The Myth of Gods Unconditional Forgiveness

By Patricia Backora
The word unconditional or unconditionally appears NOWHERE in
scripture. Yet this word is one o the !ain deceptions o satan "ein#
preached ro! pulpits e$erywhere. %esus tau#ht that &od !akes it
rain on "oth the 'ust and un'ust ()att.*+,*-. .n the sense o
dispensin# N/T0R/1 "lessin#s upon His creation2 &od cares or
e$eryone2 e$en the !ost e$il o !en. He instructs "elie$ers to do
#ood e$en to their ene!ies. But are &od3s spiritual "lessin#s
dispensed to all2 with no preconditions attached to recei$in# the!4
The apostles ne$er tau#ht that the spiritual "lessin#s o or#i$eness
and "rotherly lo$e are to "e reely #i$en to all2 e$en !en hardened
in deiance a#ainst &od. Not until recent ti!es ha$e you heard o
ter!s such as &od3s unconditional lo$e &od3s unconditional
!ercy or &od3s unconditional or#i$eness.
You ne$er heard a"out &od3s unconditional lo$e in ser!ons
preached in the 56773s2 58773s2 or e$en the irst part o the 97th
century2 "eore the hippie !o$e!ent ca!e alon# pro!otin# ree
lo$e. . ran a word search throu#h ten ser!ons o %onathan
Edwards2 and not once does the word unconditional appear in any
conte:t. .nstead2 Edwards warns repeatedly that !an is "y nature
&od3s ene!y2 separated ro! His lo$e and under threat o &od3s
wrath. Edwards tau#ht that only reconciliation with &od throu#h
;hrist can sa$e hi! ro! that wrath. <er!ons on holiness and the
wrath o &od are al!ost ne$er heard any!ore. .nstead o "elie$in#
the Bi"le when it says &od is a consu!in# =ire (He".59+9>-2 &od is
portrayed as a cuddly teddy "ear.
;hristians are co!!anded not to lose their sa$or (la$or-. True salt
will !ake people thirsty. <piritual salt creates !ore thirst or ;hrist2
the 1i$in# Water2 than su#ar.
<u#ar looks a lot like salt. .t pours like salt. But a teaspoon o su#ar
#oes down easier than a spoonul o salt. 1ike )ary Poppins2
!odern preachers sin# a"out the wonder?workin# power o su#ar.
Preachers are teachin# ;hristians to "eco!e su#ar2 not salt. The
only !ust in a ;hristian lie+ Be sweet. Ne$er speak out a#ainst
sin2 that3s "ein# ne#ati$e. 1i$e and let li$e. Hear no e$il2 see no e$il.
.t3s a sin to #et an#ry at sin. <).1E@ You can catch !ore lies with
su#ar than $ine#ar (true2 "ut you can catch e$en !ore with horse
!anure-. . a #an# o teena#e thu#s "eats up your "a"y on the "us2
H0RRY@ Rush o$er to the! to reassure the! that you or#i$e the!
and &od still lo$es the! 'ust as they are@ <E/R;H YO0R OWN
HE/RT =.R<T or reasons why you !i#ht "e partly responsi"le or
!akin# those creeps e$en want to "eat your "a"y up. E$en i your
child is lyin# in intensi$e care and !i#ht "e "rain da!a#ed the rest
o his lie. E$en i those de$ils aren3t sorry2 e$en i they lau#h at
your pain and "ra# a"out #ettin# o scot?ree2 you3re e:pected to
#i$e up any wish to see &od3s 'ustice done in the situation.
0ni$ersal <al$ationists "elie$e any"ody and e$ery"ody will
e$entually !ake it to hea$en (e$en the de$il4- E$en i sinners curse
;hrist with the ilthiest insults on their death"ed2 they3re destined
or an eternity in hea$en "ecause &od will =OR;E the! to reconcile
with Hi!. . not "eore death2 then in so!e i!a#inary pur#atory
where they lan#uish in a holdin# cell till they co!e to their senses
and surrender to %esus so He3ll let the! out. How3s that or
sincerely lo$in# ;hrist4 .t all "oils down to sel?interest.
. so!eone at work spreads u#ly ru!ors a"out you2 RUSH to that
person and say YO03RE to "la!e or !akin# the! want to slander
you. E$en i you3re totally innocent2 <E/R;H YO0R OWN HE/RT or
hidden sin irst2 and coness <O)E sin to that person who3s lyin# on
you to the "oss to try to steal your 'o". One popular ;hristian !yth
is that only people who are a"solutely sinless ha$e the ri#ht to
co!plain a"out a"usi$e treat!ent@
;onessin# ictional sin isn3t hu!ility@ .t3s a reli#ious deception o
satan. The truth is always the truth2 e$en i the truth is in your
a$or. . you coness to a sin you ha$en3t co!!itted2 that3s 'ust as
!uch a lie as i you try to wi##le out o so!ethin# you ha$e done.
Aoes &od think you3re a wonderul ;hristian i you a"sol$e
unrepentant sinners o all #uilt and responsi"ility or their sin4
Pro$.56+ 5* He that justifieth the wicked2 and he that
conde!neth the 'ust2 e$en they "oth are a"o!ination to the 1ORA.
/"out the only olks ;hristians are ea#er to conde!n are other
;hristians who ind ault with unrepentant sinners. /nd as or takin#
unwarranted "la!e or your own $icti!iBation2 a lie is a lie e$en i
it3s a#ainst yoursel. . you 'ustiy (a"sol$e o #uilt- anyone who is
clearly in the wron#2 and deli"erately conde!n yoursel or
so!ethin# you know you ha$en3t done2 you3re 'ustiyin# the wicked
and conde!nin# the innocent $icti! as "ein# #uilty. E$en i you 'ust
co!!it this sin a#ainst yoursel2 it3s still wron#. This $erse clearly
states that whoe$er does this is an a"o!ination (hateul thin#- to
the 1ord2 not a hu!"le2 lo$in# saint. &od3s lo$e is not ounded on
lies2 alse hu!ility and sel?deceit.
Now .3! #oin# to steer into dan#erous waters. . won3t pretend .3$e
ne$er wondered a"out /11E&EA Bi"le contradictions2 "ut . ha$e
always tried to H/R)ON.CE one passa#e with another. Bless those
who curse you. %esus did say that. But He also said we shouldn3t
throw our pearls to the pi#s. . can3t pray that a "ank ro""er will li$e
a sot2 careree lie with his ill?#otten #ains. Yet you should pray or
sinners to "e sa$ed and do enou#h #ood to try to soten their $ile
heart to "e recepti$e to the #ospel. But did &od Hi!sel always
"less those who hated and cursed Hi!4
1e$.9,+ 5D /nd he that blasphemeth the name of the L!"# he
shall surely be put to death2 and all the con#re#ation shall
certainly stone hi!+ as well the stran#er2 as he that is "orn in the
land2 when he "lasphe!eth the na!e o the 1ORA2 shall "e put to
death.
)att.59+E5+ Whereore . say unto you2 /ll !anner o sin and
"lasphe!y shall "e or#i$en unto !en+ "ut the "lasphe!y a#ainst
the Holy &host shall not "e or#i$en unto !en.
E9 /nd whosoe$er speaketh a word a#ainst the <on o !an2 it shall
"e or#i$en hi!+ "ut whosoe$er speaketh a#ainst the Holy &host2 it
shall not "e or#i$en hi!2 neither in this world2 neither in the world
to co!e.
<ee4 &od has eelin#s too@ No law?a"idin# "elie$er would e$er
stone so!e"ody who $er"ally a"used the!. Nor would they
withhold or#i$eness ro! their a"user or ti!e and eternity. This
passa#e "e#s a Fuestion+ Would &od reuse to or#i$e so!eone who
REPENTEA o the sin a#ainst the Holy <pirit4
)ay"e the Pharisees who "lasphe!ed the Holy <pirit couldnt
repent2 "ecause they3d so alienated Hi! that He reused to e$er
lead the! to repentance a#ain. .t takes the reconcilin# work o the
Holy &host to ena"le !en to repent toward &od (%ohn 5D+8?>-. /nd
no unrepented?o sin e$er #ets or#i$en "y the 1ord o Hea$en.
We alle#edly ha$e to pray that &od "lesses our a"users so !uch
they3ll #et stron#er than us and "e e!powered to hurt us e$en
!ore. Yet &od doesn3t /1W/Y< or#i$e His own a"users@ /re we
"etter than &od4 Only the !ost arro#ant airhead would clai! !oral
superiority to &od@ &od "lew His stack nu!erous ti!es when
people co!!itted ONE act o insultin# Hi!2 and HE wanted 'ustice
to "e done.
)any would say &od2 especially in the OT2 went o$er the top in how
He reacted toward those who didn3t treat Hi! with respect. We are
!ade in His i!a#e. &od was capa"le o an#er2 e$en #reat wrath.
Yet ;hristians conde!n other ;hristians or eelin# hurt a"out
suerin# years o "ullyin# and wantin# &od to deal airly with the
#uilty party.
Whate$er $en#eance &OA decides on and carries out2 that3s His
prero#ati$e2 not ours (Ro!.59+5>-. But i an actual $iolent ;R.)E
has "een co!!itted2 &od has appointed state oicials to e:ecute
earthly retri"ution on the #uilty indi$idual (Ro!.5E+,-. <o ne:t
ti!e you look at a police!an2 re!e!"er he3s a !inister o &od@
Bullyin# at school or elsewhere2 especially the $iolent kind2 should
"e !ade a prosecuta"le ;R.)E. Teena#e punksters PROGEN
"eyond a shadow o a dou"t to "e #uilty o $iolent "ullyin# should
do hard 'ail ti!e. /nd they shouldn3t 'ust while away their hours in
'ail !akin# paper dolls. They should "e outside on a chain #an#
swin#in# a pick a:2 "reakin# up #ranite in a Fuarry. Then !ay"e
they3d think twice "eore assaultin# so!eone else@
Take a $icti! with a <TRON& sense o air play2 who truly "elie$es
in the 'ustice o &od and try ra!!in# this doctrine o 0nconditional
=or#i$eness down hisHher throat. . #uarantee ya2 they3ll keep
spittin# it "ack up ti!e and a#ain 'ust like your own "ody would
$o!it up rancid !eat. .t3s 'ust as utile to con$ince !e that
0N;ONA.T.ON/1 =OR&.GENE<< O= THE 0NREPENT/NT is a 'ust2
reasona"le2 air2 #odly doctrine as it would "e to #et your P.;. to
accept a aulty pro#ra! ull o "u#s. .T %0<T AON3T ;O)P0TE@
.3! tired o #uilt "ein# heaped on the $icti! o a"use while their
a"user is showered with su#ar@ &od says you3re to lo$e your
nei#h"or as yoursel (Ro!.5E+>I &al.*+5,I %a!es 9+8-. You aren3t
co!!anded to lo$e your nei#h"or "etter than yoursel. . you desire
'ustice or an in'ured nei#h"or2 then "y i!plication2 it3s ri#ht or you
to want 'ustice or yoursel.
