This is the second part of a reflection on Barna Research findings: 69%, or 7 out of 10 Americans, believe themselves to be Christians, but when asked questions about what it means to be a truly born-again believer, that number drops to 1 out of 10. This is to consider why, and what truly awaits those who live for Jesus Christ versus those who live for this world.
“This is the covenant I will make with them, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.” Then He adds: their sins and lawless acts God will remember no more. (Hebrews 10:16-17)
God says, “Yes, I am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake, and remembers your sins no more.” (Isaiah 43:25)
“As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” (Psalm 103:12)
God repeats that same promise all over the Bible. In fact, from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21, the essence of the whole Bible is sin and redemption. Is there anything more music to our ears than God’s promise: He will remember our sins no more!
That is the greatest promise we can cherish during this earthly life. But does that promise come with any strings attached, or any condition involved? Therefore, when God says, “Your sins and lawless deeds I will remember no more,” what strings are attached, or what conditions are involved?
Even from a human standpoint, if someone robbed us, maligned our good name out of jealousy, or wronged us, and that person looked us in the face to admit their wretched words or behavior and asked for forgiveness, we could be reconciled with that person. Accepting responsibility, expressing remorse, and asking forgiveness are the steps that lead to real reconciliation and a reestablished relationship. Without those steps, there cannot be a true and genuine relationship. Forgiveness requires remorse, repentance, and accepting responsibility.
If that is true with our fellow human beings, how much more is our relationship with God based on faith? King Saul of the Old Testament gives us a window into the strings attached, or the condition of the promise. Saul had no pedigree to become the first king of Israel. He was totally flabbergasted when the prophet Samuel came to anoint him as king — so unsure of himself that he hid from everyone once he was anointed. As time goes on, when we read his life story, two characteristics become crystal clear: first, disobedience; next, jealousy.
God expected obedience from King Saul, but Saul would do whatever suited him. When the prophet Samuel confronted Saul, he always had an excuse, or he boasted about his partial obedience. Then came a great enemy for King Saul and Israel. For forty days, Goliath taunted King Saul and Israel; no one in Israel was willing to challenge him. Then young David stepped onto the scene and confronted Goliath with a sling and a stone. David killed Goliath and used Goliath’s own sword to decapitate him. This should have been a great celebration for King Saul.
However, David’s newfound celebrity status so infuriated Saul that, for the rest of his life, he burned with jealousy toward David.
Every promise God makes in His Word has a string attached, a condition. Even a person who wants to become a Christian has a condition attached: that person must believe Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is the Creator and Sustainer of the world; that He came into this world, was born in a manger, and died a criminal’s death on a cross to redeem us from our sins. If we can believe that, and live our lives to please Jesus Christ, then we are Christians. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, but fools despise wisdom and discipline” (Proverbs 1:7). “Fear of God — that thankful and reverential recognition of His glory, sovereignty, and power — is where we must rest, and hope can be found in the face of what at times seems difficult and hopeless” (Paul Tripp, Suffering, p. 67). Saul never had a true fear of God. He was often sorry for his disobedience, but he was consumed with maddening jealousy. Saul did not fear or wholeheartedly obey God; if there was obedience, it was only partial.
Seven out of ten people in America claim to be Christians, but it is often just cheap grace. Most look for preachers to tickle their ears. They love preachers like Kenneth Copeland and his prosperity gospel, complete with his private airport and runway on the grounds of his ministry’s 1,500-acre campus in Fort Worth, Texas. The ministry owns several jets. An 18,000-square-foot lakefront residence, valued at millions of dollars, is part of his church property — all of it, of course, tax-exempt. Poor souls around the globe watch and listen to him and to many other prosperity gospel preachers, sending them their life savings in hopes that they too will receive a share of his prosperity blessings. It is all hogwash — using God’s name to swindle unsuspecting, poor souls with no shame or conscience.
Just as the prodigal son grew sick of eating the food the pigs ate after squandering his father’s inheritance, and thought of home and how well his father’s servants lived under his father’s care, he finally came to his senses. When some of that 69% of American people come to their own senses, they too will look for pastors and churches like Dr. Evans of Church by the Sea in Fort Lauderdale, who proclaims to all, “I just want to be a pastor for 200 people, to prepare them for eternity; there will be no mega building or mega ministry as long as I am pastor here.” In such places, people learn to fear God, learn God’s Word, and are trained to live in obedience to God.
