Covering Sins

Today I am going to talk about this concept of covering sins. Many people are under the perception that Christ died to pay the price for our sins. That by his death the price has been covered and our sins are covered by that. 

Let me tell a story. A certain man had a son, who in his young developed an addiction to gambling. The son would spend his free time traveling to casinos where he could try his luck. Soon the son found himself in debt. 

So the son returns to his father and admits his problem and asks for help. The son hopes that his father will help him pay off his debts, but instead the father simply offers his advise on how to overcome the addiction. 

In this example the father has a choice. He could bail his son out by paying off the debts, or he can teach his son not to gamble and how to get himself out of his situation. And my point is that one option is more loving than the other. 

If the father removed the consequences of his sons actions, his son will not learn how to overcome his weakness. He will not learn how to resist the temptation, and he will not learn the hardships and struggles that his course leads to. In fact the son may learn a very negative lesson, that he can trust that no matter how bad things get, he can turn to his parents to bail him out. The result is a person who is a leech, never responsible for his own actions. Removing the consequences is not a loving thing to do because it doesn't help us to grow. Truly loving parents should want their children to do better than they did. They way to do that is to teach them correct principles, and allow them to learn from their mistakes. 

So it is with Christ. He did not come to save men in their sins. He came to teach men how to overcome their sins and be made clean. Returning back to my story. If the son overcomes his gambling problem, then his father will vouch for his integrity, and could in confidence trust him with many things and not have to worry about his son abusing it. Even if he still has debts to pay and things to make right, he will be placed into a better path where he can overcome all things. So it is with Christ. If we overcome our sins, then they will be forgotten by Him. This does not take away the consequences, but it allows us the opportunity to move forward without being burdened down by the guilt. Just as the son with a gambling problem may overcome his addiction, he must still work off his debts. And when we sin, if we overcome that sin, there will still be reminders and consequences that linger on.    We still have to deal with those consequences. 

A good example a friend of mine likes to use involves food and exercise. If I eat lots of calorie rich foods and don't exercise, I'm going to gain weight. That is a natural consequence to that kind of behavior. Now the savior could be like a trainer. He can teach us how to get back in shape, and because he is a good trainer he doesn't mock or judge us. But we have to admit our problem and accept his help or he can't help us. He is there to help us overcome. He us there to teach us the way. But we still have to do our part.

Love and Forgiveness

In my previous articles I attempted to show and differentiate between different perceptions of God and the way He really is. In my last article I showed how God possesses this unconditional love, known as agape in Greek. I briefly showed that our English words for love don't do the concept justice and we will continue to explore that concept in greater depth. Let us begin by returning to the full story of the Prodigal Son. 

“And He said, A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, "Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me." And he divided unto them his living.  And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.  And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.

And when he came to himself, he said, "How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!  I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants."

And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son."

But the father said to his servants, "Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found." And they began to be merry.

Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.

And he said unto him, "Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound."

And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and entreated him.  And he answering said to his father, "Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:  But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf."

And he said unto him, "Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.  It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found."”

Luke 15:11-32

Now let us examine a few important concepts in this parable. We see this young son receive his inheritance. We have an opportunity do use our time on this earth as we please, and we ought to use it for the best good. In this story the son squanders his inheritance.  

Now the next concept is that all actions have consequences. In this story one of the consequences is that the son no longer had any money in consequence of his having wasted it. Had he saved his money to buy his necessities, he might have weathered the rough times. Or had he used his inheritance productively he might have had an increase and ended up with more than he had started with. So it is in life. If we cultivate negative habits, and indulge in sinful or selfish behavior, we waste away our time which could be spent in improving and growing.  If we work on improving our character and growing spiritually we gain an increase. 

Next in the story, through his suffering he comes to realize the reality of his situation. It is through his suffering that he realizes he has made mistakes, and realizes that only by owning up to that and making some resolve to change, is his situation going to improve. This is often the case with us, that only when our actions catch up with us do we realize the seriousness of our actions. 