)uch lo$e is la$ished "y ;hristians on undeser$in# a"users who
ha$e no intention o turnin# ro! their wicked ways. But how a"out
lo$in# the $icti!s to help the! heal ro! their spiritual or e!otional
in'uries4 What a"out lo$in# other POTENT./1 $icti!s the a"user
!i#ht tar#et i he doesn3t suer so!e unpleasant conseFuence ro!
&od or earthly law or his oense4 . you lo$e your nei#h"or you
won3t want to see hi! used as a door!at or others to wipe their
dirty eet on. . you lo$e yoursel as &od lo$es you2 then why
should you want that or yoursel4 What i you don3t like to let e$il
people use you or a door!at4 <o!eone read this $erse at a
!eetin#+
1uke 59+*8+ When thou #oest with thine ad$ersary to the
!a#istrate2 as thou art in the way2 #i$e dili#ence that thou !ayest
"e deli$ered ro! hi!I lest he hale thee to the 'ud#e2 and the 'ud#e
deli$er thee to the oicer2 and the oicer cast thee into prison.
*> . tell thee2 thou shalt not depart thence2 till thou hast paid the
$ery last !ite.
This was !isapplied to !ean that i we don3t hu!"le oursel$es
"eore the person who hurt us and coness that WE3RE the ones at
ault2 &od will take His or#i$eness away ro! us and tor!ent us till
we co!ply with the lie. <o!eone . know proesses to "elie$e in
eternal security ater sal$ation "ut still thinks we can lose out with
&od unless we lo$e e$ery"ody on the planet2 re#ardless o how e$il
and unrepentant they are. &od alle#edly e:pects us to #rant
a"solution to e$ery a"user2 dead or ali$e2 in order to "e or#i$en.
The Holy <pirit will NEGER help anyone do so!ethin# contrary to
&od3s own nature. He does NOT or#i$e unconditionally. Aespite
prayin# or ,7?odd years or His help to or#i$e the unrepentant
a"users2 the Holy <pirit did NOT #i$e !e the supernatural power to
do so2 and . know He ne$er will. Their sin still stands a#ainst the!
in the court o hea$en.
. ir!ly "elie$e unconditional or#i$eness is a latter?day heresy and
a sin in the si#ht o a 'ust &od. .t is a doctrine o de!ons desi#ned
"y satan to create conlict2 #uilt and sha!e in the hearts o a"used
"elie$ers. .t is an insult to His holiness.
1ike winnin# the lo$e o a wo!an you ad!ire2 =OR&.GENE<< .< /
PR.G.1E&E2 NOT / R.&HT@ %esus said not to cast our pearls
(spiritual "lessin#s- "eore swine2 "ecause they3ll only walk all o$er
you and your pearls ()att.6+D-. . don3t think He was tellin# us to
"eware o Porkchops the Pi#@
)any ;hristians take lo$e and or#i$eness to a "iBarre le$el. .
so!e ;hristian3s wie lands in "ed with the deacon2 the cheated?on
hus"and should tearully coness his aults to the #uilty deacon and
"e# his or#i$eness. He should ask what sin he3d co!!itted to
cause the deacon to "e te!pted "y his "eautiul "lond wie. Presto@
The wron#ed hus"and is !a#ically transor!ed into the #uilty party
who needs to ask the deacon3s or#i$eness@ The way so!e
;hristians interpret ;hristian lo$e2 it would "e a sin o !alice i the
in'ured !an reused to #i$e the wo!an an uncontested di$orce so
the deacon could !arry her@ / ar "i##er sin than the deacon
co!!itted@
Aid the apostle Paul indiscri!inately pray &od3s "lessin#s on
e$ery"ody2 riend and oe alike4
9 Ti!.5+5D+ The 1ord #i$e !ercy unto the house o OnesiphorusI
or (BE;/0<E- he ot rereshed !e2 and was not asha!ed o !y
chain+
56 But2 when he was in Ro!e2 he sou#ht !e out $ery dili#ently2 and
ound !e.
58 The 1ord #rant unto hi! that he !ay ind !ercy o the 1ord in
that day+ and in how !any thin#s he !inistered unto !e at
Ephesus2 thou knowest $ery well.
On the other hand2
. ;or.5D+99+ . any !an lo$e not the 1ord %esus ;hrist2 let hi! "e
/nathe!a (accursed- )aranatha.
&od3s #race toward the repentant is a =REE #it (Ro!.*+5*25D258-.
You #et into trou"le with &od i you reuse to or#i$e a "rother who
owes you so!ethin# and can3t pay. The Para"le o the 0n!erciul
<er$ant in )att. 58 was used as a shaky support or unconditional
or#i$eness o the unrepentant.
5. This para"le was pro!pted "y a Fuestion Peter had a"out
or#i$in# a BROTHER. 0nrepentant !en o $iolence are NOT !y
"rother. They3re children o a dierent daddy2 satan (%ohn 8+,,I .
%ohn E+57-.
9. The ellow ser$ant was 'ust that2 a ellow ser$ant. That e$il thu#
on the street is not a ellow ser$ant o !ine "ecause he ser$es a
dierent !aster2 the de$il.
E. The ellow ser$ant /<JEA or or#i$eness.
,. .t wasn3t a cri!e o deli"erate !alice and $iolence2 si!ply
ina"ility to pay "ack a )ONEY AEBT. E$en i it had "een a !oral
oense rather than a !onetary de"t2 the oense should ha$e "een
or#i$en ater "ein# sincerely repented o.
The precedin# $erses in )att. 58 are part o the sa!e conte:t
where this para"le is ound. This passa#e pro$es conclusi$ely that
%esus doesn3t want us to 'ust let it #o without true reconciliation
with the oender+
5* )oreo$er i THY BROTHER shall trespass a#ainst thee2 #o and
tell hi! his ault "etween thee and hi! alone+ i he shall hear thee2
thou hast #ained THY BROTHER.
5D But i he will not hear thee2 then take with thee one or two
!ore2 that in the !outh o two or three witnesses e$ery word !ay
"e esta"lished.
56 /nd i he shall ne#lect to hear the!2 tell it unto THE ;H0R;H+
"ut i he ne#lect to hear THE ;H0R;H2 let hi! "e unto thee as an
heathen !an and a pu"lican.K K K KThis passa#e has NOTH.N& to
do with dealin# with an un"elie$in# cri!inal who co!!its an act o
$iolence a#ainst you.
%esus doesn3t tell you to 'ust "rush it o and or#et it i another
"elie$er sleeps with your wie. /ll o )att.58+97?9* speciically
addresses how you deal with an errin# BROTHER. .t does NOT
conde!n us or reusin# to "estow unconditional or#i$eness on an
unrepentant cri!inal who sta"s you and steals your wallet.
)any present?day "elies hail ro! the lo$e L peace hippie
#eneration2 not ro! orthodo: ;hristianity. . so!e lowlie "reaks
into your house2 kills all your children2 rapes your wie2 tortures
you2 steals all you ha$e2 "urns down your house2 then lau#hs a"out
it at the trial2 you3re alle#edly still supposed to or#i$e that
cockroach and not wish to see 'ustice done. This is !ore like Ned
=landers than the %esus Who said2 0nless you repent you3ll all
perish (1uke 5E+ E2*-. %esus said this twice in the sa!e conte:t2 as
i or e!phasis.
1uke 55+95+ When a stron# !an ar!ed keepeth his palace2 his
#oods are in peace+K K K K K%esus did not re"uke the stron# !an
or protectin# his ho!e ro! $iolent intruders. He didn3t e$en
re"uke the stron# !an or "ein# ar!ed. %esus said the possessions
o the stron# !an were in peace "ecause o the stron# !an3s
actions.
)att.9,+,E+ But know this2 that i the #ood!an o the house had
known in what watch the thie would co!e2 he would ha$e watched2
and would not ha$e suered (allowed- his house to "e "roken up.K
K K K %esus does not re"uke the ho!e owner or deendin# his own
property ro! $andals. He says the stron# !an should ha$e "een
$i#ilant. Not so the stron# !an could !eekly sit and watch the
cri!e happen2 "ut so he could resist the attacker and deend his
ho!e. %esus does not say the ho!e owner should ha$e allowed his
ho!e to "e trashed in order to turn the other cheek.
Turn the other cheek. What did %esus !ean2 e:a!inin# this sayin#
within the conte:t o his own culture4 Back then2 one o the worst
social insults was to #i$e so!eone a "ack?handed slap on the
cheek. .n )att.*+E> %esus speciically says the ri#ht cheek. )ost
people are ri#ht?handed. . you use your ri#ht hand to hit so!eone
on the ri#ht side o their ace you ha$e to either twist your ar!
upside down or use a "ack?handed slap (that3s how people used to
challen#e so!eone else to a duel-. But i you turn your let cheek to
your ene!y also2 you3re orcin# hi! to treat you as an eFual2
"ecause you !ust strike with the pal!2 not with the "ack o the
hand.
%esus didn3t speciy which hand the attacker was usin#. %esus only
!entioned the ri#ht cheek and the other cheek o the victim.
/nother possi"le interpretation o this passa#e is this+ .n )iddle
Eastern cultures2 the let hand is the one used or sanitary
purposes. O"$iously2 toilet paper didn3t e:ist in Bi"lical ti!es2 so the
let hand would ha$e #otten e$en dirtier. To this day2 /ra" tri"es
don3t pick up their ood with the let hand2 only with the ri#ht. To
strike so!e"ody on their ri#ht cheek with the open pal! reFuires
your let hand2 which would ha$e "een a #ross insult to so!eone in
%esus3 culture. <o "y turnin# your 1E=T cheek to your attacker2 they
would ha$e to use their E/T.N& hand2 the ri#ht hand2 to slap your
let cheek2 and this orces the! to $iew you as an eFual. Turnin#
the other cheek would ha$e sent a stron# !essa#e o re"ellion
a#ainst oppression2 not su"!ission to in'ustice@
%esus teaches that we3re to deal kindly with ene!ies2 to try to win
the! throu#h lo$e. But &od does NOT let the! o the hook i they
don3t repent (E:odus E,+6-. &OA W.11 BY NO )E/N< /;M0.T THE
&0.1TY@ /nd He doesn3t e:pect us to2 either@
%esus didn3t speciically spell out what or#i$eness toward a
hu!an ene!y entails. Aoes that !ean the oender (e$en an
unrepentant one- is #i$en a #et out o 'ail ree card and doesn3t
need to !ake any restitution4 Aoes it !ean you eel all war! and
uBBy toward that indi$idual4 Aoes it !ean you ne$er eel "ad a"out
the incident e$er a#ain2 e$en i you3re let with the entire "urden o
hurt or e:pense2 or spino ra!iications resultin# ro! the oense4
That3s "onda#e. &od pro!ised that the W.;JEA2 not their $icti!s2
would "e "ound "y the cords o their own sins (Pro$.*+99-.
