GOD – SOFT ON SIN?

‘Propitiation’ was to show God’s righteousness, because in his forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time.  Romans 3:25-26

            When Nathan confronted David over his relationship with Bathsheba, and David acknowledged the gravity of his sin, Nathan said something that is related to these words from Paul.  He said, “The Lord has put away your sin.”  Or, passed over.  The world is outraged when any judge just passes over sin.  Doesn’t that diminish His glory and put His righteous standing at stake?  Is God forever regarded as someone soft on sin, not to be taken seriously?  If He passes over sin, doesn’t that encourage us to pass over it too?

            As Jesus bled to death (became our propitiation), He demonstrated God’s holiness and what it took to satisfy it.  The message was this:  I am righteous and holy.  And because sin needs to be forgiven in order to make you holy, it will require the death of my Son.  Mankind falls short of my glory in huge measure.  I can not just pass over sins forever without requiring a perfect sacrifice that will forgive sins.  I can only wipe them out forever for someone who puts their faith in Jesus.   Sin is a big deal.  My glory is a big deal.  And without Jesus, the sin has no remedy and must be condemned.

            God needed to save me in a way that showed that He is serious about His own glory.  There is no way I could have, by myself, worked to make myself acceptable to God.  My sin problem polluted my chances forever.  There was only one way to satisfy the requirements of a righteous God; through the sacrifice of a perfect Lamb. 

            On the very day tens of thousands of lambs were being brought to Jerusalem to be sacrificed for the Passover, Jesus – the perfect Lamb, was being sacrificed on the cross.  That day, human lambs died for nothing.  Today, sacrifices are still made, still for naught.  Animals are dying needlessly.  Humans are expending themselves needlessly, trying to earn God’s favor and eradicate their guilt.  Oh, look to the Lamb, O earth, and believe.

I sin, everyday.  I repent, everyday. And now, I repent for all the times I took it lightly.  I am silenced by Your glory.  Amen