When each of us truly comes to the conclusion that “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” — consider that Kenneth Copeland is 88 years old. How little time is left for him, with all his private planes, mansions, and global flights? He, and all of us, must meet our Maker: first death, then the judgment seat, and an account for our brief life.
As each of us comes to our senses, the things of this world become less and less appealing. A good night’s sleep becomes most cherished, and regret over our sins grows heavier than we can imagine. All the lies, gossip, and the names we ruined out of jealousy will haunt us. No amount of alcohol, worship of politicians, or idols of our world will change the wicked life we lived. If and when we realize Jesus Christ was nailed to a cross — something none of us would do even to a dog — that it was to pay for your sins and mine, then, and only then, can we get up from eating pig’s food and accept the death of Jesus Christ as our redemption price from our slavery to sin. Just as the father in the story of the prodigal son ran toward him, welcomed him home again, put a ring on his finger, and threw the greatest feast for all — because his son was dead, and now he is alive, part of God’s family again — it all began with that boy coming to his senses.
I started with the first king of Israel, Saul, who never thought he was worthy to be king. Here is his end: “The battle was hot and heavy around Saul. The archers got his range and wounded him badly. Saul said to his armor-bearer, ‘Draw your sword and kill me, so these pagan Philistines can’t run me through and taunt and torture me.’ But his armor-bearer, filled with dread, refused to do it. So Saul took his own sword and fell on it. When his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he too fell on his sword and died with him. So Saul, his three sons, and his armor-bearer died together that day.” (1 Samuel 31:3-6)
That was his first death. There is a second death: “Cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshippers, and all liars — their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” (Revelation 21:8)
Saul raged with jealousy toward David, thinking he could get away with it without remorse or true repentance, and he died by his own sword. But there is a second death, in the lake of fire, for eternity. The New Testament tells us: “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
The Old Testament’s Saul had two Achilles’ heels: a furious, raging jealousy toward David, and disobedience to God’s Word. Although he had no pedigree to become king, obedience to God’s Word was never something he took seriously. Every time the prophet Samuel confronted him about his disobedience, Saul always had an excuse.
Every one of us has our own Achilles’ heel. What other people think of us is very important to us. As a result, beneath everything we do and say is an undertone of how others perceive us, often with little concern for what God thinks. Are we God-pleasers or man-pleasers? The life of Saul is a case study of a man lifted by God to a high position but destroyed by his own character flaws.
On the road to Mount Gilboa, King Saul fell on his own sword and took his own life. A New Testament man also named Saul, bent on destroying Jesus Christ’s fledgling church, heard the words of Jesus on the road to Damascus and was transformed into the Apostle Paul — God’s greatest spokesman and missionary, who wrote more than half of the New Testament.
So what road are you traveling today? The road to Mount Gilboa, destroyed by character issues? Or the road to Damascus, bent on obeying whatever Jesus Christ wills for your life? Life or death — what do you choose? To keep eating the pig’s food of lies, hate, racism, pride, prejudice, and fake appearances — or to repent and follow Jesus Christ, who was nailed to the cross for us? Whether you decide now or postpone the decision, the choice remains. For many, wallowing in sin is pleasurable, but coming to God requires true repentance and full obedience to follow Jesus.
There are two choices: life or death, hell or heaven, joy or misery, pleasing God or pleasing man. Living for the risen Jesus Christ, or for this wretched world — you and I must decide daily.
Finally, nothing in this world can clear our conscience or give us a pure heart. Only Almighty God, through Jesus Christ — His life, death, resurrection, and ascension — can give us new life. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow” (Isaiah 1:18).
If and when we decide to follow Jesus Christ, we are set apart as His disciples. We no longer belong to this world. We must bear the family resemblance of a set-apart life: “I am separated from this world. I am in the world, but I am no longer of this world.” There are things I can no longer think or say, places I can no longer go, and things I can no longer do, because Jesus Christ purchased my redemption on the cross. Therefore, all we do must reflect the costly grace of Christ.
As Dr. Lloyd-Jones said: “We must examine ourselves; there are people who worship money, people who worship status and position, people who worship their brains and abilities, people who worship their good looks — it is all idolatry.” In our time, many worship politics and politicians; it too is all idolatry.
For those who truly live for God, He gives this promise: “I will remember their sins no more.” No matter how great our sins, God’s grace is sufficient. When we turn to Christ, trust in His finished work, and follow Him in obedience, God will remember our sins no more.