. think %esus let it to us to decide what or#i$eness !eans on a
case "y case "asis2 since all sins aren3t the sa!e. <tealin# a pencil
doesn3t hurt the other person !uch. But stealin# their reputation2
their peace2 or their health $ia $iolence is a dierent kettle o ish
alto#ether.
Whate$er or#i$eness !eans2 it cannot !ean #rantin# sinners an
escape ro! the 'ud#!ent o &od. Only &od has the power to clear
a sinner3s records up in hea$en. &od does NOT 'ustiy sinners who
reuse to "e transor!ed "y the power o the Blood o %esus.
<o!e ;hristians try to or#i$e unrepentant oenders 'ust to !ake
the!sel$es eel "etter. That3s called therapeutic or#i$eness2 a
!ental e:ercise where"y you try to con$ince yoursel that there .<
no need or 'ustice2 and it would "e no "i# deal or unrepentant
sinners to "rin# the!sel$es and all their dirty "a##a#e into hea$en
so they could turn &od3s holy city o lo$e into a #reat "i# ho# pen o
hatred and cri!e.
<o!e ;hristians are told they !i#ht #et sick or e$en #et cancer i
they har"or unor#i$eness. People are told it is a healin#2
li"eratin# thin# to or#i$e unrepentant !onsters. Personally . ne$er
ound that to "e true. Whene$er . atte!pted such one?sided
or#i$eness . always had the na##in# eelin# the !atter was still
unresol$ed. Only when &od showed !e that HE was the source o
that eelin# did . achie$e any peace. . spent !ost o !y lie
stru##lin# and prayin# to or#i$e and #o on 'ust "ecause other
;hristians told !e &od lo$es !y a"users so !uch He doesn3t want
to put the! throu#h the disco!ort o lettin# the! reap the e$il
they sowed. But hey2 wait a !inute@ Why does the Bi"le teach that
&od disciplines His own children and ;hristians are okay with that2
"ut they worry that the unrepentant sinner !i#ht #et his hair
ruled "y a re"uke ro! &od4 Where would "e the 'ustice in
$icti!s spendin# a lieti!e stru##lin# to o$erco!e the atereects
o a"use while their cruel a"user en'oyed uninterrupted "liss in lie
without a sin#le care or re#ret4
No2 .3! not sick or !isera"le "ecause . can3t #rant inal a"solution
to the worst people who "ullied !e in !y youth. .3! ar happier
now that .3$e "een set ree to see &od in His TOT/1 nature2 not only
as or#i$er o the repentant "ut punisher o the wicked. )y health
did not deteriorate "ecause o so?called unor#i$eness. .t actually
i!pro$ed once . decided $en#eance is &od3s 'o"2 and realiBed that
what happened to !e (and countless others- was a direct slap in
His own ace and He3s #ot a #ood !ind to set thin#s to ri#hts in the
world to co!e. . no lon#er eel #uilty or wantin# $indication and
'ustice.
No2 .3! not allin# apart "ecause . don3t pop out 0N;ONA.T.ON/1
=OR&.GENE<< like candy. People say . look !uch youn#er than !y
actual a#e. =or the !ost part2 .3! healthy2 thou#h . use ho!e
re!edies or sinusitis. But then a#ain2 no one will ha$e an
a"solutely perect "ody till the Rapture.
. there3s any aspect o so?called unor#i$eness that !i#ht !ake a
person ill2 it would "e to har"or R/&E inside. Ro!. 59+5> says
$en#eance is &od3s 'o". Hu!an "ein#s are incapa"le o containin#
that eelin# or $ery lon# without hurtin# the!sel$es2 and that
ne#ati$e E)OT.ON could release har!ul che!icals to cause
illnesses in the "ody. We weren3t created to contain "ad eelin#s or
$ery lon#. Only &od can contain wrath or e:tended periods without
suerin# ill eects. Hu!ans don3t handle wrath $ery well. .t3s not
their "ailiwick. The closest . can co!e to or#i$eness o the
unrepentant #hosts o !y past is to co!!it such indi$idual(s- to
&od and ask Hi! to help !e to eel nothin# at all2 "ecause
so!eti!es &od doesn3t release !e to lo$e a particular sinner i He
knows that person will NEGER repent (only He knows or sure-. =ar
ro! "ein# a cuddly teddy "ear who ne$er re"ukes anyone2 our &od
is a de$ourin# =ire (He".59+9>-.
.t3s a sin to take your own $en#eance2 aside ro! the act it could
land you in serious trou"le. But as or lo$in# so!eone else with the
lo$e o ;hrist2 it can cause #reat spiritual conusion inside i you
stru##le to lo$e so!eone when ;HR.<T .N YO0 doesn3t lo$e the!.
.n that case2 any lo$in# eelin# you elt toward that person would
"e a product o leshly eort2 not the <pirit o ;hrist Who is repelled
"y that e$il indi$idual. That3s why it3s wron#2 wron# WRON& or
;hristians to point the in#er and re"uke another ;hristian or
ailure to lo$e each and e$ery person who walks this planet2 no
!atter how hardened they are in re"ellion a#ainst &od.
0nconditional or#i$eness and "uryin# the !atter (pri!e e:a!ple+
when a ellow ;hristian has deeply hurt you and isn3t sorry- is like
tryin# to "ury rotten !eat under loor"oards and or#et a"out it.
NOTH.N& .N THE B.B1E PRO).<E< TH/T =OR&.GENE<< W.11
HE/1 / PER<ON OR <ET THE) =REE. Only ;hrist can heal and set
ree2 as He !ade plain when He read His 'o" description in 1uke
,+58. .n the case o a "elie$er2 ;hrist #i$es strict instructions on
how to handle such an oender.
)att.58+5*+ )oreo$er i thy "rother shall trespass a#ainst thee2 #o
and tell hi! his ault "etween thee and hi! alone+ i he shall hear
thee2 thou hast #ained thy "rother.
5D But i he will not hear thee2 then take with thee one or two
!ore2 that in the !outh o two or three witnesses e$ery word !ay
"e esta"lished.
56 /nd i he shall ne#lect to hear the!2 tell it unto the church+ "ut
i he ne#lect to hear the church2 let hi! "e unto thee as an heathen
!an and a pu"lican.
Gery2 $ery ew churches will do this. They lo$e the unrepentant
;hristian way too !uch to e!"arrass hi! in ront o the whole
church this way. E$en i the oender has cheated a ellow "elie$er
o his li$elihood2 ruined his reputation2 or stolen his wie2 sparin#
that sinner3s eelin#s !ust take irst priority o$er o"eyin# ;hrist3s
instructions. . personally "elie$e that !odern churchianity3s pick
and choose policy toward keepin# ;hrist3s co!!and!ents in order
to keep thin#s nice is a "i# reason why &od3s power and #lory are
!issin# in the church today. .nstead o re"ukin# the unrepentant
oender2 ellow ;hristians are ar !ore likely to conde!n the $icti!
or not i!!ediately reesta"lishin# ull ellowship with that person.
The 1ord wrote .;H/BOA o$er the house o Eli the Hi#h Priest when
he turned a "lind eye to sin in the house o the 1ord and in the li$es
o his own sons.
Eli the Hi#h Priest didn3t want to !ake a "i# uss a"out the way his
own sons harassed and ro""ed worshippers in the House o the 1ord
(. <a!.9+5E?56-. Eli !ildly chided the! ($erse 9E?9*- with a
warnin# that &od !i#ht not like what they were doin#. But Eli didn3t
ha$e the inte#rity to inlict sterner punish!ents on the!. Eli lo$ed
his sons !ore than He lo$ed the 1ord2 so he or#a$e the! and
hoped the whole !atter would 'ust "low o$er.
But &od decided He3d had enou#h o raud in His own House.
. <a!.E+55+ /nd the 1ORA said to <a!uel2 Behold2 . will do a thin#
in .srael2 at which "oth the ears o e$ery one that heareth it shall
tin#le.
59 .n that day . will peror! a#ainst Eli all thin#s which . ha$e
spoken concernin# his house+ when . "e#in2 . will also !ake an end.
5E =or . ha$e told hi! that . will 'ud#e his house or e$er or the
iniFuity which he knowethI "ecause his sons !ade the!sel$es $ile2
and he restrained the! not.
5, /NA THERE=ORE . H/GE <WORN 0NTO THE HO0<E O= E1.2
TH/T THE .N.M0.TY O= E1.N< HO0<E <H/11 NOT BE P0R&EA W.TH
</;R.=.;E NOR O==ER.N& =OR EGER.
. <a!. ,+5,+ 5, /nd when Eli heard the noise o the cryin#2 he said2
What !eaneth the noise o this tu!ult4 /nd the !an ca!e in
hastily2 and told Eli.
5* Now Eli was ninety and ei#ht years oldI and his eyes were di!2
that he could not see.
5D /nd the !an said unto Eli2 . a! he that ca!e out o the ar!y2
and . led to day out o the ar!y. /nd he said2 What is there done2
!y son4
56 /nd the !essen#er answered and said2 .srael is led "eore the
Philistines2 and there hath "een also a #reat slau#hter a!on# the
people2 and thy two sons also2 Hophni and Phinehas2 are dead2 and
the ark o &od is taken.
58 /nd it ca!e to pass2 when he !ade !ention o the ark o &od2
that he ell ro! o the seat "ackward "y the side o the #ate2 and
his neck "rake2 and he died+ or he was an old !an2 and hea$y. /nd
he had 'ud#ed .srael orty years.
5> /nd his dau#hter in law2 PhinehasN wie2 was with child2 near to
"e deli$ered+ and when she heard the tidin#s that the ark o &od
was taken2 and that her ather in law and her hus"and were dead2
she "owed hersel and tra$ailedI or her pains ca!e upon her.
97 /nd a"out the ti!e o her death the wo!en that stood "y her
said unto her2 =ear notI or thou hast "orn a son. But she answered
not2 neither did she re#ard it.
95 /nd she na!ed the child .cha"od2 sayin#2 The #lory is departed
ro! .srael+ "ecause the ark o &od was taken2 and "ecause o her
ather in law and her hus"and.
