Consequences of sin
Submitted by Jules on April 29 2000 11:38:40
In reply to With sin comes penalty submitted by Heteroman on April 28 2000 19:05:55
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Hi again, Yes, sin has consequences. David committed adultery and murder (2 Sam. 12). According to the law, he should have died (Leviticus 20:10). The prophet Nathan brought his attention to his guilt. Nathan told him what the consequences were: the child was to die; his sons were to fight amongst each other; one of his sons would steal his wives. David confessed his sin to God and pleaded for mercy. God forgave him. Did Nathan tell David to go and submit to the proper legal punishment anyway? No! The consequences of David's sin that Nathan pronounced were not the legal punishment; they were other things. It may be that David had to realise these consequences before he truly repented, but he did not have to offer himself to the legal penalty. We are now in a new covenant, in which the full mercy of God is revealed in an even greater way, and in which Jesus says "Go and sin no more." Someone who has abused children needs to understand the natural consequences of their sin as part of their repentance toward God, but God does not require them to hand themselves in to the police. If they decide even once they are forgiven by God they are still a risk to children, and decided to turn themselves in for that reason, then that's a different matter. With love, Jules |
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