Introduction: We all need God's forgiveness, but some need it more than others. Last Sunday evening I was teaching the ten commandments to some children of our church, and realized that they had not yet learned to break some of them. They had not yet begun making graven images, or committing adultery, or murdering. (I finally decided they had all disobeyed their parents or coveted at one time or another.) As we grow older, we break more of the ten commandments. Some of us have broken all ten! But whether you are an ancient whale of a sinner, or a young small fry, we have all sinned, and fallen short of God's glory. That's why it is encouraging to know that our God is a God of forgiveness.

I. This story about Peter shows us how God loves to forgive even a great sinner, because certainly Peter was a great sinner. What could be a greater sin that to abandon and deny your friend and Lord in His greatest hour of need? That's what Peter did. In the Gospel of Mark (14:66-72) (Mark was a relative and a companion of Peter, and Mark is considered to bear the stamp of Peter on it), we read that while Jesus was being beaten and spit upon by his accusers, Peter was denying any friendship, and doing so in foul language. It was a great sin. He knew it was a great sin. Matthew 26:75 says that when Peter heard the rooster crow the third time, he remembered Jesus' prediction, and he wept bitterly.

II. Yet Jesus forgave Peter! Jesus told Peter to feed His sheep. Peter became the leader of the Apostles. Peter preached the great sermon on the Day of Pentecost which brought about 5,000 conversions. Peter went to jail for Jesus. Legend has it that the Romans crucified Peter for his faith, and that Peter demanded to be crucified upside down, because he didn't feel worthy to be crucified as Jesus was.

III. The Bible contains many other examples of great sinners forgiven by God: The Apostle Paul was a great sinner. He was a self-righteous Pharisee, and persecuted Christians, even unto death, before his own conversion. We first meet Paul as "Saul" in Acts 7:57--8:3. Paul writes about his former life and sinfulness in I Timothy 1:12-16.

IV. King David was an adulterer and a murderer, yet God graciously forgave him. In 2 Samuel 12:1-13 the prophet Nathan was sent by God to challenge David about his sins. David repented, and expected God to kill him, but God forgave him instead. David suffered serious consequences for his sins, but he was still called a "man after God's own heart." He was a great sinner sometimes, but he loved God, and God loved David, and forgave him.

V. Whatever YOUR sins may be, please remember that your heavenly Father loves you, and is ready and willing to forgive all your sins. Look at these wonderful Bible verses:

Micah 7:18-19: "Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea."

Psalm 86:5-7: "You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to you. Hear my prayer, O LORD; listen to my cry for mercy. In the day of my trouble I will call to you, for you will answer me."

Psalm 103:8-14: "The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust."

Ephesians 1:7-8: "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding."

Conclusion: Jesus freely forgave Peter for denying Him in His hour of trial. God forgave Paul for jailing and killing Christians. God forgave David for committing adultery with Bathsheba, and for having her husband killed. Rejoice, God loves you. God hears your prayers of repentance. God loves to be merciful and forgiving to you, just as He was to Peter, Paul and David. Amen.