99 /nd she said2 The #lory is departed ro! .srael+ or the ark o
&od is taken.
.n the OT2 the /rk o &od sy!"oliBed &od3s Presence. E$ery place
where it stood "eca!e a hallowed place "ecause o His holiness.
When sordid sins o all kinds and "elie$er?on?"elie$er a"use are
tolerated in the church instead o "ein# conronted2 the #lory o &od
e$entually departs ro! that place. He will not re!ain in a den o
iniFuity. . ha$e walked into so?called churches "eore where there
was no sense o the Presence o the 1ord. One place . $isited two
or three ti!es2 and each ti!e . elt a deep hea$iness and #rie
inside. Other places elt like "ein# in a recreational hall or social
clu".
When church leaders insist on o$erlookin# the adultery2 slanderous
#ossip2 acts o raud2 or other hurtul sins in their con#re#ation2
they con$eniently i#nore ;hrist3s own warnin# that those who
a"use their ellow ser$ants will "e cut to pieces at His Return
()att.9,+,8?*5-. The do# that returns to its own $o!it will disco$er
that &od will "e ar an#rier with hi! in the end than i he3d ne$er
disco$ered the Way o Ri#hteousness2 only to orsake it (9 Pet.9+97?
99-.
WH/T THE B.B1E AOE< NOT </Y <PE/J< /< ;1E/R1Y /< WH/T .T
AOE< </Y@
The %ewish Esta"lish!ent #ot !ad at the apostles or preachin#
;hrist and healin# sick and disa"led people. They "ullied the
apostles with threats and "eatin#s. They ordered the apostles to
stop preachin# a"out %esus. /ter #ettin# this ha!?isted warnin#2
what did the apostles pray4
/cts ,+96+ /nd "ein# let #o2 they went to their own co!pany2 and
reported all that the chie priests and elders had said unto the!.
9, /nd when they heard that2 they lited up their $oice to &od with
one accord2 and said2 1ord2 thou art &od2 which hast !ade hea$en2
and earth2 and the sea2 and all that in the! is+
9* Who "y the !outh o thy ser$ant Aa$id hast said2 Why did the
heathen ra#e2 and the people i!a#ine $ain thin#s4
9D The kin#s o the earth stood up2 and the rulers were #athered
to#ether a#ainst the 1ord2 and a#ainst his ;hrist.
96 =or o a truth a#ainst thy holy child %esus2 who! thou hast
anointed2 "oth Herod2 and Pontius Pilate2 with the &entiles2 and the
people o .srael2 were #athered to#ether2
98 =or to do whatsoe$er thy hand and thy counsel deter!ined
"eore to "e done.
9> /nd now2 1ord2 "ehold their threatenin#s+ and #rant unto thy
ser$ants2 that with all "oldness they !ay speak thy word2
E7 By stretchin# orth thine hand to healI and that si#ns and
wonders !ay "e done "y the na!e o thy holy child %esus.
E5 /nd when they had prayed2 the place was shaken where they
were asse!"led to#etherI and they were all illed with the Holy
&host2 and they spake the word o &od with "oldness.
.nterestin#@ Not ONE word o petition or &od to or#i$e their
persecutors@ .nstead2 the apostles prayed or &od to "less
THE)<E1GE< so they could preach !ore "oldly. .nstead o
chastisin# the apostles or ailure to "e# !ercy or their a"users2
&od illed the! with the Holy &host@
Today3s sot2 !ushy ;hristianity is supersaturated with an airy?airy
spon#e cake lo$e which de!ands no repentance and showers
0N;ONA.T.ON/1 =OR&.GENE<< on e$ery creepy?crawlie in si#ht.
<tudy the Book o /cts2 the historical record o how the early
apostles operated. The word lo$e doesn3t e$en appear. Not e$en
once@ .nstead o R0<H.N& to reassure cri!inals and other sinners
that &od lo$es you and . lo$e you2 the apostles repeatedly
co!!anded sinners to repent to a$oid the 'ud#!ent o &od.
What a"out ;hrist Hi!sel4 How did HE pray4
.n %ohn 56+> %esus said He prayed NOT =OR THE WOR1A (those
outside His Jin#do!-2 which certainly includes e$il unrepentant
"ullies@ /re we "etter than %esus4 %esus didn3t waste His prayers
on hardened2 stu""ornly unrepentant !en. He prayed oten or His
disciples that their aith wouldn3t ail the! in the hour o trial (1uke
99+E5?E9-. He prayed that the =ather would send His Holy <pirit on
His ollowers (%ohn 5,+5D-. He prayed or 1aBarus to "e raised ro!
the dead (%ohn 55+,5?,9-. He e$en prayed or Hi!sel when the
trial #ot #reater than He could "ear ()att.9D+E>I )ark 5,+ED-.
B0T WHO A.A %E<0< $T B1E<< /NA PR/Y =OR4
5. %esus didn3t pray or the wicked reli#ious rulers who
!ocked Hi!2 hit Hi! and spit on hi! ()att. 9D+D6?D8-.
9. %esus didn3t "less the an#ry !o" who pronounced a curse
on the!sel$es and their descendants ()att.96+9*-. HE
1ET THE.R <E1=?.)PO<EA ;0R<E T/JE .T< ;O0R<E.
Proo4 The Ro!ans "urnt down their city in 67 /.A.2
ulillin# %esus3 warnin# in )att.99+6.
E. %esus didn3t pray or Jin# Herod to see the li#ht when
Herod tried to !ake a ool o ("ullied- %esus "y
de!andin# a show o !iracles and dressin# Hi! up in a
costu!e (1uke 9E+6?55-. Nor did %esus "less or pray or
the soldiers who $er"ally a"used Hi!. He stayed silent.
,. %esus did talk to Pilate2 "ut He did not "less or pray or
hi! (%ohn 58+EE?E8-.
*. %esus didn3t "less the !en who called Hi! a "astard
(%ohn 8+,5-. .nstead2 %esus deended His di$ine "irth
and called His ene!ies sons o the de$il ($erse ,,-.
D. %esus restored an ene!y3s se$ered ear "ut didn3t pray or
hi! or say2 . or#i$e you (1uke 99+*7?*5-.
6. %esus didn3t pray or the !en who hated His ser!on so
!uch they tried to hurl Hi! o$er a cli (1uke ,+5,?E7-.
%esus slipped throu#h the crowd to escape the!. But
%esus didn3t turn around and shout . or#i$e you all@
8. %esus didn3t pray or the hypocritical scri"es and
Pharisees He scolded in )att.9E. He warned the! they
were headed or hell.
>. %esus didn3t stop whippin# the "uyers and sellers lon#
enou#h to oer a sweet prayer or &od to richly "less
the! (%ohn 9+5E?5D-.
57. %esus didn3t stand in the Te!ple and pray an additional
"lessin# on the scoundrels who were leecin# poor
widows ()ark 59+E*?,7-.
55. %esus didn3t pray or the Rich Youn# Ruler to chan#e his
!ind and co!e "ack (1uke 58+58?9*-. Peter didn3t chase
hi! down the street wa$in# a tract.
59. %esus didn3t oer a sy!pathetic prayer or the !an who
#ot cheated o his inheritance (1uke 59+5E?5*-. He didn3t
e$en pray or his wicked "rother.
5E. %E<0< A.AN3T PR/Y =OR &OA TO B1E<< /NA =OR&.GE
%0A/<@

%esus sa$ed the ta: collector Cacchaeus (1uke 5>+>?57-. %esus
spared the wo!an taken in adultery (%ohn 8+55-. %esus or#a$e a
!an He healed ()ark 9+*-. But the ON1Y scripture $erse where the
J%G records that %esus prayed or His own a"users was one disputed
"y Bi"le translators2 1uke 9E+E,2 which reads+ =ather2 or#i$e the!2
or (BE;/0<E- they know not what they do. %esus did NOT seek
or#i$eness or those who JNEW what they were doin# was wron#
and didn3t repent o it@ . 0N;ONA.T.ON/1 =OR&.GENE<< is a
correct doctrine2 why didn3t %esus si!ply shout2 . =OR&.GE YO0@
instead o wastin# His dyin# "reath to ask His =ather to do it4 Why
didn3t ;hrist 'ust issue a "lanket pardon on /11 those surroundin#
His cross2 re#ardless o the attitude o their heart4
<o!e Bi"le translations ha$e =ather or#i$e the! or they know
not what they do inserted in "rackets2 !eanin# this section o 1uke
9E+E, is o dou"tul authenticity and !ay ha$e "een added later "y
translators. Other translations insert a ootnote statin# that so!e
ancient !anuscripts do not contain these alle#ed words o ;hrist.
/nd e$en i these words /RE $alid2 %esus ON1Y asked His =ather to
or#i$e THO<E WHO A.AN3T JNOW WH/T THEY WERE AO.N&@ This
contradicts the widespread !yth that %esus Hi!sel "elie$ed and
tau#ht that /11 sinners should "e or#i$en2 e$en i they ully realiBe
their actions are wron# and ha$e NO intention o e$er repentin#.
<tu""ornly unrepentant sinners are NOT entitled to the sa!e
;hristian lo$e as "elie$ers. %esus "ore the sins o the REPENT/NT2
not the unrepentant.
%ohn D+E6+ /ll that the =ather #i$eth !e shall co!e to !eI and hi!
that co!eth to !e . will in no wise cast out.K K K K/11 those #i$en
"y the =ather to %esus will co!e to Hi!. Not one precious drop o
%esus3 atonin# "lood will ha$e "een wasted on the unrepentant who
continue to "lasphe!e Hi! until the day they die@
%esus will "rin# iery 'ud#!ent on all unrepentant e$ildoers (%ohn
*+96?9>I 9Thes.5+6?>I Re$.5>+55?95-. Gicti!s o cri!inal $iolence
(includin# "ullyin#- should NOT "e held to a hi#her standard o
!ercy than ;hrist Hi!sel2 in "ein# e:pected to patiently "ear the
sins o the unrepentant and renounce all clai!s o 'ustice. <o!e
well?!eanin# ;hristian counselors will e$en tell rape $icti!s that
they will #o to hell i they reuse to or#i$e the unrepentant
assailant who #a$e the! /.A<. The rape $icti!3s health2 peace o
!ind2 and so!eti!es her $ir#inity2 was stolen ro! her "ody "y
orce2 and now so!e #oodie?two?shoes preacher wants to =OR;E
or#i$eness out o a "roken wo!an3s wounded heart with threats o
"ein# eternally da!ned and tor!ented in a de$il3s hell or
so!ethin# so!eone else did. Truth is stran#er than iction2 and ar
!ore outra#eous.
