I was reading my devotional this morning on the Metro and I came across Jer. 14:10.
Thus says the LORD to this people:
“ Thus they have loved to wander;
They have not restrained their feet.
Therefore the LORD does not accept them;
He will remember their iniquity now,
And punish their sins.” (NKJV)
So it got me thinking, here it says that God desires to punish sins. So I really began to ruminate on this. What does it mean for God to punish our sins. Note: other translations of this verse say, "punish them for their sins. But when I read this, something sparked in me. So I continued reading the devotional piece for today, and they made this statement, "a good doctor will tell you how sick you are in order to take the medicine that will save you." The way I like to think about that statement is, the medicine is the punishment for the sickness. When you go to the doctor, he doesn't get mad at you for being sick, he gives you what you need to be cured.
I believe that when we sin, we face consequences for our sins. The Bible says "the wages of sin is death." There is no mistaking that fact. God is not mocked whatever a man sows so shall he reap. If you sow into the carnal nature you will reap spiritual death. Spiritual death is basically separation from God. That is the consequence of sin.
Now punishment for sin in my understanding is different. Let's go back to the doctor/patient example. The doctor gives the sick person the medicine that will go to the root cause of the illness and drive it out. The medicine wipes out the sickness from the body. I believe so is God's punishment for sin. God hates sin because it separates us from Him. He is a holy God and he cannot behold sin. However He loves the sinner. Scripture tells us in John 3:16 that "for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." So then how does God punish sin?
God punished sin in the person of Jesus Christ. Remember that He put all our sins upon Him who knew no sin and by His nailing to the cross, He nailed our sins to the cross. Therefore He has satisfied His wrath by putting sin and the root of it to death. Prophecy is then fulfilled in Jer. 14:10. In conclusion, I leave you with these verse for consideration.
13And you who were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh (your sensuality, your sinful carnal nature), [God] brought to life together with [Christ], having [freely] forgiven us all our transgressions,
14Having cancelled and blotted out and wiped away the handwriting of the note (bond) with its legal decrees and demands which was in force and stood against us (hostile to us). This [note with its regulations, decrees, and demands] He set aside and cleared [a]completely out of our way by nailing it to [His] cross.
15[God] disarmed the principalities and powers that were ranged against us and made a bold display and public example of them, in triumphing over them in Him and in it [the cross]. (Col. 2:13-15 AMP)
Thus says the LORD to this people:
“ Thus they have loved to wander;
They have not restrained their feet.
Therefore the LORD does not accept them;
He will remember their iniquity now,
And punish their sins.” (NKJV)
So it got me thinking, here it says that God desires to punish sins. So I really began to ruminate on this. What does it mean for God to punish our sins. Note: other translations of this verse say, "punish them for their sins. But when I read this, something sparked in me. So I continued reading the devotional piece for today, and they made this statement, "a good doctor will tell you how sick you are in order to take the medicine that will save you." The way I like to think about that statement is, the medicine is the punishment for the sickness. When you go to the doctor, he doesn't get mad at you for being sick, he gives you what you need to be cured.
I believe that when we sin, we face consequences for our sins. The Bible says "the wages of sin is death." There is no mistaking that fact. God is not mocked whatever a man sows so shall he reap. If you sow into the carnal nature you will reap spiritual death. Spiritual death is basically separation from God. That is the consequence of sin.
Now punishment for sin in my understanding is different. Let's go back to the doctor/patient example. The doctor gives the sick person the medicine that will go to the root cause of the illness and drive it out. The medicine wipes out the sickness from the body. I believe so is God's punishment for sin. God hates sin because it separates us from Him. He is a holy God and he cannot behold sin. However He loves the sinner. Scripture tells us in John 3:16 that "for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." So then how does God punish sin?
God punished sin in the person of Jesus Christ. Remember that He put all our sins upon Him who knew no sin and by His nailing to the cross, He nailed our sins to the cross. Therefore He has satisfied His wrath by putting sin and the root of it to death. Prophecy is then fulfilled in Jer. 14:10. In conclusion, I leave you with these verse for consideration.
13And you who were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh (your sensuality, your sinful carnal nature), [God] brought to life together with [Christ], having [freely] forgiven us all our transgressions,
14Having cancelled and blotted out and wiped away the handwriting of the note (bond) with its legal decrees and demands which was in force and stood against us (hostile to us). This [note with its regulations, decrees, and demands] He set aside and cleared [a]completely out of our way by nailing it to [His] cross.
15[God] disarmed the principalities and powers that were ranged against us and made a bold display and public example of them, in triumphing over them in Him and in it [the cross]. (Col. 2:13-15 AMP)
-Image taken from http://www.wmofa.com/artists/Velazquez,_Diego/image/Christ_on_the_Cross_1632.jpg.html&img=&tt=
Wow. I have to say I like this perspective of "punishing sin" rather than "punishing the person." It makes so much sense...it does!
ReplyDeleteTruly, Jaycee when the thought came up in my spirit it was like I had a light bulb moment. God wants to deal with the sin in our lives but not to do something harmful to us.
ReplyDelete