Restoration Follows Forgiveness
God's forgiveness and restoration are immediate, but we must still face the consequences of our sin.
Theodore Epp emphasizes that God's forgiveness is immediately followed by restoration, highlighting that while God does not hold grudges, we must still face the consequences of our sins. He illustrates this through the story of David, who, despite his forgiveness, experienced the repercussions of his actions in his family life. Epp points out that God's grace is evident in the birth of Solomon, a sign of God's mercy and a fresh start for David and Bathsheba. The sermon underscores the balance between God's discipline and His grace, reminding us that true acknowledgment of sin leads to forgiveness and restoration.
Text
2 Samuel 12:11-23
When God forgives, He at once restores. He never carries a grudge. Nevertheless, we must expect to face consequences because of our sin. The Lord uses the rod of discipline on His children, and one aspect of that discipline is to let us reap what we sow. While He restores us to fellowship, the bitter cup we have brewed for ourselves has to be drunk. David lived for 20 more years, but the seeds of murder and lust that he had planted bore fruit in his own family.
Another son was born to David and Bathsheba, and David "called his name Solomon: and the Lord loved him. And he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet; and he called his name Jedidiah [beloved of the Lord], because of the Lord" (2 Sam. 12:24,25).
David and Bathsheba's first son was taken from them because of their sin. But in the grace of God, their second son was chosen of God to succeed David on the throne. Surely this was an indication of God's complete forgiveness of David and a fresh evidence of God's mercy. On one hand we see the severity of God. On the other, we see His grace, since the lesson He taught His child had been learned.
"I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord, and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin" (Ps. 32:5).
Sermon Outline
- God's Forgiveness and Restoration
- Consequences of Sin
- Restoration and Consequences
- Restoration to fellowship
- Drinking the bitter cup of our sin
Key Quotes
“When God forgives, He at once restores.” — Theodore Epp
“I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid.” — Theodore Epp
Application Points
- We must acknowledge and confess our sins to God in order to experience His forgiveness and restoration.
- God's forgiveness does not exempt us from facing the consequences of our sin, but it does offer us a fresh start and restoration to fellowship.
- God's discipline is a means of teaching us and helping us to grow in our relationship with Him.