Question #2 Why Doesn't God Just Forgive Everyone's Sin? By:Dr. Danny Purvis
QUESTIONS EVERY BELIEVER SHOULD BE ABLE TO ANSWER
Question #2: Why doesn’t God just forgive everyone’s sin?
BY: Dr. Danny Purvis
Even a cursory reading of the Bible shows us the reality of the natural relationship between God and His greatest creation…human beings. And what is that relationship? In essence…there is no personal relationship. There is, of course, a functional relationship that exists as does exist between all creators and their creations…but in our natural state, there is no personal relationship between us and God. Isaiah (among other places) shows us this reality in extreme clarity. In the 59th chapter of Isaiah, the author starts out by telling us that, of course, God can save people. He has the power to do so. However, the author also says: “But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear” (Isaiah 59:2).
As I stated, this reality is communicated all throughout God’s Word. We are unable to have a personal relationship with God because we are born into sin…and we continue to sin. It is our nature to disobey Him (Ephesians 2:3). God cannot abide sin. We embody sinfulness. So long as our sin remains…God can have no relationship with Him. This is traditional, orthodox (with a small “o”) Christian doctrine. The vast majority of Believers have at least some understanding of this. So, unless sin is dealt with on a righteous level, we are forever separated from Him. Hence, the Cross and the Resurrection. You know how it works (I hope). If we come to faith in Him…believe and receive the Gospel…embark on a path of repentance…we can then have the most intimate relationship with Him than can be imagined (Eph. 1:4-5; Romans 3:21-26; John 15:15; Romans 8:17; John 1:12).
But we also know that this forgiveness of sin and the relationship that follows is not universal. In fact, Jesus Himself told us that there would always be more unbelievers than Believers (Matthew 7:13-14). Only those who confess and believe (Romans 10:9-10) will have their sins forgiven and enjoy an eternal, personal relationship with God. But there is always one question that seems to loom large in the minds of folks who hear this reality. If our sin keeps us from a relationship with God…and God alone forgives sin…then why doesn’t God just forgive everyone’s sin? Why go through all the rigamarole of a Cross…and beatings…and pain…and suffering…and humiliation and the death of His Son? Why doesn’t He just wave His hand (or whatever He might do) and absolve the sin of the entire world? It is a good question with a remarkably simple answer. Are you ready? Here is the answer. He can’t.
Now, I know that you may think this opens up a whole new can of theological worms related to His very nature. But in reality, it doesn’t. We hear people say all of the time: God can do anything. But we have to qualify anything. What do we mean by that? Can God sin? Can God tell a lie? Can God be “not-good”? Can he be wrong? Can God be contrary to His Own nature? No, He cannot do those things. So, we have to be careful about using certain phrases in a haphazard way. Here’s the thing…God is perfect.
He cannot be not-perfect. It is impossible. He is perfect in His love. Perfect in His salvation. Perfect in His mercy. Perfect in His forgiveness. He is also perfect in His justice. In other words, He is a perfect Judge. In fact, it is impossible for Him to be an imperfect judge. That being the case, He cannot just ignore sin. He is a perfect Judge…and as a perfect Judge He must judge sin. If He just haphazardly let everyone off the hook for their sin, then that would make Him a bad judge…an imperfect judge. And He cannot be that. God forgives sin, because that sin is paid for. His righteous judgement against sin will be executed one way or the other. It will either be poured out on those who reject Him and the saving work of Christ (Revelation 20). Or it will be poured out on His Son on behalf of those who come to faith in Christ (Romans 3:23-26).
That’s how bad sin is. That’s why the wrath of a truly holy God is so terrible. One the one hand…for the unbeliever…that wrath is poured out on the individual for all eternity in a place of torment the Bible calls hell. For the Believer, the wrath was poured out on His only Son. That’s one of the reasons Jesus’ execution was so terrible. It was God’s wrath on sin placed on the only One Who could bear it for those that would come to faith in Him. Therefore, Jesus did not die for those who would then just simply reject and dismiss that action. Unbelievers don’t want His forgiveness. They do not see Him for Who He is. They are His enemies (James 4:4; Romans 5:10). They mock Him…they do not love Him…they do not believe Him. Their sin will receive the just penalty. My sin…a Believer’s sin…also receives the just penalty. Only that penalty was paid by Christ. All of us sin. That sin must be paid for. Some get mercy. Some get justice. No one gets injustice. Why doesn’t God just forgive everyone’s sin? Even those who hate Him? Because that would make Him a bad judge. And, thank God, He cannot be a bad judge.