=OR&.GENE<< .< / &.=T@ .t3s so!ethin# you oer so!eone else o
your own ree will2 not so!ethin# that is "lack!ailed out o you
with threats. . ha$e co!pared "ullyin# to e!otional rape "ecause o
the way a "ully tears open his $icti!3s soul to e:pose it to satanic
a"use and in'ect hatred into it. Whene$er spiritual "utchers
threaten $icti!s with eternal da!nation or ina"ility to or#i$e a
$iolent unrepentant a"user2 it3s 'ust another act o $iolence a#ainst
the innocent. / rape $icti! has her di#nity and "odily inte#rity
"rutally stolen ro! her2 at kniepoint. When so!eone tries to
=OR;E or#i$eness out o the $icti! ("ullyin# is a $iolent H/TE
;R.)E a#ainst a person3s "ody or soul-2 it3s not enou#h they3$e had
their di#nity2 health and sel?worth wrenched away. Now their
spiritual peace and hope in &od3s 'ustice are "ein# stolen ro! the!
"y tellin# the! &od don3t do 'ustice any!ore "ecause all He3s
interested in is !ercy. What $icti!s cannot #i$e willin#ly is orci"ly
pried out o the! throu#h censure or threats+ un!erited
or#i$eness o an unrepented?o sin2 so!ethin# &od Hi!sel
doesn3t do (are we "etter than HE is4-. The $icti! eels like the
perpetrator. The $icti! is told that unless she a"sol$es that #rinnin#
!onster o all responsi"ility and #uilt or the da!a#e done2 she3s
sinnin# worse than he is. .t3s like "ein# "rutaliBed all o$er a#ain2 in
a ar !ore de#radin# way.
. ind it odd that so !any ;hristians pressure a"used people to
auto!atically or#i$e the unrepentant while at the sa!e ti!e "ein#
pro?war. They3ll oer unFuestionin# support to any war the
#o$ern!ent eels like i#htin# a#ainst olks that ne$er attacked their
own country2 no Fuestions asked. . you wear a unior! you don3t
ha$e to or#i$e oenses that ha$en3t e$en "een pro$en to ha$e
"een co!!itted. &o #it Oe!2 "oys2 &od is on our side@
E$ery unrepentant school "ully2 whether they proess aith in ;hrist
or not2 is #oin# to "e put to sha!e when they stand "eore
/l!i#hty &od. E$en i they #rew up to "e a "i# whiB in their
co!!unity or church2 the old record a#ainst the! still stands.
Each and e$ery sin de"t they wouldn3t let ;hrist settle2 they3ll ha$e
to pay the!sel$es. These days ;hristians think 'ust like the world.
They e:pect &od will 'ust let an old sin "low o$er without
repentance2 'ust "ecause it happened last week. They or#et a"out
the &od Who still re!e!"ers how ;hristians #ot thrown to the lions
in Ro!an arenas2 and the act a #reat !any o their persecutors
ne$er did repent. Aid &od let that "low o$er2 or are !artyrs still
cryin# out or $en#eance in ront o the altar o &od in hea$en
(Re$.D+>?55-4
.t3s not always a sin to reuse to or#i$e. 0nrepentant2 arro#ant
sinners don3t deser$e or#i$eness. They deser$e to #o to hell. To
threaten the $icti! o a cri!e with hell i they reuse to lo$e and
or#i$e their unrepentant assailant is 'ust as "ad as a rape $icti!
ha$in# her lo$e orced out o her at kniepoint. =orced lo$e isn3t
lo$e at all@ &od !akes it plain He hates certain types o people.
Psal!s 55+*+ The 1ORA trieth the ri#hteous+ "ut the wicked and
hi! that lo$eth $iolence his soul hateth.
Psal!s *+*+ The oolish shall not stand in thy si#ht+ thou hatest /11
workers o iniFuity.
D Thou shalt destroy the! that speak leasin#+ the 1ORA will a"hor
(stron#ly hate- the "loody and deceitul !an.
. any hatin# has to "e done2 let &od do it. Only He has the wisdo!
and restraint to know how to handle that eelin#. . you can3t eel all
war! and wonderul a"out certain indi$iduals2 it3s "est to eel
nothin# at all2 and e$en this is an acco!plish!ent. But this alse
doctrine o unconditional 1OGE or all and sundry 'ust won3t ly.
<o!e Fuote this $erse to 'ustiy WE/J WOR) ;hristianity+
Psal!s 99+D+ But . a! a wor!2 and no !anI a reproach o !en2
and despised o the people.
%esus allowed hi!sel to suer this e:tre!e hu!iliation to !ake
atone!ent or our sins. To say %esus is still a wor!2 and thereore2
we ha$e to "e wor!s too2 is to deny countless other $erses where
%esus is called a !an. %esus is2 at present2 #loriied2 and at the ri#ht
hand o the )a'esty in hea$en. /s He is2 so are we in this world (.
%ohn ,+56-.
%esus did not ulill the prophecy a"out "eco!in# a wor! (Psal!s
99+D- until the ti!e ca!e or Hi! to suer death or our sins.
Throu#hout His pu"lic !inistry2 %esus said #ood thin#s a"out
Hi!sel and "ad thin#s a"out His unrepentant ene!ies. %esus did
not resort to reli#ious lattery to !ake sinners eel "etter a"out
the!sel$es.
<o!e adults carry deep psycholo#ical scars ro! "ein# a"used as
children (.3! not talkin# a"out RE/<ON/B1E NONG.O1ENT parental
discipline-. When such adults #o to a ;hristian counselor they3re
in$aria"ly told they !ust or#i$e the su"hu!an ather who #ot
drunk and sa$a#ely "eat the KKKK out o the! or their !other 'ust
or the hell o it. E$en i this a"use destroyed the child3s sel?
estee!2 !ade the! una"le to trust and lo$e other people and
ruined their chance o #ettin# a decent 'o" later in lie. =or#i$eness
!ust "e dispensed2 no Fuestions asked. E$en i it cost the $icti! a
lieti!e o trou"le and e:pense to reco$er ro! all the spino
ra!iications o his rotten ather3s a"use. No2 not all sins are the
sa!e. .3d say there3s a sli#ht dierence "etween or#ettin# to
attend a child3s soccer #a!e and "eatin# hi! with a 9 P , to show
hi! who3s "oss. <uch "ad dads take it out on their kids "ecause
they lack the ca'ones to pick on so!e"ody their own siBe. /nd when
the a"user is a ;hristian2 they use their reli#ion as an e:cuse and
"la!e it on %esus. /ny ;hristian cretin author who sells ad$ice to
parents on how to "eat the lo$e o %esus into their poor kids is
#oin# to ha$e to #i$e an account o it to &od so!e sad day. %esus
warned that whoe$er hurt a little child would ace a worse ate than
"ein# tied to a !illstone and drowned in the sea ()att.58+D-.
=or !ore on this sad su"'ect2 click onto this link+
http+HHwww.scri"d.co!HdocHBackside?Baptist?;hild?RE/R?in#
Those sa!e ;hristians who train their kids3 ca"oose or "urpin# in
church will "end o$er "ackwards to "e nice to sleaBe"a#s who
co!!it real sins. E:cept or their conduct toward their kids2 so!e
;hristians "elie$e in total paciis!. E$en i their a!ilies are
harassed "y a "ur#lar2 ;hristians alle#edly ha$e to act like passi$e
#arden slu#s waitin# to "e stepped on "y so!e"ody "i##er and
stron#er. %ust "ecause it3s wron# to use e:cessi$e orce a#ainst
ad$ersaries doesn3t !ean we shouldn3t protect society ro! $iolent
cri!inals.
Ro!.5E+,+ =or rulers are not a terror to #ood works2 "ut to the e$il.
Wilt thou then not "e araid o the power4 do that which is #ood2
and thou shalt ha$e praise o the sa!e+
, =or he is the !inister o &od to thee or #ood. But i thou do that
which is e$il2 "e araidI or he "eareth not the sword in $ain+ or he
is the !inister o &od2 a re$en#er to e:ecute wrath upon hi! that
doeth e$il.
Paul descri"es law enorce!ent oicials as "earin# the sword in the
ser$ice o &od to e:ecute wrath on e$ildoers. Not one word o
conde!nation or ailure to lo$e the wicked.
.nterestin#ly2 &od ;O))/NAEA Old Testa!ent .sraelites to inlict
His wrath on the wicked. Jin# <aul #ot in deep trou"le or tryin# to
"uild "rid#es with the ene!y instead o o"eyin# &od3s orders to
utterly destroy the wicked /!alekites. 1ater2 when <aul was
ri#htened o the Philistines2 he had so!e !ediu! con'ure up the
departed spirit o the Prophet <a!uel. &od per!itted <a!uel to
appear2 althou#h He hates necro!ancy.
. <a!.98+5*+ /nd <a!uel said to <aul2 Why hast thou disFuieted
!e2 to "rin# !e up4 /nd <aul answered2 . a! sore distressedI or
the Philistines !ake war a#ainst !e2 and &od is departed ro! !e2
and answereth !e no !ore2 neither "y prophets2 nor "y drea!s+
thereore . ha$e called thee2 that thou !ayest !ake known unto !e
what . shall do.
5D
Then said <a!uel2 Whereore then dost thou ask o !e2 seein#
the 1ORA is departed ro! thee2 and is "eco!e thine ene!y4
56
/nd the 1ORA hath done to hi!2 as he spake "y !e+ or the
1ORA hath rent the kin#do! out o thine hand2 and #i$en it to thy
nei#h"our2 even to Aa$id+
58
Because thou o"eyedst not the $oice o the 1ORA2 nor
e:ecutedst his ierce wrath upon /!alek2 thereore hath the 1ORA
done this thin# unto thee this day.
5>
)oreo$er the 1ORA will also deli$er .srael with thee into the
hand o the Philistines+ and to !orrow shalt thou and thy sons be
with !e+ the 1ORA also shall deli$er the host o .srael into the hand
o the Philistines.
<aul lost his throne or diso"eyin# &od3s orders to e:ecute His
wrath. Not only that2 he and his sons lost their li$es. There see!s
to "e a "i# dierence "etween what Old Testa!ent "elie$ers were
e:pected to do and how "elie$ers are to deal with the wicked in this
dispensation. E:cept or law enorce!ent oicials2 ;hristians are
not (at least in this lie- per!itted to e:ecute &od3s wrath on
anyone. &od reser$es that prero#ati$e or Hi!sel. We can "e #lad
that we aren3t e:pected to do like Jin# <aul and 1.TER/11Y take
physical re$en#e on &od3s ene!ies. We can2 howe$er2 pray the
i!precatory Psal!s (psal!s pleadin# or &od to punish the wicked-
a#ainst those who are an actual dan#er to us or other "elie$ers2 as
the 1ord leads. <o!eti!es 'ud#!ent "e#ins or the wicked e$en in
this lieti!e2 so His children can "e at rest.
