Category: The Words of Jesus

Understanding the Red Letters   Part 23

So if you have been following these posts at all, you know that I believe the Bible teaches us that all of our sins are completely forgiven by the shed blood of Jesus the moment we believe the gospel.  But the church at large, at least in their practice, does not seem to share this view.  Almost every church I visit, has some form of confession and seeking forgiveness for our sins built into their worship.  Why is this so?

First is the holdover from the Catholic church that confession and forgiveness is required as an integral part of the Christian life.  I will just say it is not and go on to point two.

Second – and this is probably why number one still hangs around – is that grace and complete forgiveness is just too good to be true.  In our heart of hearts, I think most of us believe that when a sin is committed, someone has to pay.  No one gets off scot-free.  Forgiveness that lasts forever no matter what you do next is just not allowed.  We need to continue to pay for our sins by asking for forgiveness whenever we fail.

But what folks who feel this way fail to comprehend is that grace is beautifully unfair, by its very nature.  It comes to us completely free of our works.  Until you understand the beautiful unfairness of grace, you will struggle to understand your complete forgiveness in Christ.

Third, not understanding the transactional forgiveness outlined in the Lord’s prayer as old covenant confuses us.  In churches Sunday after Sunday, we repeat, “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors” (Matthew 6:12).  This sure sounds like asking God for forgiveness and that forgiving those who harm us is required to experience His forgiveness.

But keep in mind that what we know as The Sermon on the Mount is a combination of Jesus teaching Law, of Jesus teaching old covenant, of Jesus giving us glimpses of the coming new covenant.  In this case, seeking to be forgiven as we forgive is complete old covenant.  It is transactional, and transactional between us and God is at the heart of the old covenant.

The Golden Rule is another good example of this in the Sermon on the Mount, “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:12).  Jesus identifies this as old covenant teaching with the phrase, “For this is the Law and the Prophets.”  Much of the Sermon on the Mount is old covenant and needs to be seen in that light.

Before the cross, under the old covenant, we were told to forgive to be forgiven.  After the cross, under the new covenant, we are instructed to forgive BECAUSE WE HAVE ALREADY BEEN forgiven.  Huge difference.  “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32).

Fourth, is our misunderstanding of the audience for I John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  This message of forgiveness and cleansing was addressed to a group of unbelievers who claimed no need for a Savior because they had no sin.  Agreeing (confessing) with God that they were sinners is the first step to believing the gospel and receiving God’s complete forgiveness.  This verse is not directed at believers.

This understanding of I John 1:9 is frequently covered in my posts.  For further study, I recommend the book, Forgiven and Cleansed, by Brad Robertson.

Understanding the Red Letters   Part 22

One of the hallmarks of the gospel message that seems to be buried by the Christian religion is the complete forgiveness of our sins brought to us by the shed blood of Christ.

“When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross” (Colossians 2:13-14).

What happened to the totality of our sins?  “Having forgiven us ALL of our transgressions.”

What happened to the penalty of our sins?  “Having canceled out the certificate of debt against us.”

What happened to the placement of our sins?  “Having nailed it to the cross.”

Christ did all the work upon the cross for our forgiveness AND it became ours when we appropriated it by faith; when we believed the gospel message of Jesus Christ.  Christ’s death plus our faith = our complete forgiveness.

In fact, our forgiveness is so complete that, The Holy Spirit declares, ‘Their sins and lawless deeds I will remember no more’ “ (Hebrews 10:17).  Our forgiveness is so complete that, “By one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified” (Hebrews 10:14).  We are perfected and sanctified – past tense – by the offering of Jesus.  We are not perfect in our actions, but we are perfect in regard to our complete forgiveness.

Again, the key to appropriating God’s forgiveness is faith.  It is the pattern in the gospels.  What did we learn last time about the woman who anointed Jesus’ feet?  “Then Jesus said to her, ‘Your sins have been forgiven … Your faith has saved you; go in peace’ “ (Luke 7:48-50).  But wait there is more.

Think back to the story of the paralytic being let down through the roof.  Do you recall Jesus’ proclamation of the man’s sins forgiven?  The words of Jesus are very similar to the woman’s experience in Luke 7.  “Being unable to get to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Him; and when they had dug an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic was lying.  And Jesus SEEING THEIR FAITH said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven’ “ (Mark 2:4-5).

I don’t even know how much was the paralytic’s faith or his friend’s faith, but either way, their faith prompted Jesus’ declaration of forgiveness.

I believe Jesus declares us completely forgiven the moment we believe His gospel message.  So why do so many pastors insist that we revisit our sins and seek God’s forgiveness as an integral part of our Christian experience?  We will talk about at least four reasons next time.

Understanding the Red Letters   Part 21

Last time, we featured Jesus as “friend of sinners”.  Jesus came to befriend, call, and save sinners, which we were!  He came for us.  And this mission of Jesus riled the religious leaders of His day.  Let’s look at another story of our beautiful “friend of sinners” in action.

“Now one of the Pharisees was requesting Him to dine with him, and He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table.  And there was a woman in the city who was a sinner; and when she learned that He was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster vial of perfume, and standing behind Him at His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and kept wiping them with the hair of her head, and kissing His feet and anointing them with the perfume.  Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, ‘If this man were a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner.’ “ (Luke 7:36-39).

