44A.

God's Invitation To The Sinner

People who are very much alive, ever conscious of their weaknesses and tendency to commit sin in thought, in speech and
in deed, always pray several times a day. Their prayers are never complete without asking God for forgiveness. They
know that God will hold them accountable on the day of judgment
But still many people ignore God's call. They do not understand the need to ask forgiveness of their sins and return to God.
In this lesson, we will study the bible, so we may know who, how and why we will be forgiven by God.

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Repent And Return To God
44A.1 What is God's invitation to all sinners?
In Acts 3:19, God, through the Apostles invites all sinners:
"Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come
from the presence of the Lord; (NASV)
The same verse in other versions of the bible:
Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the
Lord, (NIV)
Repent, therefore, and reform your lives, so that the record of your sins may be cancelled, and that there may
come seasons of revival from the Lord, (Weymouth's New Testament)
God, a loving and just father, invites man (the sinner) to repent and return to God, so that his sins maybe wiped
out or forgiven, in order that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.
44A.2 Why must a man not hesitate to repent and return to God?
In Joel 2:13, the Prophet of old depicts God's loving kindness, thus:
Let your broken heart show your sorrow; tearing your clothes is not enough. Come back to the Lord your God. He is kind
and full of mercy; he is patient and keeps his promises; he is always ready to forgive and not punish. (TEV)
Man must not hesitate to return to God because

He is kind and full of mercy

He is patient and keeps his promises
he is always ready to forgive and not punish

The all loving God wants man to return to Him. Man must not hesitate to repent and return to God.

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God, a loving and just father, invites man (the sinner) to repent and return to God, so that his sins maybe wiped
out or forgiven, in order that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.

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44B. Though Your Stains Be Deep Red, You'll Be White As Wool

44B. Though Your Stains Be Deep Red, You'll Be

As White As Wool
Despite God's compassionate invitation to the sinners, there are still people who remain stubborn, especially those who
have been wallowing in sin all their lives. They are skeptical about the extent of God's mercy and grace. Some even doubt
if God will readily grant them pardon.
44B.1 Is God's invitation- to repent and return to Him, include those whose sins are so grievous?
In Isaiah 1:18, God speaks through the Prophet, thus:
The Lord says, "Now, let's settle the matter. You are stained red with sin, but I will wash you as clean as snow.
Although your stains are deep red, you will be as white as wool." (TEV)
God's invitation includes everyone, including those whose sins are so grievous - "those who are stained deep red
with sin".
Do they still have a chance to be forgiven?
The Lord says, " I will wash you as clean as snow.
What is God's assurance to the sinner who will return to Him?
The Lord says, "You will be as white as wool"
The Lord assures them that their sins will be forgiven

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So great is God's desire for man to come back to Him, that He promised to wash their sins as clean as snow and as white
as wool. White symbolizes cleanliness and purity, proving that God will not hesitate to forgive man of their sins although
they be as scarlet or stained deep red.

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44C.

44C. God's People Shall Be Forgiven

God's People Shall Be Forgiven

Surely there is a group of people who will be forgiven by God if they seek forgiveness of their sins.

44C.1 Who among those who will return to God and repent of their sins will be surely forgiven?
In II Chronicles 7:14, God laid down the first condition for the sinner to be forgiven:
"if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their
wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (NKJV)
Who are they?
God's answer is clear: "If my people , who are called by my name, . . . .
Can anybody forge his right to be counted among God's people?
No, God said: "My people are called by my name." No one therefore can confer this right upon himself for God
recognizes those who belong to Him.

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The Israelites were God's people of old. They were the ones called by the name that God chose for Himself. Hence, in
earlier times the Israelites alone (though there were already many people then) had the right to be heard from heaven and
be forgiven of their sins. In these last days, there are also God's people who are called by His name.