%esus tau#ht the para"le o the un'ust 'ud#e2 who reused to #i$e an
oppressed widow 'ustice and a$en#e her o her ad$ersary. This
para"le in 1uke 58+5?8 is used "y ;hrist to teach "elie$ers to "e
persistent in prayer2 that &od W.11 send the answer. &od is ar
!ore aithul to do ri#ht "y you than the 'ud#e who #ot so tired o
the widow3s pleas that he #a$e in and inally a$en#ed her. But notice
a couple o thin#s !ost preachers o$erlook+
5. Not once in tellin# this story does ;hrist e$er insinuate that the
'ud#e was un'ust or inally a$en#in# the widow.
9. . %esus appro$ed o the 'ud#e reusin# to a$en#e the wo!an2
e$en to !ake thin#s nicer or her oppressor2 then why did He call
hi! an un'ust 'ud#e4
E. %esus did not conde!n the widow or wantin# 'ustice.
,. He did not say the widow should ha$e continued to patiently
endure the a"use o the oppressor without co!plaint.
*. He did not take sides with the widow3s oppressor or say she was
"ein# un?;hristian or co!plainin# a"out his a"use. ;hrist did not
re"uke the widow or not droppin# the case.
D. %esus pro!ises to speedily a$en#e His own elect.
What i so!e thu# had 'u!ped %esus3 !other in the alleyway4
Would %esus ha$e told the cri!inal that &od or#i$es hi! or what
he3s a"out to do4 Would %esus ha$e said2 No sweat2 !an. You3ll
e$entually !ake it to hea$en anyway. <o 'ust #o do your thin#2
there3s nothin# to lose. Would He ha$e said such a thin#4 %esus
wasn3t a #irlie?!an. He was a stron# carpenter. /ter %oseph died
%esus "eca!e head o His ho!e2 and it "eca!e His responsi"ility to
protect and pro$ide or )ary. . seriously dou"t %esus would ha$e
handed the thu# a tract and said &od lo$es you anyway while His
!other was "ein# "eaten up.
The Book o /cts records the !issionary acti$ities o the apostles.
They won !any souls. Yet the word lo$e doesn3t appear e$en once
in that "ook. <inners should "e tau#ht a"out the lo$e o &od which
pro$ided a <a$ior to die or their sins. But they also need to "e
warned that &od $iews the! as His ene!ies2 who are alienated
ro! Hi! (Ro!.*+57I ;ol.5+95I Eph.,+58-.
Peter and <tephen accused their listeners o "etrayin# and
!urderin# %esus. They didn3t #loss o$er the act and try to "uild
"rid#es "y "ein# tactul (/cts 9+9EI6+*9-.
Peter didn3t start his !essa#es the way !ost !odern e$an#elists
do+ Brother2 %esus lo$es you no !atter what you3$e done and He
has a wonderul plan or your lie. %ust co!e up and !ake your
stand or the Jin#do! o &od.
This dan#erous doctrine o conession?ree or#i$eness a"sol$es
sinners o /11 responsi"ility to hu!"le the!sel$es "eore &od. Talk
a"out "ar#ain "ase!ent or#i$eness. ;onession?ree or#i$eness is
a #reat Bur#er Jin# deal or the unrepentant sinner2 and it places
the power in THE.R hands@ Those who hate you can ha$e it their
way and call all the shots. They can #o on en'oyin# their on#oin#
oense a#ainst you with no ear o "ein# char#ed with any sin2
"ecause it3s alle#edly a li#ht !atter to hurt a ;hristian. <o!e e$il
thu# who 'u!ped you in the alleyway can 'ust sneer in your ace
and say Tee hee hee@ You3re a ;hristian so you ha$e to or#i$e !e@
&od will punish YO0 i you don3t or#i$e !e or anythin# . eel like
doin# to you2 ha ha ha@
<o!eti!es proessin# "elie$ers hurt other ;hristians2 and this is
e$en worse than "ein# persecuted "y the world "ecause sheep
aren3t supposed to "ite. People3s personalities clash. =or e:a!ple2
so!e worldly ;haris!atic wo!an !i#ht poke un at an old?
ashioned Pentecostal who doesn3t "elie$e in han#in# out in "ars or
!i:ed "athin#. .t isn3t that the Pentecostal is tryin# to act le#alistic
or superior to others. <he honestly "elie$es &od doesn3t want her
to do those thin#s. Her riend ridicules her or reusin# to wear
skin ti#ht pants and tank tops. <he !ocks her or not dietin# to
look slinky. <he !ocks the other wo!an3s !ild2 #entle nature and
tries to an#er her "y lirtin# with her hus"and. <he rides the
#entler wo!an to the point there3s no point in continuin# the
riendship.
The "itchy "elie$er ne$er repents. .n such a case2 the second
wo!an should pray or her or!er riend2 "ut only i the 1ord leads
(. %ohn *+5D-. True prayer is NOT a orced2 contri$ed ritual done out
o alse #uilt or social pressure. <o!e people tackle prayer like any
other chore2 so!ethin# to "uckle down and do. But all eectual
prayer is an outlow o the !o$in# o the <pirit within2 not a work o
hu!an will (althou#h this doesn3t e:cuse laBiness in seekin# &od-.
The dan#er o this hypothetical scenario would "e that the worldly
wo!an is really pokin# un at the ;hrist in the other wo!an. )any
proessin# "elie$ers skate on the thin ice on the roBen ri$er o their
li$es and think they3re on solid #round. =or the Pentecostal wo!an
to unda!entally chan#e to it in with the worldly wo!an would
"e to try to rid hersel o her own &od?#i$en principles to conor!
to this present wicked world in order to #ain #reater popularity
(Ro!.59+9I &al.5+,-.
The alse doctrine o unconditional or#i$eness o the unrepentant
!akes !ockery o Pro$.98+5E which de!ands conessin# and
orsakin# o sin as &od3s condition or !ercy. This doctrine o de$ils
rustrates the Holy <pirit3s 'o" o con$ictin# sinners o their lost
condition and the dirty state o their heart. Peter wasn3t araid to lay
the "la!e or ;hrist3s death sFuarely where it "elon#ed+ on !en o
his own nation. He didn3t !ince words. He accused his own
country!en o killin# his <a$ior (/cts *+E7I 57+E>-. Peter3s lack o
tact and aithulness to tell the truth resulted in thousands o souls
#ettin# sa$ed.
/cts 9+9E+ Hi!2 "ein# deli$ered "y the deter!inate counsel and
oreknowled#e o &od2 ye ha$e taken2 and "y wicked hands ha$e
cruciied and slain+
/cts 9+ED+ ED Thereore let all the house o .srael know assuredly2
that &od hath !ade the sa!e %esus2 who! ye ha$e cruciied2 "oth
1ord and ;hrist.
E6 Now when they heard this2 they were pricked in their heart2 and
said unto Peter and to the rest o the apostles2 )en and "rethren2
what shall we do4
E8 Then Peter said unto the!2 Repent2 and "e "aptiBed e$ery one o
you in the na!e o %esus ;hrist or the re!ission o sins2 and ye
shall recei$e the #it o the Holy &host.
How did Paul eel a"out those who didn3t lo$e %esus4
. ;or.5D+99+ . any !an lo$e not the 1ord %esus ;hrist2 let hi! "e
/nathe!a (accursed-. )aranatha.
How did Paul eel a"out those who did nothin# worse than disa#ree
with his theolo#y4
&al.5+8+ But thou#h we2 or an an#el ro! hea$en2 preach any other
#ospel unto you than that which we ha$e preached unto you2 let
hi! "e accursed.
> /s we said "eore2 so say . now a#ain2 . any !an preach any
other #ospel unto you than that ye ha$e recei$ed2 let hi! "e
accursed.
What3s the !atter with Paul4 Aidn3t he e$er hear o li$e and let
li$e and to each his own4
How will %esus deal with hardened2 i!penitent sinners in the uture4
Re$. 5>+55+ /nd . saw hea$en opened2 and "ehold a white horseI
and he that sat upon hi! was called =aithul and True2 and in
ri#hteousness he doth 'ud#e and !ake war.
59 His eyes were as a la!e o ire2 and on his head were !any
crownsI and he had a na!e written2 that no !an knew2 "ut he
hi!sel.
5E /nd he was clothed with a $esture dipped in "lood+ and his na!e
is called The Word o &od.
5, /nd the ar!ies which were in hea$en ollowed hi! upon white
horses2 clothed in ine linen2 white and clean.
5* /nd out o his !outh #oeth a sharp sword2 that with it he should
s!ite the nations+ and he shall rule the! with a rod o iron+ and he
treadeth the winepress o the ierceness and wrath o /l!i#hty &od.
5D /nd he hath on his $esture and on his thi#h a na!e written2
J.N& O= J.N&<2 /NA 1ORA O= 1ORA<.
The ollowin# $erses o Re$.5> #o into #ory detail a"out the
punish!ents suered "y sinners who will NOT recei$e unconditional
or#i$eness ro! &entle %esus.
. don3t know a"out you2 "ut i %esus will return to carry out the
=.ER;ENE<< O= THE WR/TH O= /1).&HTY &OA2 how could anyone
still clin# to the alse notion o Hi! "ein# as weak and #entle as a
helpless "a"y4 .t3s not 'ust !ild annoyance we3re talkin# a"out
here2 "ut =.ER;ENE<<. We want as !any people as possi"le to "e
spared that terri"le ierceness "y repentin# and puttin# their trust in
;hrist as <a$ior. Woe unto the! i they don3t@
<o!e point to %esus3 teachin#+ Resist not e$il ()att.*+E>-. This
so!eti!es con'ures up the i!a#e o "eco!in# a weak door!at who
suers cri!inal $iolence without a peep o protest. But this word
resist is $ery close in !eanin# to the &reek word histemi, which
!eans to stand2 in the sa!e sense a co!"at soldier stands ir!ly
in place ready to return ire to the ene!y. ;hrist could ha$e
pri!arily "een talkin# a"out not repayin# e$il with !ore e$il. %esus
could not ha$e !eant that we are to !eekly tolerate satan3s
acti$ities. %esus Hi!sel resisted satan in the wilderness ()att.,+5?
56-. %a!es instructs "elie$ers to resist the de$il (%a!es ,+6-.
Eph.D+57?58 teaches us to stand our #round as we en#a#e in
spiritual W/R=/RE a#ainst satan and his e$il works.
