Third, God does not treat us as our sins deserve.
“He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; 10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.” Psalms 103:9-10 (NIV)
God did not always accuse us, at the cross, He directed His accusation and condemnation to Jesus. He did not harbor His anger forever but poured it all out on His Son, who stood in the place of all sinners. Now, when God forgives, He refuses to treat us as our sins deserve. The reason is, He treated Jesus as our sins deserve. So, now He treats us as His Son deserves.
What a glorious truth that is powerful to change our hearts and lives! We rebelled against God, we spurned His love, we chose our sinful way, lived to gratify our lusts, and yet in forgiveness, God refuses to treat us as our sins deserve. Rather, our relationship with Him is based on grace! Grace purchased at the cross with the precious blood of Jesus! Amazing grace that goes on forgiving even when sin abounds in our lives.
“We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way, and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:6 (NIV)
“The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more” Romans 5:20.
“Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times” Matthew 18:21-22.
Because Jesus Christ purchased grace for us at such an expensive price, His own life’s blood, God can, and does, officially treat us only according to grace, never according to our sins.
Now we see how we are to forgive others: we are to refuse to treat them as their sins deserve. We are to forgive them over and over, again and again just as God forgives us.
If you are leading others in your church, you must help them understand that God does not treat them as they deserve to be treated, and for this reason, they are not to treat others who perpetrate wrongs against them as they deserve.
Tough love mantras such as “Kick them to the curb” and “Throw them out until they straighten up,” are not according to the gospel, but rather natural principles taught by the world.
Question 3. Please give an example of a time when it would be “natural” to treat an offender as he deserves to be treated.
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Miles writes, "My own example; rebelling against God and my Saviour, pursuing the sins of my lust and flesh, giving myself over to my pleasures not considering anyone, not God, Jesus my wife, my kids, my grandkids, my church family, I deserved the destruction of every relationship due to my hardened heart and seared conscience."
Question 4. Reflect on your answer to Question 3 and consider how the message of the cross encourages us to treat sinners differently than would be “natural.” What are your thoughts?
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Miles writes, "God lovingly and patiently pursued me, his love came first and I couldn't receive it due to my shame and fear and pride. but He did not treat me as my sin deserved, he expertly exposed my sin, gave me a wife filled with His Spirit that lovingly forgave me even tho my sin was against her many times over and deserving of her anger, hatred and divorce. Her love and forgiveness directed me to His love and forgiveness. The cross of Jesus is the only way to forgiveness and being able to completely forgive others."