Realizing it was his own deeds that caused his troubles, and remembering that his fathers house was a place of refuge, he next determines to return to his father. So it is with us.  However because of his misdeeds he no longer feels worthy to return to his father as a son. Instead he desires to be a hired servant. We must humble ourselves and return to Him, with full intent to right our wrongs and correct our mistakes. But don't let the perceived seriousness of your sins prevent you from doing so. Many will feel so unworthy because of their guilt and shame that they will not even try. No matter what you have done, moping about it or trying to pretend is not going to change anything. Just try to do better and keep trying. 

Now despite the son's feelings of unworthiness and his plea to be a servant, notice the loving father's reaction.  There is no judgement, no condemnation. He instead runs towards his son who has returned home. He embraces him. And he celebrates that his son has come back by having a feast.  He responds with understanding and compassion.  He knows what his son has been through and he knows what his son will yet have to go through. 

Now the other son returns home to find his brother has returned, but that he had lost his inheritance. He initially feels saddened that his father is celebrating. He feels as though his efforts have not been justly rewarded. So his father comes out to comfort him. The good son bears out his feelings, so the father explains to him this important principle. 

The father explains to him that he has received his inheritance. The father tells his son that all that the father possesses, he will possess. Recall, the rebellious son has already received his inheritance and squandered it. He cannot get it back. Though he is forgiven and accepted back into his fathers home, he cannot regain what was lost. All he can do is move forward. 

Now God is loving like unto the father in this parable. But His love and His forgiveness will not take away the consequences of our choices and actions. There is a place in his kingdom for all that choose to return to His presence. But it is so much better that we not squander our inheritances. We will have to deal with the consequences whether we return to Him or not. And justice demands that He cannot take the glory that His righteous servants have and give it to those who have lost theirs. If God could or would take away the consequences then He would be robbing us of our opportunities. It would be as as though to say that "It doesn't matter what you choose, I will override your choice and reward you regardless." Much of this is a topic for another time.  

But my main point I want to leave with my readers is that love and forgiveness do not take away the consequences. If we sin we must still deal with the results. If I rob a bank and then say that God forgives me and do not return the money, I am still a theif, and the law will still hold me accountable. Every sin must be made right. That's where the atonement comes in. Till next time. 

The Loving God

The third type of diety people perceive is a loving being.  This is the version of God that loves mankind unconditionally. Of the three versions of God this version is the most accurate. 

However, in order to understand a loving God, you have to understand what kind of love He possesses and exhibits.  I will attempt to explain what I mean in the simplest terms I can. 

In the English language there are really only two words for love. There is first the very ambiguous word "love", which can mean anything from lust, sexuality, or desiring-preferring one thing over another. It can be applied to people, possessions, foods, feelings, entertainment, etc. Then there is the word "like" which is a lesser form. The problem is these words are so ambiguous that you have to derive the meaning from the context in which it is used, and even then the meaning is often lost. 

By contrast, the Bible was written in other languages, namely Hebrew and Greek. Both languages have words for love that define specific types of love for which there are no English equivalents. Greek has four words for love. Hebrew has at least three, but we are going to focus on the Greek. In Greek three of the four words for love are natural loves which we more or less need. There are part of our natural order and in and of themselves are neither good nor evil. 

It is not my goal at this time to explore the differences in the meanings of these words. Rather we will focus on the forms used to describe the love of Christ, which is agape. Agape (pronounced agápē) is unconditional love. It is the love God has for man. It is free from pride or selfishness. A most excellent example is found in the writings of Paul. 

“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not agape, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not agape, I am nothing.

And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not agape, it profiteth me nothing.

Agape suffereth long, and is kind; agape envieth not; agape vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

Agape never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.  For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.  But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

And now abideth faith, hope, agape, these three; but the greatest of these is agape.”

1st Corinthians 13:1-13

In the KJV (and other versions) this passage translates agape as charity. This is undoubtedly because the translators realized that love was too ambiguous of a word and could not convey the proper meaning. However I feel that charity does not properly convey the meaning either, since charity means to give, but that act in itself is not agape. We can give out of eros, pride, selfishness, necessity, etc. Charity on its own has no motive, but it can have either good or bad motives behind it. If I give to the poor I can do it out if a genuine compassion, or out of guilt.