Ro!ans 59+5> e:horts us not to take our own $en#eance2 and a lot
o ;hristians stop there and conclude that sinners ou#ht to #et away
with their sin. But part B o that $erse says we rerain ro!
a$en#in# oursel$es "ecause we3re !akin# roo! or &od to do it.
Perect di$ine 'ustice de!ands 'ust retri"ution upon unrepentant
sinners2 and that3s &od3s 'o". He sets us ree ro! the need to
a$en#e oursel$es. <o!e "elie$ers are e!"arrassed a"out &od
wantin# to a$en#e e$il. <o they rein$ent &od to it in with their
hippie ideal o unconditional lo$e and or#i$eness toward e$ery
!onster in the uni$erse. Which raises another Fuestion+ i
0nconditional =or#i$eness is a $alid ;hristian doctrine2 why did &od
"other to in$ent hell ()att.9*+,5-4 Why not 'ust forgive satan and
his e$il an#els instead o sendin# the! down there4 1ike =rench3s
)ustard2 spread the lo$e e$erywhere@
Aid %esus e$er resist e$il4 ;hrist3s suerin# on the cross was terri"le
"eyond all hu!an co!prehension. But "eore the ti!e ca!e or
Hi! to oer Hi!sel up or our sins2 there is not ONE recorded
e:a!ple o %esus #ettin# in'ured "y a cri!inal2 thou#h so!e
atte!pted to do this ()att.9+5DI 1uke ,+98?E7I %ohn 57+E5-.
0p until the ti!e He was to "e oered up or our sins2 %esus did not
'ust stand still and let His ene!ies hurt hi!. He escaped an an#ry
!o" o ene!ies that wanted to hurl Hi! o$er a cli (1uke ,+9>?E7-.
When the %ews #ot in a "ad !ood and wanted to stone hi! or
alle#ed "lasphe!y2 He didn3t 'ust stand there and take it. .n )att.
9E+5E?E> %esus A.A take a "old stand a#ainst e$il. He #a$e the
reli#ious hypocrites o His day a #ood $er"al thrashin#2 threatenin#
the! with hell or leadin# the people astray ro! the Way o 1ie.
He resisted e$il in the Te!ple when he dro$e out the "uyers and the
sellers (%ohn 9+ 59?5D-. %esus did not tell %ohn or Peter to take a
whip to these !erchants "ecause it was His 'o"2 not theirs.
We are no "etter than %esus. . %esus !ana#ed to escape ro!
stone throwers and hostile crowds instead o turnin# the other
cheek to the!2 why should we want to "e door!ats or the de$il3s
children4 <o!e well?!eanin# ;hristian suerin# addicts #o throu#h
lie wearin# a kick !e si#n on their "ackside. /nd satan lau#hs.
=ar ro! "ein# e$ery"ody3s a$orite door!at2 %esus stood His
#round. He e:coriated His reli#ious ene!ies2 callin# the!
poisonous snakes2 ools2 "lind #uides2 whitewashed to!"s2 and
hypocrites ()att.9E+5D?EE-. Rather than showerin# cheap
or#i$eness on these e$il !en like candy2 ;hrist said they deser$ed
the da!nation o hell. %esus e$en said so!e o the! sinned so "ad
they3d ne$er "e or#i$en or it ()ark E+9>-. )an2 that3s scary@
One popular !isconception is that i enou#h years #o "y &od
or#i$es and or#ets2 and so should you. No !atter how "ad you #ot
hurt2 no !atter what the nature o the oense2 no !atter how the
oense(s- ruined your lie2 there3s a statute o li!itations on &od3s
perect 'ustice and the unrepentant sinner #ets o scot ree 'ust
Ocause it happened lon# a#o. Aid %esus "elie$e this4
)att.9E+E,+ E, Whereore2 "ehold2 . send unto you prophets2 and
wise !en2 and scri"es+ and so!e o the! ye shall kill and cruciyI
and so!e o the! shall ye scour#e in your syna#o#ues2 and
persecute the! ro! city to city+
E* That upon you !ay co!e all the ri#hteous "lood shed upon the
earth2 ro! the "lood o ri#hteous /"el unto the "lood o Cacharias
son o Barachias2 who! ye slew "etween the te!ple and the altar.
ED Gerily . say unto you2 /ll these thin#s shall co!e upon this
#eneration.
=ro! /"el all the way till the ti!e o %esus. That co$ers Fuite a ew
years2 rou#hly ,777 o the!@ Yet %esus holds e$ery sin#le !urder o
&od3s prophets in the history o ancient .srael a#ainst the Pharisees
o His #eneration "ecause they would ha$e done the sa!e dirty
deed the!sel$es i they3d li$ed "ack then@ %esus e$en scolded
those rotten reli#ious rascals or cri!es they hadn3t e$en co!!itted
yet2 and would co!!it a#ainst His uture church@
One per$ersely pre$alent reli#ious !yth is that &od is an old
#randpa sotie who nods his head indul#ently and doesn3t crack
down on e$il like he did in the Old Testa!ent. .n the Book o /cts2
&od Hi!sel resisted e$il iniltratin# into His ;hurch when he
e:ecuted /nanias and <apphira or 'ust ONE incident o lyin# to the
Holy &host (/cts *+5?55-. . &od is that se$ere toward unrepentant
church !e!"ers (Ro!.55+99-2 why should He let unrepentant2
hardened sinners and e$ildoers o the hook4
Will %esus act like Ned =landers when2 at the inau#uration o His
thousand?year Rei#n2 He deals with those who re'ect His rule o$er
their li$es4
1uke 5>+96+ But those !ine ene!ies2 which would not that . should
rei#n o$er the!2 "rin# hither2 and slay the! "eore !e.
.saiah 55+,"+ But with ri#hteousness shall he (the rei#nin# ;hrist-
'ud#e the poor2 and repro$e with eFuity or the !eek o the earth+
and he shall s!ite the earth with the rod o his !outh2 and with the
"reath o his lips shall he slay the wicked.
This $erse concurs with the $erses in Re$elation which predict %esus3
lion?like response to the sin and re"ellion He will ind in the earth
when He returns.
<o!e ;hristians are deeply oended at any su##estion that &od is
anythin# "ut #entle and nice toward all2 e$en "rutal2 unrepentant
sadists and rapists. But what was Paul3s attitude to the 'ustice o
&od4 Aid he consider it unnecessary or done away4
9 Thes.5+D+ <eein# it is a ri#hteous thin# with &od to reco!pense
tri"ulation to the! that trou"le youI
6 /nd to you who are trou"led rest with us2 when the 1ord %esus
shall "e re$ealed ro! hea$en with his !i#hty an#els2
8 .n la!in# ire takin# $en#eance on the! that know not &od2 and
that o"ey not the #ospel o our 1ord %esus ;hrist+
> Who shall "e punished with e$erlastin# destruction ro! the
presence o the 1ord2 and ro! the #lory o his powerI
57 When he shall co!e to "e #loriied in his saints2 and to "e
ad!ired in all the! that "elie$e ("ecause our testi!ony a!on# you
was "elie$ed- in that day.
This passa#e tells !e that &od3s people will #loriy Hi! or His
perect 'ustice when He deals 'ustly with unrepentant sinners. They
won3t tell the 1ion o %udah to count to ten or take an an#er
!ana#e!ent course. The ;hristians who were cruelly !artyred in
Ro!an arenas won3t #o down to Nero3s cell in hell and say2 Brother2
.3! hu!an too. . .3$e done anythin# wron# to inluence you to
want to throw !e to the lions2 .3! sorry.
. attended so!e s!all prayer !eetin# where unconditional
or#i$eness was tau#ht. <orry2 . couldn3t swallow it. /t the
conclusion o the !eetin#2 the #roup leader prayed2 /nd 1ord2 help
us to or#i$e e$eryone who hurts us2 NO )/TTER WH/T THEY AO.
/ shi$er ran up !y spine. /terward2 . prayed or &od3s protection
ro! that scary prayer. . learned lon# a#o to "e careul what . pray.
. you pray or patience2 don3t "e surprised i the irst part o the
answer is a nasty trial. .n )att.D+5E2 %esus tau#ht us to pray that
we wouldn3t "e led into te!ptation (se$ere testin#-. . prayed or
this !an at ho!e2 that he would not "e se$erely tested to see i he
could li$e "y these words.
<peakin# o perilous prayer2 . re!e!"er one prayer !eetin# where
the leader directly addressed satan+ <atan2 .3! not scared o you@
Ao your worst to !e@ . stron#ly ad$ise a#ainst stirrin# up needless
trou"le2 either with satan or his children.
. ind it odd that so !any ;hristians who are all #un# ho a"out
i#htin# orei#n wars and "o!"in# so!e"ody else3s thatched hut are
the sa!e olks who "elie$e in &od3s unconditional lo$e and
or#i$eness or all !en. <ee any contradiction here4
/re there any preconditions attached to recei$in# &od3s spiritual
"lessin#s4
)ark 5D+5D+ He that "elie$eth and is "aptiBed shall "e sa$edI "ut
he that "elie$eth not shall "e da!ned.
%ohn E+ 58 He that "elie$eth on hi! (%esus- is not conde!ned+ "ut
he that "elie$eth not is conde!ned already2 "ecause he hath not
"elie$ed in the na!e o the only "e#otten <on o &od.
%ohn E+ED+ He that "elie$eth on the <on hath e$erlastin# lie+ and
he that "elie$eth not the <on shall not see lieI "ut the wrath o &od
a"ideth on hi!.
%ohn 5,+95+ He that hath !y co!!and!ents2 and keepeth the!2
he it is that lo$eth !e+ and he that lo$eth !e shall "e lo$ed o !y
=ather2 and . will lo$e hi!2 and will !aniest !ysel to hi!.
%udas saith unto hi!2 not .scariot2 1ord2 how is it that thou wilt
!aniest thysel unto us2 and NOT 0NTO THE WOR1A4KK K K K This
is si#niicant. %esus pro!ises spiritual "lessin#s to those who lo$e
Hi!2 not to those in the world (those at en!ity with Hi!-.
9E %esus answered and said unto hi!2 . a !an lo$e !e2 he will
keep !y words+ and !y =ather will lo$e hi!2 and we will co!e unto
hi!2 and !ake our a"ode (dwellin# place- with hi!.
He"rews 55+D But without aith it is i!possi"le to please hi!+ or he
that co!eth to &od !ust "elie$e that he is2 and that he is a
rewarder o the! that dili#ently seek hi!.
.nso!uch as we are to deal kindly2 airly2 and 'ustly toward all !en
and to do the! no wron#2 in that sense we3re to lo$e the!. But we
cannot lo$e un"elie$ers in the sa!e sense as !e!"ers o the
a!ily o &od.
