## The Comfort of God's Forgiveness

## Isaiah 40:1-2

The only one who can truly give us comfort is God. The reason why we are not comforted in our trials is because we often seek comfort from other sources than God Himself. God comforts us through revealing to us who He really is.

In Isaiah 40, God desires to comfort His people. In the first 39 chapters of Isaiah the message is anything but comforting. It is a message of judgment against nations, kingdoms, cities, and people. However, in chapter 40 we have a change in the focus of the prophecy. Now it is to comfort God's people after their trials and testings. Note the comfort of God's forgiveness.

I. Based Upon Our Relationship to God Himself. cf. Isaiah 40:1

A. It is the Lord's desire to comfort His people.

1. It is He that commands that comfort be given, and He gives the command twice for emphasis.

2. He calls them "My people"; there is no comfort for those who are not His! NOTE: "Now I belong to Jesus"

3. He commits Himself to us with the phrase "saith your God". Here we see the basis for God's comfort in our relationship to Him and His to us!

4. Sometimes people want a sign or some proof, but many who saw His mighty works never knew His comfort!

B. It is His design to use His servants to bring this comfort.

1. God wants to use you and me to bring His comfort to His people; He gave the command to Isaiah.

2. God has chosen to use believers to offer His comfort to one another.

3. Note: 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

4. All of the suffering, all of the trials, everything we go through is for a purpose!

5. That we might be comforted, and that we might comfort others as well.

II. Based Upon His Loving Response Toward Us. cf. Isaiah 40:2a

A. He understands our need.

1. "Speak comfortably to Jeru- salem, and cry unto her" this literally means "speak to the heart".

2. Have you ever been speaking to someone, perhaps sharing some real need, and have them then change the subject?

3. It is a comfort to know that God will never lose interest in us...He understands our needs.

B. He is able to meet that need.

III. Based Upon Specific Reasons. cf. Isaiah 40:2b

A. The Promise of Victory. "her warfare is accomplished".

1. At this time the battle hadn't happened!

a. the nation, Babylon, had not even developed.

b. the judgment of captivity hadn't taken place.

c. but God is comforting them with the truth that the battle is over and the victory has been won!

2. When we consider God's forgiveness, we need to realize that God has won the victory!

a. Note: 1 John 5:4, "...This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith."

b. It is a matter of faith, not performance!

3. No matter what you may be battling in your life right now, the victory is won!

4. Our problem is that we refuse to acknowledge the victory...and we keep on fighting the battles in the flesh...and we are defeated!

5. We must give it to God, acknowledge our inability and His ability!

B. Payment for Sin. "her iniquity has been removed".

1. God is satisfied with the removal!

2. Note: 1 John 2:1-2

3. Christ's work on Calvary is the propitiation (satisfactory payment) for sin.

4. However, propitiation does not equal application! Christ's blood cleanses all sin, but all sinners are not cleansed!

5. The blood must be applied; we must individually come to God on the basis of what Christ has done!

6. There is no way that we can cause God to forgive us on the basis of anything that we do!

7. The comfort of God's forgive- ness is based on our relation- ship with God!

C. Punishment for Sins. "for she hath received of the Lord's hand double for all her sins".

1. Double = two parts (not twice as much)

2. Punishment (what we deserve) and blessing (what we don't deserve).

3. Christ bore our punishment and poured out grace and blessings upon our lives.

4. God has blessed us not only with salvation, but with so much more! we have received double!

Conclusion: Do you know the comfort of God's forgiveness tonight? How is your relationship to Him? Are you living a life of victory or defeat? Are you ministering God's comfort to others?