Most natural lives are conditional. For example, a mothers love for her child, which some say is unconditional but it is not so, can be turned into bitterness if the child does not reciprocate that love. Likewise with romantic love which also turns into an ugliness if it is not returned. Or a friendship that crumbles into dust when a misunderstanding is introduced or trust is betrayed. Not so with agape. God loves us very deeply regardless of what mistakes we make.

“... A certain man had two sons:  And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.

And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.  And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.  And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.  And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. 

 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!  I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,  And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.  And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.

But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:  And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:  For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.”

Luke 15:11-24

In an upcoming article we can discuss the meaning of agape, forgiveness, and the atonement. But for now I just wish to show that God's love for us is not conditional, and does not diminish when we make mistakes. He values our souls and desires give us all that we desire that is good. 

The Indifferent Creator

The next type of god I wish to discuss is the indifferent creator. This belief seems to arise among a type of people who on one hand see that the world around them could not have come about by random chance or circumstance, therefore there must have been an intelligent being who created it or somehow guided and molded the formation of the universe. But on the other hand they do not see His guiding influence in their day to day lives. In other words they believe in a being powerful enough to create the universe, and that we happen to be a very small part of that universe, but that He can't be bothered with our day to day lives and struggles. That He created mankind then left them to figure things out on their own. 

This type of doctrine can be very popular with people. It can act as a bridging gap between aetheism and creationism. It attempts to explain how the universe came to be, but one doesn't need to be bothered with the finer points of religion. It's popular because it does not carry with it a inherent concept of either heaven or hell. It positions us as merely a part of the created universe, and that the actions of men are of little real consequence in that universe. It is popular because it's convenient to those that want to believe there is a god, but do not want to be held accountable for their actions.

This type of belief is in contradiction with the scriptures. However those that subscribe to this type of thinking are not likely to think anything of the scriptures. In their view, God, Buddah, Allah, Jupiter, etc. are really not all that different. In their view the teachings about them are just myths and legends, just stories meant to teach the moral values of a particular culture. In this view the so called prophets are just teachers or wise men, nothing more. So it would do little good to use references from the scriptures to show the folly of such a view unless we first show that this type of belief is deeply flawed. Instead we will first turn to reason. 

Ultimately reason begs the question "why?".  Surely why would a being who has power and knowledge to create order from chaos or from nothing, create a universe and not take an invested interest in that creation?  If you were to create some type of sandbox virtual world and create truly complex and intelligent beings in it, would you care what those beings chose to do with their free will?  Why go through the trouble of creating something if you don't care how it turns out?  Does a baker create a cake with no interest in how it will taste?  If the outcome is not a concern, then why bother creating at all?  

Because creating intelligent beings is no accident and is not a small feat. Creating intelligent beings such as humans suggests a level of dedication and investment in the creation. Would a parent invest in a child, giving them a fine education, feeding and nurturing and providing a suitable environment for them with no concern wether that child becomes a successful businessman or a dying drug addict?  Think upon these things. Ask these questions. A belief in a disinterested god is really do different than a belief in no god. 

Now, let us examine a few passages of scripture that show us more what kind of God our creator really is. 

“Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.

And the Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows; And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians...”

Exodus 3:6-8

This doesn't sound like a disinterested God to me. In fact on a side note, why did it take the Israelites so long to realize the predicament they found themselves in and ask for help?

“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?  Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?

If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?  Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.” 

Matthew 7:7-12

And then there is the teaching that God sent His own son, Yessuah, to teach mankind His gospel. To teach men how to be loving and kind and selfless. He sent His son, knowing that He would have to give His life for this cause. I could go further into this, but that is for a later discussion all its own. My point is that, according to the scriptures, God is very invested and very interested in what we do. And not just collectively as mankind. He is interested in you. He cares about your struggles, failures, victories, success, heartaches, and happiness. He created this world for a purpose, and He created you for a purpose. 

The Vengeful God

The first type I will call the Vengeful God. This is the version of God that is mighty and self-righteous. He just sits up in Heaven and looks down upon His creation. When people do well and obey Him, He rewards them with a place in Heaven and they get to be eternally happy. If they disobey Him, He waits to cast His judgement and toss the wicked sinners into the coals of hell. This view is advocated by many groups including atheists. They state that only a vengeful God would destroy mankind with a flood or destroy Egypt with plagues. 