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Please Continue Lesson 44D. Identifying God's People In These Last Days
44D. Identifying God's People In These
Last Days
In these last days, there are also God's people who are called by His name.
44D.1 How can God's people in these last days be identified?
In Isaiah 43:7, God further states:
everyone who is called by My name, whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him.''
(NKJV)
God's people can be easily identified for they are called by the name that God made for His glory.
44D.2 Which name did God create for His glory, after which His children shall be called?
The following verses gives us the answer:
"Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord
and Christ.'' (Acts 2:36, NKJV)
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,
and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:10,

NKJV)
"Christ" is the name that God has made for His glory. This is the name that God gave to Jesus when He made him
both Lord and Christ.

44D.3 How is the name Christ called upon those whom God recognizes as His people?
In Acts 20:28, this is clearly written:
"Take heed therefore to yourselves and to all the flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, to feed the
Church of Christ which he has purchased with his Blood." (Lamsa Translation)
They are called members of Christ's Church or the true Church of Christ. They are called by Christ's name and is
recognized by God as His people.
How did they became God's people?
In Romans 5:8-9, this is written:
But God has shown us how much he loves us --- it was while we were still sinners that Christ died for us! By his blood
we are now put right with God; how much more, then, will we be saved by him from God's anger! (Today's English
Version)
Christ died for the members of His Church and with His blood they were put right with God, thus, they became
Gods people.
44D.4 Why is it important for one to be called by the name of Christ - the name that God created for His glory?
In Luke 24:47, this is stated:
"and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
(NKJV)
Very important indeed. One cannot, therefore do away with Christ's name, because repentance and remission of
sins are to be preached in His name.
44D.5 Why are those who are called in the name of Christ fortunate?
In Ephesians 1:7, this is written:
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace (NKJV)

Apostle Paul said: "In Christ, we have redemption through His blood - the forgiveness of sins". Fortunate indeed
are those who are called by the name of Christ. They were redeemed by the blood of Christ and their sins are
forgiven, according to the grace of God.

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God's people can be identified by His name. "Christ" is the name that God has made for His glory. This is the name that

God gave to Jesus and also the name given to the members of his Church. Christ died for the members of His Church and
with His blood they were put right with God, thus, they became Gods people. Fortunate indeed are those who are called by
the name of Christ. They were redeemed by the blood of Christ and their sins are forgiven, according to the grace of God.

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Please Continue Lesson 44E. Other Conditions For Forgiveness Of Sins
44E. Other Conditions For The Forgiveness
Of Sins
However, will one will be forgiven by simply asking forgiveness from God? Are there conditions set by God for the sinner to
be truly forgiven?

Return To God Wholeheartedly

44E.1 What other condition did God lay down for sinners to obtain forgiveness of their sins? How does God want
His people to return to Him?
The answer is explicitly recorded in Joel 2:12:
"Yet even now," says the Lord, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; (RSV)
God requires His people to return to Him with all their hearts and with all contriteness ( feeling or showing sorrow
and remorse for a sin or shortcoming) The Bible is replete with accounts of God fearing people who sincerely and
wholeheartedly grieved for the sins they had committed.

Forsake The Wicked Ways

44E.2 But it is enough to weep or grieve exceedingly for any misconduct or errant behavior he has committed
before God? What does God expect from the sinner?
In Isaiah 55:7, God instructs:
Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, and He will have
mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. (NKJV)
Although God is loving and merciful. He does not consent in man wallowing in sin. What does God He require
from the sinner?
He wants the sinner to forsake his wicked ways, and abandon his unrighteous thoughts. Can we deceived God with
a sorrowful countenance or bearing?
It is not therefore a matter of sporting a sorrowful face, simulating remorse, but sincerity in obeying God's admonition that
one ought to fully discard all his inequities an abominable deeds.

Keep God's Statutes

44E.3 What else does God require from man to surely gain His grace?

Another prophet of old made known the provisions for man to live and not to die as stated in Ezekiel 18:21:
"But if a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is
lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. (NKJV)
Man's obligation does not stop at his doing away with all forms and semblance of wickedness.
What else does God require from man?
God also commands him to keep His statutes --- to do what is lawful and right.

