God is not going to bring up your sins again!

June 10

Read: Hebrews 9

God is not going to bring up your sins again!

In so many ways, Christians have to navigate what exactly it is that would transform a persons life. What is it that we hope is going to motivate us… lead us… change us… or in some way simply stop us from sinning? It seems to me that the two competing options are: guilt with shame vs. grace and mercy. To put it another way, human will power vs. being ACTUALLY transformed into a new creation by Christ.

For many years, I was taught that when I died there was a judgement that was waiting for me… even as a Christian. I was told that I would stand in front of some sort of cosmic “screen” and all of my life would be played on that screen. When I was being told this, the focus seemed to always be placed particularly on the re-playing of ones “sins”… every time you were “naughty” would be aired out in front of everyone to see… most importantly God. I guess the goal was that the threat of shame and guilt would motivate the audience to “stop sinning” and to live Godly lives out of the fear of being shamed and embarrassed after you die. It was like that last “punishment” you had to endure was to be shamed in front of the rest of the line of believers waiting their turn - as if you could then walk into the new heavens and new earth “humbled” having taken one last “rebuke”.

This simply does NOT line up with the word of God! The second coming of Christ and the judgment that the scriptures speak of for Christ followers is not a matter of reviewing all of our sins. The defining point of the second coming of Christ and the “judgement” he brings is clearly outlined here in Hebrews:

“And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.” (v. 9:27,28)

Jesus’ work regarding sin IS FINISHED. When he shows up a second time it is “to save those who are eagerly waiting for him”. It is not to “deal with sin” again. Jesus was “offered once to bear the sins of many”, and that work is complete. He has taken our sin from us and its penalty and price have been paid. We have been “forgiven”. Look here:

“(Jesus) entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.” (v. 9:12)

“Therefore (Jesus) is the mediator of a new covenant… a death has occurred (his death) that redeems (us) from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.” (v. 9:15)

“Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.” (v. 9:22)

“But as it is, he (Jesus) has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.” (v. 9:26)

Jesus by means of his own blood has secured for us an eternal redemption. It is never ending and perfect. It “kicked in” at the cross and will NEVER STOP. We have been removed from … redeemed from the transgressions of the past covenant. Our sins have been removed from us, not backed up onto some sort of hard drive to be played back again to guilt us, shame us, and humiliate us! Jesus’ blood has brought true forgiveness of sins, and that forgiveness is truly an eternal redemption. Jesus has genuinely “put away” our sin… not simply ignored it or is overlooking it. It has been removed from us… erased… not available for play-back… done away with.

It is Jesus’ magnificent gift, grace, and mercy that motivates us in Christian life. It is the truth of this “new covenant” and his forgiveness that compels us. Ultimately, the threat of cosmic shame or embarrassment is a poor tool or motivator compared to the actual transformative power of Christ IN US. If this coming “judgement” is not a matter of “sin”, then what exactly is it? We will look at that next. For now, know that the threat of “future embarrassment” before the Lord seems to be more a tool of well-meaning Christians trying to motivate others into Christian life than it is actually the biblical truth. We need not fear that moment we appear before the Lord. In that moment - as children of God and people who are “in Christ” - we will be met with love, compassion, mercy and grace… not guilt, shame, fear, or embarrassment! Love you guys. - JDP