-Dr. Danny Purvis
Question #2: Why doesn’t God just forgive everyone’s sin?
BY: Dr. Danny Purvis
Even a cursory reading of the Bible shows us the reality of the natural relationship between God and His greatest creation…human beings. And what is that relationship? In essence…there is no personal relationship. There is, of course, a functional relationship that exists as does exist between all creators and their creations…but in our natural state, there is no personal relationship between us and God. Isaiah (among other places) shows us this reality in extreme clarity. In the 59th chapter of Isaiah, the author starts out by telling us that, of course, God can save people. He has the power to do so. However, the author also says: “But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear” (Isaiah 59:2).
As I stated, this reality is communicated all throughout God’s Word. We are unable to have a personal relationship with God because we are born into sin…and we continue to sin. It is our nature to disobey Him (Ephesians 2:3). God cannot abide sin. We embody sinfulness. So long as our sin remains…God can have no relationship with Him. This is traditional, orthodox (with a small “o”) Christian doctrine. The vast majority of Believers have at least some understanding of this. So, unless sin is dealt with on a righteous level, we are forever separated from Him. Hence, the Cross and the Resurrection. You know how it works (I hope). If we come to faith in Him…believe and receive the Gospel…embark on a path of repentance…we can then have the most intimate relationship with Him than can be imagined (Eph. 1:4-5; Romans 3:21-26; John 15:15; Romans 8:17; John 1:12).
But we also know that this forgiveness of sin and the relationship that follows is not universal. In fact, Jesus Himself told us that there would always be more unbelievers than Believers (Matthew 7:13-14). Only those who confess and believe (Romans 10:9-10) will have their sins forgiven and enjoy an eternal, personal relationship with God. But there is always one question that seems to loom large in the minds of folks who hear this reality. If our sin keeps us from a relationship with God…and God alone forgives sin…then why doesn’t God just forgive everyone’s sin? Why go through all the rigamarole of a Cross…and beatings…and pain…and suffering…and humiliation and the death of His Son? Why doesn’t He just wave His hand (or whatever He might do) and absolve the sin of the entire world? It is a good question with a remarkably simple answer. Are you ready? Here is the answer. He can’t.
Now, I know that you may think this opens up a whole new can of theological worms related to His very nature. But in reality, it doesn’t. We hear people say all of the time: God can do anything. But we have to qualify anything. What do we mean by that? Can God sin? Can God tell a lie? Can God be “not-good”? Can he be wrong? Can God be contrary to His Own nature? No, He cannot do those things. So, we have to be careful about using certain phrases in a haphazard way. Here’s the thing…God is perfect.
He cannot be not-perfect. It is impossible. He is perfect in His love. Perfect in His salvation. Perfect in His mercy. Perfect in His forgiveness. He is also perfect in His justice. In other words, He is a perfect Judge. In fact, it is impossible for Him to be an imperfect judge. That being the case, He cannot just ignore sin. He is a perfect Judge…and as a perfect Judge He must judge sin. If He just haphazardly let everyone off the hook for their sin, then that would make Him a bad judge…an imperfect judge. And He cannot be that. God forgives sin, because that sin is paid for. His righteous judgement against sin will be executed one way or the other. It will either be poured out on those who reject Him and the saving work of Christ (Revelation 20). Or it will be poured out on His Son on behalf of those who come to faith in Christ (Romans 3:23-26).
That’s how bad sin is. That’s why the wrath of a truly holy God is so terrible. One the one hand…for the unbeliever…that wrath is poured out on the individual for all eternity in a place of torment the Bible calls hell. For the Believer, the wrath was poured out on His only Son. That’s one of the reasons Jesus’ execution was so terrible. It was God’s wrath on sin placed on the only One Who could bear it for those that would come to faith in Him. Therefore, Jesus did not die for those who would then just simply reject and dismiss that action. Unbelievers don’t want His forgiveness. They do not see Him for Who He is. They are His enemies (James 4:4; Romans 5:10). They mock Him…they do not love Him…they do not believe Him. Their sin will receive the just penalty. My sin…a Believer’s sin…also receives the just penalty. Only that penalty was paid by Christ. All of us sin. That sin must be paid for. Some get mercy. Some get justice. No one gets injustice. Why doesn’t God just forgive everyone’s sin? Even those who hate Him? Because that would make Him a bad judge. And, thank God, He cannot be a bad judge.
-Dr. Danny Purvis
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2 Comments
Amen! More preachers should be teaching this message on Sundays, not to worldview make us feel good sunshine all day sermons.
I love the way you show the truth of God's word. Thank you!