Humility In Spirit
44E.4 What important trait does God expect from those who return to Him?
In Psalms 34:18, this is written:
The Lord is near to them that are broken hearted, and he saves those who are humble in spirit. (Lamsa)
The same verse in the Living Bible:
The Lord is close to those whose hearts are breaking; he rescues those who are humbly sorry for their sins. (LVB)
Humility as manifested by complete submission and obedience to God is the way that would lead man (the sinner)
to forgiveness and God's pleasure.

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Man must comply with what God wants Him to do. Otherwise, he will be liable of going against God's laws. He may have
very well discarded his vices and heinous deeds but if he fails to do what is lawful and right before God, he would still fall
short of the life promised by God.

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44F. Asking For Forgiveness - The Publican And The Pharisee

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44F. Asking For Forgiveness - The Publican And The Pharisee

44F.1 How did our Lord Jesus Christ show the right manner of returning to God? Likewise, how did it depict
God's loving kindness and mercy?
In Luke 18:13-14, our Lord Jesus Christ narrates:
But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God,
be merciful to me a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for every
one who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted." (RSV)

This is the story of a Publican (a Jewish tax collector) who after realizing himself as a sinner and therefore not fit
to receive God's grace and mercy, could hardly lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed to God.
But, what did our Lord Jesus Christ assure us concerning the publican?
"I tell you this man went down to his house justified . . . he that humbles himself shall be exalted."
44F.2 In contrast, who prayed before God , but was not forgiven?
In Luke 18:11-12, our Lord Jesus Christ narrates:
The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank thee that I am not like other men, extortioners,
unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all that I get.' (RSV)
The complete opposite of the publican, the Pharisee, unashamedly and arrogantly proclaimed: "I am not as the
other men are." He unhesitatingly enumerated what he was not, and what his achievements were.
What is the Lord's verdict upon the Pharisee?
"for every one who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."
One, therefore must not forget to be humble before God. Always be humble in asking God for forgiveness, for the
Lord exalts those who humble themselves before Him, but the Lord will humble those who exalts themselves.

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Please Continue Lesson 44G. Asking For Forgiveness - The Prodigal Son
44G. Asking For Forgiveness - The Prodigal
Son
44G.1 Is there a proof that God will accept a sinner who would sincerely repent and return to Him and embraced
once more by His statutes? How else is God's mercy and and kindness best exemplified?
In another parable, our Lord Jesus Christ delineated God's mercy, thus:
And he said, "There was a man who had two sons; and the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share
of property that falls to me.' And he divided his living between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he
had and took his journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in loose living. And when he had spent
everything, a great famine arose in that country, and he began to be in want. So he went and joined himself to one of the
citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have fed on the pods that the swine
ate; and no one gave him anything. . But when he came to himself he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have
bread enough and to spare, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I
have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your
hired servants."' And he arose and came to his father. But while he was yet at a distance, his father saw him and
had compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned
against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' (Luke 15:11-21, RSV)
Our Lord Jesus Christ narrated how a prodigal son, after squandering his inheritance for nothing, found himself
devoid of everything. Driven by a remorse and penitent heart, he once again sought his rich father's pleasure. He
humbly admitted his guilt and prepared to accept any punishment that would be meted out on him. But, even

before the repentant son could speak, his father met him with love and compassion.
What then did the father do upon the return of his prodigal son?
Our Lord Jesus Christ narrated further, In Luke 15:22-24, this is written:
But the father said to his servants, 'Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and
shoes on his feet; and bring the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry; for this my son was dead,
and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to make merry. (RSV)
In the parable, those who have sinned are the prodigal sons. And, God is the Father who is rich in love and
mercy. If we would only humble ourselves before Him and accept our wrongdoings, God will readily embrace us
back to His fold.

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End Of Lesson Thank You For Your Time!
We hope that the lesson "The Forgiveness Of Sin By God" was made clear and meaningful to you by the verses of the Holy
Bible.

Seeking God's forgiveness for the wrongdoings he has done is only a part of the procedure set by the Lord Jesus Christ for
man to attainment of salvation and eternal life. "The procedure on what a man should to to attain salvation and eternal
life on the Day of Judgment will be studied in detail in Lesson 46 "What Should A Man Do To Be Saved And
Attain Eternal Life"