)ost New Testa!ent usa#es o the $er" or#i$e are translated
ro! the &reek word aphiemi, which si!ply !eans to set aside. .n
the <tron#3s ;oncordance2 this word does not !ean or#i$eness in
and o itsel. .t does not !ean the kind o pardon which #rants
a"solution to an oender2 which would set hi! ree ro! the #uilt
o his sin and its conseFuences. .t does not suspend the law o
sowin# and reapin# in his lie (&al.D+6-. You si!ply choose to set
aside the oense2 so as not to "ear any #rud#e a#ainst hi!Hher.
You then lea$e that one in &od3s hands to deal with 'ustly2 which
har!oniBes with Ro!ans 59+5>.
. a stu""ornly unrepentant oender thinks there3s no price to pay
or the har! he3s done others2 he learns only that sin is cheap
recreation and he can #et away with it ti!e and a#ain. .n the lon#
run2 it would not "e lo$in# or &od to let an e$il person #et away
with hurtin# other people and 'ust shower that one with pleasant
thin#s all his lie. =ar ro! !akin# hi! #rateul to &od and
encoura#in# repentance toward Hi!2 it would only e!"olden hi! to
resist the 1ord and play per$erse #a!es with His #race.
There is a stron#er &reek word or or#i$e in the NT2 charizomai,
which !eans to reely or#i$e as an act o kindness. This $er" is
used only three (E- ti!es in the NT2 and /1W/Y< in relation to other
"elie$ers2 ne$er unrepentant sinners.
There is one other &reek word or or#i$e in the NT2 used only
once in 1uke D+E62 where %esus says or#i$e and ye shall "e
or#i$en. This word !eans to release2 as in or#i$in# a de"t. .
so!eone asks your or#i$eness or so!ethin# or says they can3t
pay you "ack or !oney or a a$or2 then set the! ree ro! the
"urden o that de"t. You3d want &od to do the sa!e or you2 and He
always e:pects you to "e willin# to repent i you3$e done so!ethin#
wron#. The Para"le o the 0n!erciul <er$ant co!es to !ind. The
#uy who owed the 0n!erciul <er$ant a "it o !oney asked or
!ercy. The !an "ore no hatred or !alice a#ainst his creditor. He
didn3t #o around "ra##in# that he3d #ot away with so!e awul act o
$iolence a#ainst the 0n!erciul <er$ant.
This particular or#i$eness $er" could ne$er apply to a hardened
cri!inal who lau#hs a"out the pain he3s caused you2 as the 'ud#e
lets hi! o with a warnin# in a court o law. He has no desire to "e
set ree ro! sin and its conseFuences. He doesn3t #i$e a hoot that
he3s in'ured another hu!an "ein#2 or that he3s li$in# in open
re"ellion a#ainst &od.
<o!e ;hristians are so senti!ental they would let e$ery sin#le
sinner into hea$en no !atter how hardened in re"ellion they are
a#ainst &od. But i &od were to allow unrepentant per$erts and
persecutors into hea$en they3d only turn it into hell. .!a#ine a strip
'oint on e$ery corner. .!a#ine P?rated il!s at the local cine!a.
.!a#ine Nero walkin# the streets o #old tauntin# ;hristians a"out
all the un he had hurtin# and killin# the!@ <ound ar?etched4
0nconditional or#i$eness would result in so!ethin# like that.
=or#i$eness or all without repentance toward &od and aith in
;hrist (/cts 97+ 95- would unleash a lood#ate o ilth into hea$en.
&od 'ust ain3t #onna let that happen.
=aithul ;hristians are destined to "e co?rulers with ;hrist
()att.5>+98-I 9 Ti!.9+59I Re$. 97+D-. . wonder how so!e !odern
"elie$ers would handle the less pleasant aspect o their 'o"2 i they
were as tolerant toward all !en then as they are now4 How would
lenient ;hristians deal with !ortal sinners who set out to co!!it
so!e cri!e in the )illenniu!4 <o!e would turn a "lind eye to the
sin and enorce a don3t ask2 don3t tell policy in their neck o the
woods. Others would put the oender into "asket wea$in# therapy.
<till others would #i$e the re"el a#ainst ;hrist a teddy "ear and say
all he needs is a hu#. %esus will rule with a Rod o .ron2 not a ly
swatter (Psal!s 9+>I Re$.9+96I59+*I 5>+5*-.
.n the strictest sense o the ter!2 you cannot #rant an unrepentant
person or#i$eness. Pure or#i$eness2 as opposed to 'ust or#et it
and lea$e it in &od3s hands !eans a"solution2 or a releasin# o the
oender ro! the #uilt o sin and its conseFuences. 0lti!ately only
;hrist has the power to or#i$e so!eone in a rede!pti$e sense2 to
reconcile hi! with &od. <ins a#ainst a ;hristian aren3t 'ust a#ainst
that particular indi$idual2 they3re also sins a#ainst %esus
()att.9*+,7-. E$en i you #ot hurt "y an unrepentant sinner and
you don3t think you3re worth $ery !uch2 an act o e$il a#ainst a
child o &od is also an act a#ainst &od Hi!sel and the unrepentant
sinner !ust answer or it in the Aay o %ud#!ent.
He who is 'oined to the 1ord is one spirit (. ;or.D+56-. <i!ple lo#ic
tells you that when so!eone hurts you they also hurt ;hrist?in?you2
and that only a##ra$ates his #uilt in the si#ht o &od.
Eph.5+D+ To the praise o the #lory o his #race2 wherein he hath
!ade us accepted in the "elo$ed.
The sa!e &od Who eeds the "irds and wild ani!als !akes sure
there3s ood a$aila"le or lost sinners. &od has a creator?creature
relationship with those outside ;hrist2 not a =ather?son relationship.
.n the sa!e sense He lo$es and cares or the rest o His creation He
lo$es the! enou#h to pro$ide ood2 air and water or the!. /nd2
&od hopes they3ll co!e to ;hrist so He can lo$e the! as His dear
children. But as lon# as they persist in re"ellion a#ainst Hi! and are
outside o ;hrist2 they are not included in the Belo$ed.
.t3s satan3s de$ious strate#y to "lur the distinction "etween
;hristian "elie$ers and those who hate ;hrist. This doctrine o the
Brotherhood o /ll )en is a New /#e 1ie pro!oted "y satan to help
usher in the /ntichrist. We don3t owe hardened sinners the sa!e
lo$e and or#i$eness we e:tend to our own "rethren.
When &od or#i$es a sinner He 'ustiies that sinner ('ust?i?.3d ne$er
sinned-2 #i$in# hi! a le#ally ri#hteous status in His si#ht throu#h
the !erits o ;hrist3s atonin# work on His "ehal. &od 'ustiies the
un#odly (Ro!.,+*- throu#h aith in ;hrist2 "ut He does NOT 'ustiy
the unrepentant. <o why should we ha$e to do so!ethin# &od
Hi!sel doesn3t do4
&od will "y no !eans acFuit the #uilty (E:.E,+6-. /re we held to a
hi#her standard than He is4
EBekiel E+5>+ Yet i thou warn the wicked2 and he turn not ro! his
wickedness2 nor ro! his wicked way2 he shall die in his iniFuityI "ut
thou hast deli$ered thy soul.
EBekiel 5E+99+ Because with lies ye ha$e !ade the heart o the
ri#hteous sad2 who! . ha$e not !ade sadI and <TREN&THENEA
THE H/NA< O= THE W.;JEA2 TH/T HE <HO01A NOT RET0RN =RO)
H.< W.;JEA W/Y2 BY PRO).<.N& H.) 1.=E
;hristians who conde!n other ;hristians or "elie$in# in &od3s
'ustice wither the heart o an innocent person with the lie that &od
is an#ry with that attitude and it is they2 the in'ured party2 who
should "e asha!ed and ou#ht to search their own heart or sin2 not
the a"user. When you say to an unrepentant slanderer2 thie or
rapist that . or#i$e you and so does &od2 you3re denyin# &od3s
holy oice as Ri#hteous %ud#e o all the earth (&en.58+9*I 9
Ti!.,+8-2 and !akin# the heart o the ri#hteous $icti! sad. You3re
!akin# his $ile a"user "older to #o hurt so!e"ody else. HeHshe
has NO incenti$e to want to repent and turn to ;hrist.
People hunt or "ar#ain "ase!ent prices when they shop or a car2 a
TG2 a co!puter2 a house. .t3s also hu!an nature or a sinner to want
to sneak into hea$en at the least cost to hi!sel. . or#i$eness is
a$aila"le without sincere conession o sin and repentance2 then
why should the proud2 unrepentant sinner lower hi!sel to #ro$el
"eore a Holy &od4 Why should a hardened sinner seek &od3s
or#i$eness when so!e well?!eanin# ;hristian has told hi! he3s
already or#i$en and assured o a !ansion in hea$en4 The
conused sinner puts two and two to#ether and #ets i$e. ;o!!on
lo#ic tells hi! that i he3s or#i$en he !ust "e #oin# to hea$en i
&od holds nothin# a#ainst hi!. . &od unconditionally or#a$e hi!
once without repentance2 he3ll pro"a"ly "rush o e$ery other sin he
co!!its ro! now till the cows co!e ho!e. <o why not #o on his
!erry way hurtin# others and "lasphe!in# &od till the day he dies4
=reedo!3s 'ust another word or ain3t #ot nothin3 to lose@
%esus #a$e us !any !ore details a"out hell than hea$en. He
warned that e$ery tree which doesn3t "rin# orth #ood ruit will "e
chopped down and thrown into the ire ()att.6+5>-. =or#i$e an
unrepentant sinner as !any ti!es as you want2 "ut he3ll still "rin#
orth "ad ruit instead o #ood2 and he won3t !ake it into hea$en.
&od doesn3t hand out cheap #race to the unrepentant.
&od is !erciul2 true. But He is also 'ust. Truth taken to e:tre!es
"eco!es deadly error. . it is dan#erous or a "elie$er to presu!e
on &od3s !ercy and continue in sin (see Ro!ans chapter D-2 why
should "elie$ers think it3s okay or un"elie$ers to continue in sin and
reuse to repent4 =ar ro! "ein# a lo$in# thin# to do or the
oender2 this popular "ut alse doctrine o =or#i$eness Without
Repentance only sets that soul up or a all into the Botto!less Pit.
. any soul is lost "ecause so!e ;hristian reassures the! they3re
/1RE/AY or#i$en and &od is !erciul ON1Y2 then it will "e2 to a
lar#e e:tent2 the or#i$in# ;hristian3s ault that they end up there.
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