You can see the wheels turning in the host’s mind, “If Jesus were really a prophet, He would know that this woman is a sinner.  And if He had any scruples at all, He would not be allowing her to touch Him.”  Of course, Jesus knew exactly who the woman was.  She was exactly the type of woman that Jesus came to rescue!

Jesus then tells Simon, His host, a parable about forgiveness with this point.  Those who have been forgiven much, love much; love that this woman is showering upon our Lord.  Jesus concludes his story, “For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much” (Luke 7:47).

Did Jesus just say that her sins are forgiven?  Did Jesus just say that her sins, which are many, have been forgiven?  We haven’t heard a word from this woman in the text.  We have not seen a single word from this woman asking for forgiveness.  Has Jesus truly forgiven her?  The next three verses give us the beautiful truth.

“Then Jesus said to her, ‘Your sins have been forgiven.’  Those who were reclining at the table with Him began to say to themselves, ‘Who is this man who even forgives sins?’  And He said to the woman, ‘Your faith has saved you; go in peace’ “ (Luke 7:48-50).

Jesus said it again, this time straight to the woman, in verse 48, “Your sins have been forgiven.”  Again, how can this happen if she did not ask for Jesus’ forgiveness?  Jesus gives us the simple and straightforward answer in verse 50, “Your faith has saved you.”  Her literally pouring out her love for the Savior is an expression of her faith.  She and us are forgiven of our sins when we believe in Jesus; when we believe His gospel message.  It is just that simple.

Yet, the church makes asking God to forgive us a staple of the Christian life, especially the need to seek God’s forgiveness over and over when we sin.  Why would be encouraged to do this when our sins, even if they are many, have already been forgiven?  We will continue this thought in the next few posts.

Understanding the Red Letters   Part 20

Even a casual reading of the gospels suggests that Jesus’ ministry had a particular focus toward “sinners”.  In fact, we see now that coming to save sinners was the heart of Christ’s gospel mission.  “It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (I Timothy 1:15).  Paul wrote it.  Jesus said it.  And Jesus lived it!

“Friend of Sinners” is one of the most overlooked, but powerful titles ascribed to Jesus.  It was initially given to Him as a criticism by the religious leaders of His day.  Jesus had a penchant for hanging out with sinners.  He seemed to make a point of gathering with sinners.  And it was a constant angst for the religious leaders.  They accused Him of being “a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ “ (Luke 7:34).

Accepting a dinner invitation and eating with tax collectors and sinners was considered the worst by the Jewish religious leaders.  “Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him.  Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, ‘This man receives sinners and eats with them’ ” (Luke 15:1-2).

But Jesus had an answer for their complaints.  When Matthew gave a big reception for Jesus that was attended “by a great crowd of tax collectors and other people, the Pharisees and their scribes began grumbling at His disciples, saying, ‘Why do you eat and drink with the tax collectors and sinners?’ “ (Luke 5:29-30).

Before the disciples could answer, Jesus spoke up.  “Jesus answered and said to them, ‘It is not those who are well who need a physician, but those who are sick.  I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance’ “ (Luke 5:31-32).

This is Jesus’ answer to their charge of “friend of sinners”.  Jesus said, “This is exactly why I came and who I came for!”

This was us!  Sinner is who we were.  Sinner is who we were when Christ first found us, loved us, and saved us.  “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).  Praise the Father and the Son for finding, loving, and saving sinners!

Let me close with three quick points on Jesus’ answer, “I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”  First, we lose the “sinner” label immediately when we believe the gospel.  Holy and beloved saint is our new name.  Our sinner label is in our past.

Second, Jesus did not come just to be a friend of sinners, as beautiful and reassuring at that is.  He came to call us and them to repentance.  Jesus did not require the tax collectors and sinners to change their behavior to come to Him.  Their requirement to join Jesus’ kingdom was the same as ours; repent, change your mind, and believe the gospel.  Change would come to them the same way it came to us; change over time as we allow Jesus to live His life through us.

Finally, the “righteous” who seem to be left out of His call?  These are the self-righteous who had no interest in repentance.  High on their own perceived moral superiority, they were unable to see that they were sinners as well; sinners who needed a Savior.

Understanding the Red Letters   Part 19

“At that time Jesus said, ‘I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants.  Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight’ “ (Matthew 11:25-26).

Embracing the gospel message of Jesus Christ has always been about seeing with the eyes of faith.  It has not been about seeing with the most educated eyes, the most intelligent eyes, or even the most religious eyes.  And I believe Jesus’ reference here to children fits this “eyes of faith” theme.

Children have a natural trust in their parents.  Even if we don’t deserve it.  Even if our parenting skills are lacking.  Children have an inherent trust in their mom and dad.  And in a healthy family, that trust is rewarded with a home of love, acceptance, and peace.

Our approach to our heavenly Father should be a child-like trust in the goodness and grace of God.  Fear of His disapproval or disappointment in us is removed as we truly trust our Father’s unconditional love for us.  Don’t overthink it with a bunch of “what ifs” regarding His love for you.  There are none.  He loves you just as you are!

Children understand this kind of love and respond to it.

I think that it is significant that just after Jesus offered this prayer to the Father commending child-like faith, He called out the following invitation.  “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).

Infants know how to rest.  Jesus is inviting you to enter His rest as a child.  Not as a toddler who is screaming, running away, and resisting a nap.  No, be like a newborn infant softly resting in the arms of his fawning parents.  God loves you and you can rest in His unconditional love.  You are safe and secure in the loving arms of your heavenly Father.