Why God does not punish us as we deserve for all of our wrongs
21 March 2021
We as Christian believers can sometimes really sin the most wicked things. As I am writing this, I am struggling with my own sins, every day of my life. I explained it to someone like this some time ago: In each of us there is a constant struggle between good and evil, and these two fight one another for supremacy. Who is going to win? The one that you feed the most. You may say that a Christian believer cannot sin. If this were true, then the psalmist (in this case the writer is unknown) would not have written the following:
3If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? 4But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared. – Psalm 130:3-4
The writer clearly states that if God had to make a checklist (mark) of all the things we do that are wrong (iniquities), none of us will stand (or be justified and acquitted) to live. The word “stand” is here used in the judicial sense, where the accused appears before the judge. We will all fall (be found unworthy and guilty) in the sight of God as our sins are so overpowering. Here was a man whom God loved very much, and yet he sinned. Not only did he sin, but he was aware of it.
He then continues in verse four, that there is forgiveness with God, that our sins are forgiven, so that we may stand in the presence of God and that He may be feared. We fear (honour, reverence) God when we realise that each time, despite our sins, He saves us from what we deserve – to die in our sins.
For the writer the realisation of his sin is important. We are reminded of our sins through the working of the Holy Spirit who lays upon our hearts the many things we do that are wrong. Did the writer here also experience the working of the Holy Spirit? Indeed he did. Many think that the Holy Spirit was only poured out at Pentecost, but this event was merely to empower the very first persons who would form the Church (Acts 2). The Holy Spirit has operated throughout the ages and we already read of His work in Genesis 1:2. Throughout the ages the Holy Spirit was present to guide believers and make them aware of their sins. Convicting people of their sins is one of the functions of the Holy Spirit. Jesus explains it as follows:
7Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 8And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. – John 16:7-11
The apostle John later on writes:
8If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. – 1 John 1:8-10
We are often so entangled in our sin that we get into a state of denial – our sin has become so part of us, that we are unwilling to relinquish it. John says that when this happens, that we have no sin (verse 8), then we deceive ourselves. Note that he does not say the devil deceives us. The devil would already have drawn us into a sinful state and once we allow it to grow (feeding evil) then we are deceiving ourselves. Worse, the truth is no longer in us.
However, our loving God never intended His children to remain trapped in sin and He provided a way out, through the blood of Jesus Christ and the forgiveness that it offer us, if we accept it. There is a condition: If we confess our sins, then He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we meet the condition, then the result is there.
The last part is particularly hard, and we should be careful not to only read up to the point where we see that there is forgiveness for sin. If we say that we have not sinned, when we clearly know that what we have done, or are doing, is sin, then we make Him a liar and the truth of His Word is no longer in us.
Why then does God not punish us for all our iniquities? Simply this:
16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. – John 3:16
This website’s whole focus is this verse. We cannot, and should never, forget that God’s love for mankind was so much that He did not hesitate to send His Son to die in our place so that our sins could be covered by the blood of Jesus Christ. Why did He do this? So that we, as sinners, should not perish (die and be eternally lost) but instead have eternal life with God in heaven one day.
The psalmist knew that there was forgiveness, so many years ago, and He certainly did not know about the salvation Jesus would bring. If he confesses that there is forgiveness in God, how much more should we today make this our focus not to sin, and when we do, confess our sin and ask for forgiveness in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.
Conclusion
Be on the lookout for any possible direction from which an attack can come that will lead you to sin. Peter gives us this advice:
8Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. – 1 Peter 5:8-9
Be sober – have a sound mind and do not be misled.
Be vigilant – be on the lookout for the devil’s attacks.
Be resistant – when he comes with a nicely wrapped package that contains sin, resist it in faith.