But is this version of God really what He is like?  Rather than listening to the opinions of man, let's turn to the scriptures for clues. 

“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, "I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."

The Pharisees therefore said unto him, "Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true."

Jesus answered and said unto them, "Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go.  Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man.  And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.  It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true.  I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me."

Then said they unto him, "Where is thy Father?" Jesus answered, "Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also."”

John 8:12-19

“All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.”

Matthew 11:27

“Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.

Then answered Jesus and said unto them, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.  For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.

For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.

For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.  Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.

For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.”

John 5:18-30

These passages should make one thing perfectly clear. If looking a Christ's works, and seeing that He is not vengeful, spiteful, or unloving in any way, how can one then think that God is not exactly the same?

Jesus Christ states that He came to save mankind. That is God's great work also. When the priests brought a woman taken in adultery before Jesus to test Him, after they had left He told the woman to go and sin no more. Notice that He didn't say "woman you have committed a terrible sin and for that you will spend eternity in the darkest depths of burning hell."  Christ desires us to repent. It is the sin itself that keeps us away from Him. 

Back to the instance of the flood. Many will say that God destroyed mankind with this mighty flood. But is that the whole story?  God did not want to destroy them, He wanted them to repent and gave them many many opportunities to do so. But the people continued to grow increasingly wicked. In so doing they pushed God away. When the earth itself could no longer bear the wickedness of man, God could not save those who had rejected Him. 

What of the plagues upon Egypt?  Plagues, pestilence, famine, and disaster have happened all throughout history and affect the righteous and the wicked alike. But those that are faithful talk to and counsel with God and can exercise faith in Him and learn how to receive help. The wicked are determined to deal with the situation using their own wisdom and understanding and refuse to ask for help from the source.  It is not God's will that we suffer. He wants to help us, and teach us, and love us. But He cannot spare us the consequences of our choices and actions. And He cannot help us if we refuse to ask. 

Egypt once honored the God of Isreal, but they grew proud of their own achievements and forgot how God had once delivered them from a famine.  Then they began to persecute those that did honor God. Soon the Isrealites were turning away from God as well. They feared being persecuted, and they grew to enjoy the wealth and culture of the Egyptians.  It was reaching a critical point.  

I will go into it more in a future article, but I will say at this point, these things are part of a great and grand plan for mankind, a plan that we are part of. God sorrows and weeps when we choose a path that will destroy us, and He may have to stop us if our choices infringe on the rights and opportunities of others. That's where the plagues and destructions really come in. They are tools to refine and benefit us. If we persevere through these things, we become stronger, kinder, more loving, and we gain an empathy we never could have known otherwise. If we gain these things, then it doesn't matter if we lose our mortal lives because we will still live on. But if we are rebelling against God and we get caught in these plagues and destructions, it will be terrible. We will become bitter instead of better, and we will know that we are not justified. 

What Is God Like?

In order to apply faith in God, we need to know what kind of a being He is, and what our connection with Him is. 

There are several views about God. Many of these views are in great contrast with each other. While people see God in many different ways, I am going to classify God as people see Him into one of three groups. 

The first I will call the Vengeful God. 

The second I will call the Indifferent Creator

The third I will call the Loving God

Power Through Faith

In my previous article I showed through other biblical examples that Christ was not able to perform His mighty miracles simply because He was the messiah. Other mighty prophets were also able to do mighty works. And it wasn't simply because they were prophets. Rather a lot has to do with how they became prophets. 

One of the keys that is required is this principle of faith. 

“And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.  And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, "It is a spirit"; and they cried out for fear.  But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, "Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid."

And Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water."  And He said, "Come." And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.  But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, "Lord, save me." And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, "O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?"”

Matthew 14:25-31

This story is an excellent example of faith. But in order to begin to understand how this is done, we need to have a correct understanding of what faith is and what it is not.  To gain a greater understanding of faith and how to apply it into our lives we first need to understand a bit about the God we are to put our faith in. Only by understanding what kind of God we are trusting in can we begin to exercise faith in Him.