Some people think they are not good enough to receive God's grace and forgiveness, but Ephesians 1:7 tells us that through the blood of Jesus, we receive forgiveness.

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace. - Ephesians 1:7

  The following are my notes taken during my pastor's sermon.

Image Credit - Ben White - CCO Public Domain Image - via Freely Photos

Hope - I'm Forgiven

1.  We are forgiven because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

And according to the law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. - Hebrews 9:22

Blood = broken, guilty, stained

Today, we are broken by sin.

How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? - Hebrews 9:14

The blood of Jesus cleanses our consciences. 

When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. - Colossians 2:13-14

2.  We are forgiven because Jesus became our substitute.  He took my place on the cross.  We owe the debt.  Jesus paid it.  

For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. - Romans 5:6-8

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Namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. - 2 Corinthians 5:19

He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. - 2 Corinthians 5:21

 For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. - Hebrews 10:14

3.  We are forgiven because the scriptures remind us of what Jesus did for us.

For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. - Romans 15:4

And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins. - Matthew 26:27-28

And their sins and their lawless deeds, I will remember no more. - Hebrews 10:17

He will again have compassion on us; He will tread our iniquities under foot.  Yes, You will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. - Micah 7:19

As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. - Psalm 103:12

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Lo, for my own welfare I had great bitterness; It is You who has kept my soul from the pit of nothingness, for You have cast all my sins behind Your back. - Isaiah 38:17

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. - 1 John 1:9

And from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood.