(7) Guilty of Sin, But Pardon Available

Author: STEVE, Part 2
To: John, Bob Listening

        Round 2. Some comments on Bob’s questions 1 and 2, starting with slavery -- but digging deeper. In fact, I’ll take it so far as to illustrate one of the purposes for Jesus’ death.

Old Testament Rules

        Writings in the Old Testament appear to tolerate behavior that modern society rejects today – a broader concern raised by Bob’s questions, with slavery as an illustration. We all would find Exodus 21: 20,21 particularly abhorrent:
       “If a man beats his slave to death, that man shall surely be punished. However, if the slave does not die for a couple of days, then the man shall not be punished – for the slave is his property.”
        How can the Bible be true, if it espouses that kind of human behavior? Let’s dig deeper.

God’s Standards Revealed in the New Testament
        Jesus unveils God’s higher standards. “If a man even looks with lust at a woman he commits adultery.” Moses says, “An eye for an eye . . .” Jesus says, “Turn the other cheek.”
        Jesus doesn’t specifically condemn slavery. He doesn’t have to. He says. “Love your neighbor as yourself.” “To even hate another man is to commit murder.” Under these standards, the subjugation and cruelty of slavery are clearly wrong in his sight.
        What about the boss who unnecessarily and uncaringly overloads his subordinate, leaving the man with little time for his family? Equally offensive in society’s eyes? Of course not. Are both a break in God’s intended relationship for man with his fellow man? Yes. Guilty.
        God sets standards for our lives far higher than the noblest of any nation on this earth. The best of society’s laws can only regulate conduct. We can’t and shouldn’t judge a man’s heart. But God can, and he does.
        Wait a minute. You might be thinking, “Surely God does not consider me as ‘bad’ as the man having a sexual relationship with a woman not his wife.” “Surely I’m not as bad as the cruel slave master.” “Surely God considers me a better person than all those men imprisoned for killing, raping, maiming, and stealing from others.” Jesus tells the parable about the two men in the temple:

        “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a religious leader, the other a cheating tax collector. The religious leader ‘prayed’ this prayer: ‘Thank God, I am not a sinner like everyone else, especially that tax collector over there! For I never cheat, I don’t commit adultery, I fast twice a week, and I give to God a tenth of everything I earn.'
        But the corrupt tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed, but beat upon his chest in sorrow, exclaiming, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner.’
        I tell you, this sinner, not the religious leader, returned home forgiven!” (Luke 18: 9-14)

        What’s the “good” man’s fault in that parable? Pride. The pride in his heart has driven a wedge between God and him. He doesn’t think he has done anything wrong to offend God, so he doesn’t ask for forgiveness. That pride has also driven a wedge in his relationship with others. (He scorns – condemns -- the “sinner” at the back of the temple.)
        Jesus uses other illustrations to point out the sin in the lives of us “good” people. There is the man who approaches Jesus, asking what a man must do to enter the Kingdom of God. The man self-righteously declares that he has kept all God’s commandments since his youth. Jesus responds, “Go and give all you have to the poor and follow me.” The man turns away sadly, for he was very wealthy (Mark 10: 17-30).
        Jesus was not condemning the rich. He was simply asking a searing question, aimed at helping the man understand his own heart. He was helping the man to measure his goodness by divine standards, which serve as the underpinnings for all of the commandments. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength.” And, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Which of us has not at times put our health, wealth, or other worldly blessings ahead of our relationship with God or others? Guilty.
        Jesus also offers the parable of the “Good Samaritan.” Other “good” men pass by the wounded man, robbed, beaten, and left by the roadside to die. Only the despised Samaritan – a societal enemy -- stops to help (Luke 10: 30-37). How many people have we passed by in our lives, overlooking their needs? Guilty.
        There’s no getting around it. We all sin, even those of us -- especially those of us -- who don’t think we are as “bad” as others are.

