On New Year’s Eve

1. Read: Philippians 3:13-14

2. About the Text:

1) Paul had a terrible past.

2) He was the man who held the coats of those who stoned Stephen (Acts 7:58).

3) In 1 Tim.1:13 he said, “although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.”

4) 1 Corinthians 15:9 – “For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.”

5) Galatians 1:13 – “For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it.”

6) How easy it would have been for Paul to wallow in a pit of self-pity!

7) Jesus helped him, though, and he became a powerful gospel preacher.

3. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. This doesn’t mean I forget everything.

1) Paul obviously didn’t literally forget!

2) We don’t forget all negative events in our life.

a. David didn’t forget his sin with Bathsheba (Psalm 51).

b. Moses didn’t forget the sins of the people in the wilderness (Psalm 90).

3) We use them to learn so that we can grow.

2. I forget in the sense that I stop letting it affect my identity.

1) My past is not who I am as a person.

2) Jesus Christ defines me (Galatians 2:20).

3) 2 Corinthians 5:16-17 – “Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

3. God forgets our sins.

1) Psalm 103:12 – “As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.”

2) Jeremiah 31:34 – “No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”

3) Micah 7:19 – “He will again have compassion on us, And will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins Into the depths of the sea.”

1. Forgiveness enables us to press forward.

1) With forgiveness you have a clean slate.

2) Psalm 32:1-2 – “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit.”

3) Romans 4:8 – “Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin.”

4) This means we can start fresh without the guilt of our sin holding us back.

2. We reach forward in our mission.

1) Jesus came to seek and save the lost – Luke 19:10.

2) Jesus wants us to focus on our mission – Matthew 28:18-20.

3. We reach forward in fellowship and unity.

1) Fellowship is the “why” of our mission.

2) Ephesians 2-3.

1. We all share a common destiny.

1) 1 Peter 1:3-5 – read.

2) 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

2. This common destiny helps encourages us forward.

1) 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

2) 1 Corinthians 15:58 – “Wherefore my beloved brethren . . . .”

3. We anticipate the coming of Jesus.

1) 1 Thessalonians 5:4-10.

2) Revelation 22:20 – “He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!”

1. On New Year’s Eve, I will . . .

1) Forget the things that are behind.

2) Reach forward to the things that are ahead.

3) Press toward the goal.

2. Invitation