© 15 Colin Melbourne
The Glory of the New Covenant
Q: I was wondering what is the line between punishment and forgiveness? For example King David being punished by God.
My belief has always been that Jesus took away our sins and they were forgotten the instant we gave our lives to Him.
What is chastisement then, and why did God say to David (for his sin against Uriah) that the sword would never leave his house? Obviously his sins were not forgotten. Your answer is appreciated. Shawn
A: Thank you for your question Shawn.
Jesus is the “line” you ask about: Your Life-line.
With respect, you are confusing the Old and New Covenants.
The Old Testament can only be correctly understood in the context of Christ: The incarnate Word of God revealed in the New Testament.
Don’t try to run before you can walk.
Learn a lesson from human babies developing; They are born unable to stand or walk, so at first they simply crawl, weeks later they wobble upright, followed by their first faltering steps, soon they can walk nicely, and before you know it, they are running around. All in the brief span of two or three months!
Prayerfully re-read John’s Gospel (preferably KJV), keep on reading it over and over, seeking God, and revelation will come, then go to the First Epistle of John and do the same.
We recommend believers read only these two books of the Bible for the first six months of their new life in Christ.
To fully comprehend, and grow rapidly, put what you read into practice, and God will feed you more. Jn. 3:36, 20:31 KJV;
He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
Forgiveness by Trusting
It is a glorious fact of the Gospel that the instant any sinner repents from unbelief and believes in the LORD Jesus Christ, their sins are forgiven, gone, forever, and they never return to accuse the believer, not in this life or the next.
The penalty God demands for sin has been paid, in full, once and for all.
The punishment due for the sins of mankind was borne by the Son of God on the Cross of Calvary. Is. 53:4-5KJV;
Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
Our Creator, Almighty God, has established this legal spiritual covenant: To forgive the sin of every person who truly believes in Jesus Christ, and confesses Him as LORD.
Believe that with all your heart, tell people, and never lose sight of it.
Forgive because You’re Forgiven
Since God forgives our sin, He expects believers in Christ to forgive. Mk. 11:25 KJV;
And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
Is it unreasonable of Father to insist that those He has forgiven, also forgive every sin against themselves?
It is our joy to forgive after we have come to know the Living God.
New Father, New Life: Real Peace
When you embrace this redemptive fact in your heart, and receive Christ as LORD, He translates you from spiritual death to Divine Life, you come alive with the Life of God in the core of your being: You are born again.
E.W. Kenyon was the first modern evangelist to preach the revelation of the New Creation in Christ. His teachings inspired F. F. Bosworth, T.L. Osborn, Kenneth Hagin, and many others.
No longer in spiritual darkness, but free to walk at peace with Father, in harmony, longing to please Him in all things.
Sin ceases, you have no pleasure in unholy activities, because you have been made new on the inside. (2 Co. 5:17)
It cannot be hidden.
You radiate this Good News.
You have come to understand that every sin you have committed, or ever will commit, was punished in full by the death and burial of Christ for you.
Because your sins have been dealt with, when Father God judged them in Christ, you know they cannot be judged again.
It would be unjust to punish you for sin, after you have trusted that God’s Son was judged for them in your stead.
Those who trust in Christ, are forgiven; but because unbelievers doubt that Christ has paid their sin debt, they remain outside the Blood Covenant, and must therefore pay for their sins eternally.
Religion is exposed to you as rituals and empty ceremonies, you have no use for religion: You have the reality of a tender relationship with the Living God.
God IS.
You know He lives because He lives in your heart. 1 Jn. 5:11-13 KJV;
And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
You have His testimony inside: He has you, you have His Life.
Nothing can take that away: It is God’s Gift to you because of what Jesus has done: The Faith of Christ
Fix your focus on Jesus, and walk with Him.
© 15 Colin Melbourne