God’s Judgement
        God’s verdict on all counts? Guilty. God’s sentence? He offers two options: “condemned” or “pardoned.” The sentence depends on our response. We have a choice (free will at work again).
        If we don’t think we have done wrong, we don’t ask for forgiveness (the choice). If we don’t ask for forgiveness, we stand condemned before God (the sentence), and we drive a wedge between God an ourselves, and between those we have wronged and ourselves (the result).
        If on the other hand, if we ask for forgiveness, we are pardoned. Our relationship with God (and hopefully with others) is restored.
        Here comes the billion dollar question: “Why can’t God simply forgive us, without requiring us to believe that Jesus is the Son of God, sent to ‘die for our sins’?”

Jesus’ Purpose
        Here’s a stab at an answer, in two parts. The answer builds on my previous correspondence regarding a relationship, not a religion.
        (1) We need evidence of God’s forgiveness -- He provides it. Our child disobeys us, but sincerely asks for forgiveness. We might respond, “I forgive you,” but we don’t play ball with them again. Our child will not feel forgiven, because it appears to him that we still hold their disobedience again him.
        If we desire to be close to God, don’t we need to know we are forgiven when we “sin”? (If we don’t care what God thinks, that’s a pretty strong indication we’re not truly sorry for our offenses.) God not only says we are forgiven, he also demonstrates his forgiveness (and love) by suffering the punishment we justly deserve – far greater than the physical pain he endured on the cross. For a moment, Jesus feels that horrible separation when he cries, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” That is what we deserve, when we displease God. (John, thanks for this reminder.)
        Think how awful you would feel if you lost a child. How would it feel to be totally and permanently separated from God? Thankfully, we have the promise that we will never feel that wrenching human agony. How do we know that our offenses will not separate us from God? Because not even death can separate us from God -- demonstrated by the resurrection of Jesus. (If we do not believe God has power over Jesus’ death, what hope have we at death?)
        (2) God desires evidence of our faith and obedience – we have a choice to provide it. To receive God’s pardon, we must trust that Jesus’ sacrifice was made on our behalf. When the blind man comes to Jesus asking for his eyesight, Jesus doesn’t instantly “zap” him so he can see. Instead, Jesus spreads mud on his eyes and tells him to go wash it off in the river. Why? Back to free will.
        God doesn’t force us to please him. God doesn’t force us to ask for forgiveness when we don’t. God doesn’t zap us when we ask for forgiveness. He says, “Trust me when I say that Jesus died on your behalf – and you must believe this to receive my pardon.” “If you want to see, go wash the mud off your eyes in the river.” “I know it might sound strange, but trust me and do it.”
        What evidence of our faith and obedience can we offer God? Jesus tells the parable of the servant who is forgiven sizeable debts by his master. Then, when another man comes to the servant asking for forgiveness, the servant refuses – and is sentenced by the master to pay every penny owed (Matthew 18: 21-35). We demonstrate our acceptance of God’s forgiveness by forgiving others.

Wrapping Up
        If we are told we have an abundant inheritance, but don’t believe it and don’t claim it, then we will continue to live in poverty. This inheritance, the promise we will never be separated from God, is ours despite all our human failures. “You are pardoned. I will never leave nor forsake you.” That promise is backed by universal and personal demonstrations of God’s forgiveness and love.
        We have a choice to believe the promise (faith), and to demonstrate our acceptance of the pardon by forgiving others (obedience).

Footnote
        Oops! Forgot to close the loop. We came a long way from Old Testament views on slavery. The point is this: men in the O.T. miserably failed in their efforts regulate “good” conduct. The nation of Isreal (and many of its laws) did not achieve the essence of the Ten Commandments – love God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself. Today, an honest appraisal of our personal lives reveals that we, too, fall far short of God’s standard of conduct and attitude.
        We need the Old Testament to appreciate the New Testament. God has given us another way to please him, since we haven’t done so well via the strictly legal route that always ends in a “guilty” verdict. Admit failures, ask for forgiveness, and accept (and enjoy!) God’s demonstration of his forgiveness. Then, demonstrate faith in God’s new way of reconciliation: forgive others – even though we cannot come close to showing forgiveness in the way God has shown to us.