Preached Sept 21, 1998 at Faith Baptist Church
    By Pastor Steven Mays

    "I have sinned"

    Text: Job 33:27

    He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not;
    28 He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.

    BACKGROUND OF THE TEXT. JOB, SAY I HAVE SINNED, AND GOD WILL GET YOU OUT OF THE PIT YOU'RE IN. THAT IS TRUE… JOB JUST WASN'T IN SIN.

    MUCH HAS BEEN IN THE MEDIA OVER THE PAST WEEK OR SO ABOUT OUR PRESIDENT'S CONFESSION. HE SAID PASSIONATELY, LAST JAN. THAT HE DIDN'T HAVE AN AFFAIR WITH THE WHITE HOUSE INTERN. NOW CLEARLY HE DID.

    THE NEWS HAS POLLED PEOPLE ALL WEEK ABOUT WHETHER HE SHOULD BE FORGIVEN OR IMPEACHED.

    Ten different people in the Bible said, "I have sinned". We'll look at some of those folks and note what we learn from their confession and God's response.

    This morning I want to look at some lessons behind the great confession, "I have sinned".

    I. Demonstrates that God knows our Heart.

    Exodus 9:27 And Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto them, I have sinned this time: the LORD is righteous, and I and my people are wicked.
    Exodus 10:16 Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron in haste; and he said, I have sinned against the LORD your God, and against you.
    YOU CAN'T FOOL GOD.

    YOU CAN'T DO IT. WHEN YOU MAKE A MOVE TOWARDS GOD, HE SEES YOUR HEART, HE KNOWS YOUR MOTIVE.

    NO ONE IS PULLING THE WOOL OVER HIS EYES.

    Matthew 27:4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.

    This is Judas.

    Not everyone who says, I have sinned, is really asking for God's forgiveness… That is why some won't ever get it. Why? God sees the Heart. Pharaoh's Life demonstrates God knew his heart, he was busted, he was being judged, he didn't want the judgement, he wasn't sorry.

    Sometimes confession is motivated by the fact that we are caught, or that we will look bad in the sight of our peers'… GOD is not going to honor that.

    1 Samuel 15:24 ¶ And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.
    1 Samuel 15:30 Then he said, I have sinned: yet honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD thy God.
    1 Samuel 26:21 ¶ Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David: for I will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious in thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.

    Lessons from Saul!


      1. Blame it on someone else… God says take the blame
      2. Selfishness, I don't want to loose my honor, What about God's honor?
      3. God knows the future, he knows what you mean…

    Was Saul forgiven, I don't think so, did he say, "I have sinned", yep, But GOD saw his heart.

    II. Demonstrates that we have a God who is ready to FORGIVE.

    Luke 15:18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,

    Luke 15:21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.

    IN THIS GREAT STORY, ONE THING THAT IS OFTEN MISSED IS THE TRUTH THAT THE SON NEW HE HAD A FATHER WHO WAS READY TO FORGIVE. Let me say, the Lord would like to cleanse and forgive you today.

    Psalms 86:5 For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.

    Daniel 9:9 To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him;

    Micah 7:18 Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.

    SO OFTEN WHILE WE ARE TEMPTED THE DEVIL SAY, "IT'S NOT SO BAD, IT'S NOT SO WRONG, IT'S OK, OTHERS ARE DOING IT", BUT THEN, WHEN WE'VE GIVEN IN, IT'S, YOU ARE WICKED, YOU ARE WORTHLESS, YOU CAN'T SERVE GOD AGAIN. I'D LIKE TO REMIND THE OL DEVIL THIS MORNING, THAT WHEN A MAN OR WOMAN MEANS BUSINESS WITH GOD, WHEN THEY ARE SERIOUS GOD IS READY TO FORGIVE.

    PROV. 28:13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

    III. Demonstrates we have a God who is Holy.

    Joshua 7:20 And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done:

    Whether it is the president or Joe down the Road, Sin is against God. I can't forgive someone when they've done you wrong. You must do that.

    1 John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

    Notice how David prayed…..

    Psalms 51:4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

    The lost pharisees recognized this… When Jesus forgave sins it was a claim of Deity…

    Luke 5:21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?

    I'm not the person who sends folks to Hell. God is!

    IV. Demonstrates that confession does not change the laws of sowing and reaping.

    2 Samuel 12:13 And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.
    2 Samuel 24:10 ¶ And David's heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said unto the LORD, I have sinned greatly in that I have done: and now, I beseech thee, O LORD, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.
    2 Samuel 24:17 And David spake unto the LORD when he saw the angel that smote the people, and said, Lo, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly: but these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, be against me, and against my father's house.
    1 Chronicles 21:8 And David said unto God, I have sinned greatly, because I have done this thing: but now, I beseech thee, do away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly. Psalms 41:4 I said, LORD, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee.

    I BELIEVE ACHAN, WAS FORGIVEN, I REALLY BELIEVE HE WAS SINCERE, I BELIEVE I'LL SEE HIM IN HEAVEN, BUT THOUGH HE WAS FORGIVEN HE HAD TO REAP. HE WAS PUNISHED. HIS SIN COST HIM HIS LIFE AND THE LIFE OF HIS FAMILY.

    Get a hold of something, confession and forgiveness don't change the Laws of sowing and Reaping… David's family illustrates this… He confessed, was forgiven, yet he reaped what he'd sowed…

    Galatians 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap..

    Folks that lay out on God.. you'll reap that. When we sin against the Lord, we'll reap that.

    2 Samuel 12:10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.

      1. AMNON RAPING HIS SISTER
      2. ABSOLOM KILLING HIS BROTHER
      3. ABSOLOM BEING KILLED AFTER HE DEPOSED HIS FATHER
      4. SOLOMON KILLING HIS BROTHER Adonijah

    JESUS SAID IN Matthew 26:52

    …
    for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.




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