Non-condemnation vs. Forgiveness of Sins

2003-08-28 11:00

God, who has condemned the Jews by the law, and the Gentiles by the conscience, has spoken to us by his Son in these last days. Non-condemnation is the love of God, which is given to all people on earth.

The Bible says about it, John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." And also it says, 1 Timothy 2:3-4, "This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth."

The Bible is able to make us wise for salvation. The Bible differentiates the forgiveness of sins from non-condemnation. Non-condemnation is like a suspended sentence, by which the sinner is not to be condemned, just as it is written, John 8:11, "Then neither do I condemn you."

By the law, the woman caught in the act of adultery should have been stoned, but the Lord did not condemn her, suspending the sentence. Likewise, God blessed all nations on earth through Abraham's offspring, not condemning them, as he promised to Abraham and confirmed it with an oath.

Without condemnation there is no death because the wages of sin is death. And so the Bible says, 1 Corinthians 15:22, "For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive."

It is as if one who got a suspended sentence doesn't go to jail, the first death. However, if he sins again, he will be thrown into eternal hell, the second death. Here sinning again is different from sinning under the law.

The Bible says about a new sin in John 16:9, "in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me". Believing in Jesus means having one mind with him. Therefore, in regard to sin, it is the new sin that men don't have one mind with Jesus.

Believing in Jesus doesn't mean just saying "I believe in him", but means having faith expressing itself through love. The Bible says, Galatians 5:6, "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love."

The blood of the Son of God, which is the love of God, is at work in his beloved children without condemnation, and Christ is formed in them. As a result of it, they are found the children of love, who don't condemn anyone.

Only the faith which works by love is able to set us free from the suspended sentence and to make us sin no more. It is written, "Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors." Therefore, those who have not been condemned would be saved and be forgiven their sins only through the faith which works by love.

"Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin." When the Lord met her again later, he saw her faith which works by love, as it is written in Luke 7:47-50, "'Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven--for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.' Then Jesus said to her, 'Your sins are forgiven.' The other guests began to say among themselves, 'Who is this who even forgives sins?' Jesus said to the woman, 'Your faith has saved you; go in peace.'"

Non-condemnation is for the sins of the natural, which are under the law and conscience, but the forgiveness of sins, which is salvation, is for the faith which works by love.

The Bible says, Romans 10:3, "Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness." God's righteousness is the faith which works by love. Hebrews 7:16-17 says, "one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. For it is declared: 'You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.'" Amen, Thank you, Lord.

The least brother, Kim Yun-gu