The Forgiveness of Sins

Soon after hearing that couple's story, my husband read about a Bible study for women who've had an abortion, announced in our church bulletin. He encouraged me to go, and I actually couldn't see why, but soon found myself amongst 6 other ladies in a 12-week Bible study for post abortion guilt and regret. My husband even did the material, too. It changed us for the better, and forever. I honestly didn't think I needed the study, because I already knew about God's forgiveness. Yet it was within that study that I finally felt His forgiveness, and learned to forgive myself.

I had a shameful experience I wish I could take back. And yet I was reminded, and came to personalize what I already knew. Which is that Christ already covered my sins, past, present and future. His dying on the cross, His blood, covered my abortion. If I accept what He did on the cross, then I can accept His forgiveness for all things, and I am able to forgive myself.

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In Isaiah 1:18 it reads, "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow." And in Psalm 101:12, "As far as the East is from the West, so far has he removed our transgressions from us."

Though I was able to avoid the "big sins" before the accident, what I didn't realize is that because my sins were more personal, they went unnoticed and unchanged, remaining free to contribute to decisions I would later make. I've always been a talker, a keeper of friends, and one who values people and life. Yet when I took the life of my unborn child, I was thereafter eternally changed. What came afterwards, in healing, is beyond proper explanation. I found a renewed faith in Christ. It was mine. Not borrowed. All my own dependence and desire to learn, read, and know my Savior in the most personal way. I was then able to share myself beyond the "usual." I opened up my life to those around me, and it ultimately ended up as a ministry to women seeking GRACE, FORGIVENESS, and FREEDOM. Now that is complete forgiveness.

I told my parents about the abortion two years ago.

My Dad's response to me was, "The deepest sin in your life is no different than mine." To hear that from my earthly father just reminded me of how my heavenly father views sin. To this day that response has helped me forgive those around me.

My Mother, with watery eyes, reached for my hand and said, "Welcome back, I missed you." I was in the very shoes of the prodigal son in that moment of open arms.

Alongside my husband and friends, they have been incredible advocates and supporters of me, and I am eternally grateful for their Christ-like example of FORGIVENESS.

Thank you, Anna. All that's left to be said is for me to give an invitation to you, to myself, believers and nonbelievers in Jesus Christ.

You, the believer, is there some area in your life of unconfessed sin? You have harbored that skeleton or skeletons in your closet. You have lived the shame and guilt that is palpable. Or, at the other extreme, you have rationalized in a way that anesthetized yourself to the point that you may be continuing in the same actions and attitudes. I invite you, in the moment of silence, to open your life honestly to the Lord.

If you are a nonbeliever and the Holy Spirit is tugging at your heartstrings and you are increasingly aware of your sin, I invite you to do business with God. As one who has never received Him as Savior, I urge you to welcome Him into your life.

Believer and nonbeliever alike, I invite you to recognize your need for forgiveness, repent of your sin, receive His forgiveness, and be willing to reciprocate in offering that same forgiveness to others.

I invite you now to pray that prayer of confession which is appropriate to you and to claim the promise, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

I believe in the forgiveness of sins! Do you?

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This is one of a series of sermons based on The Apostles Creed. Additional sermons from that series will appear in Preaching On-Line in March, April, May and June.

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John A. Huffman, Jr. is the Senior Minister at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Newport Beach, CA. He is a Senior Contributing Editor to Preaching.