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ACTS lO:42-43

"REMISSION OF SINS"

I. THIS IS MAN'S GREATEST NEED.
        A. Sin is the most damning, blighting think in the world.
                1. People have sought to make light of it.
                        a. They jest or joke about it    "I'm a sinner, tee hee."
                        b. They try to paint it pink to look less offensive.
                2. All the pain, sorrow, suffering, and misery in the human race can be traced
                   to sin.
                        a. Without sin, the earth would still be a garden of Eden.
                        b. Man would live without fear; a perfect life in a perfect 
                           environment.
                3. Allowed to remain unremitted will bring you eternal destruction from 
                   presence of God.
                        a. This is why my job is so glorious, God has commanded me to  preach
                           and to testify that He has provided a way for the 
                                remission of sins.
        B. God created man for His own pleasure.
                1. You may resent that.
                        a. Many people do.
                        b. They want to live to please themselves.
                                1. Interesting how seldom they are really pleased with their
                                   lives.
                                2. They often become selfish, bitter people.
                                3. I want the world to dance to my fiddle. If not, I will 
                                   smack  the with the bow.
                2. You may fight this
                        a. Only because He has given you the power of choice.
                        b. "Woe unto him who strives with His maker."
                3. You may accept this and live to please God.
                        a. You'll discover you're finally at peace, filled with joy and 
                           contentment.
                        b. You are now answering to your basic purpose for existing.
                4. God is pleased to fellowship with His creation.
                        a. He loves you, and yearns for your love.
                        b. He desires a meaningful, loving relationship
                                with you.
                                1. Sin has prevented that relationship.
                                2. It brings separation from God.
                                        a. "God's hand is not short..."
                                        b. "Can two walk together unless they be agreed?"

II. THE PURPOSE, THUS, FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS IS TO PROVIDE LOST  MAN WITH THE CAPACITY OF
    RESTORED FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD.
        A. If I say that I have fellowship with God and I am walking in darkness or sin, I lie.
                1. Sin is discordant with God.
                        a. You cannot be discordant and in harmony at the same time.
        B. Fellowship is not possible until sin is removed.
                1. Man's greatest need is the remission of sin.

III. HOW CAN MY SINS BE REMITTED?
        A. Not by my best efforts.
                1. My sins not against me, thus I cannot forgive myself.
                        a. "Against Thee and Thee only have I..."
                        b. They may hurt me or others.
                2. No amount of good deeds can undo what has already been done.
        B. God pronounced righteous judgment against sin. "The soul that sinneth
                shall surely die."
                1. Law provided a covering by the death of a substitute.
                        a. I would bring my lamb to the priest.
                        b. Confess on its head my sins then slay it.
                        c. "Without the shedding of blood...no remission.."
                2. God provided remission by death of substitute.
                        a. All our sins placed on Jesus, "And the Lord hath laid on Him  the
                           iniquities of us all."
                        b. Believe in God's provision.