Is God counting your sins?
Nov 18, 2009
The Case for Grace - part nine in a study of the book of Romans
Mike Gaudet
3,000,000,001 . . . 3,000,000,002 . . .
Is God counting your sins?
“Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness. David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: “Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him.” Romans 4:4
A Christian is a person “whose sin the Lord will never count against him.”
The person “to whom God credits righteousness apart from works” does not need to worry about the sin total . . . because God isn’t counting.
We tend to envision God as a banker who manages a “forgiveness fund.” When His children sin and ask to be forgiven, God withdraws enough forgiveness to cover the debt.
Since God does not need to forgive sins that He does not count, this transaction is unnecessary.
When a Christian sins, God does not withdraw forgiveness in order to cover the debt. According to this passage, God doesn’t count these sins in the first place.
There is no debt to cover!
Companies that are failing have two bankruptcy options. Chapter 11 bankruptcies provide temporary protection from creditors. Companies are given time so that they might once again turn a profit. Chapter 7 bankruptcies provide permanent protection from creditors. These companies have no hope of ever turning a profit.
Which type of bankruptcy does God give? When it comes to spiritual debt, does God offer Chapter 7 or Chapter 11 spiritual protection?
God’s forgiveness is Chapter 7 protection. He “justifies the wicked.” God does not give forgiveness to “good credit risks.” He does not offer temporary protection. He does not set up a re-payment schedule.
He forgives the sin. He cancels the debt.
From the cross Jesus cried out, “It is finished.” (John 19:30) This same word was used when debts were paid off. It meant “paid in full.”
“. . . transgressions are forgiven . . .”
“. . . sins are covered . . .”
“Paid in full.”
God does not tell believers in Jesus Christ to trust Him to forgive sins.
God tells believers in Jesus Christ to trust Him not to count them in the first place.