who trusted in His authority Matthew 8:1-4
• in healing the slave of the Centurion who trusted in Christ authoritative word Matthew 8:5-13
• in healing Peters Mother-in-Law with no mention of faith Matthew 8:14-15
• In healing every sick person and demonic person brought to Him which authenticated God’s word through fulfilled prophesy. Matthew 8:16-17

 

Our Saviour’s authority over creation when Jesus as calmed the terrifying storm in an instant.

Matthew 8:23-27

His authority over the demonic realm by casting out more than 2000 demons from two demoniacs with one word. Matthew 8:28-34

All these demonstrations lead to Matthew revealing the Messiah’s authority to forgive sin.

He jumps back in history to an event in Capernaum, in which Jesus’s authority to forgive sins was clearly proven and displayed.

 

Last week’s sermon here:

Unveiling Jesus’ Authority Over Creation and the Demonic Realm – Part 1

Unveiling Jesus’ Authority Over Creation and the Demonic Realm – Part 2