The Adventure of Discipleship

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened (Eph. 1:18) 

Each of our five senses adds a unique contribution to our ability to gain knowledge.  Sight’s contribution includes:  color, shape, size, dimension, light, and distance.  Obviously, without sight our perception of reality would be greatly diminished.  The same is true with our spiritual sight.  That is why a reoccurring theme in the Old Testament is “Lift up your eyes and see”.  

“Lift up your eyes on high and see who has created these stars, The One who leads forth their host by number, He calls them all by name” (Isa. 40:26). 

Jesus refers to this Old Testament theme when He said that He came to heal the disease of spiritual blindness caused by our rebellion.  We are all born into the kingdom of darkness resulting in spiritual eyes that need the healing touch of the Great Physician. 

“The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, for He has anointed Me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free” (Luke 4:18).

Paul continues the theme:

“The god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Cor. 4:4 NIV).

In our last blog we looked at the spiritual harvest in the city of Sychar in Samaria.  When Jesus explained the significance of that encounter, He said to His disciples:   

“Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest” (John 4:35).

Using spiritual eyes Jesus wanted them to see more than a disreputable woman and a group of ethnic Samaritans.  He wanted them to see what He saw … a spiritual harvest.  In other words, Jesus chose to go through Samaria not just for the sake of the woman at the well but for the spiritual harvest in Sycar.  He wanted the disciples to see what He saw: reality beyond the obvious.  They needed their spiritual eyes to see what was true but not obvious with natural eyes.

Paul prayed for the Ephesians, “… that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know…” your hope, the rich inheritance, and His great power working in you (Eph. 1:18).  We cannot understand or experience those three concepts unless the eyes of our hearts have been refocused.  Notice, Paul didn’t assume spiritual sight was automatic. It is something that needs divine assistance.

Our spiritual sight is not the same as dreams and visions as recorded in Scripture.  God used them at times, but they were not normative.  What is normative is the need for us to “fix our eyes on Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith” which is the only way we can see what He sees (Heb. 12: 1-2).  The need for spiritual vision, the lifting up of our eyes to see, is imperative for every Christian if we are to live as apprentices of Jesus.

Elisha gives us an Old Testament example of the power of seeing what was real though invisible.  Elisha is staying in the city of Dotham when it is surrounded by the armies of the King of Aram seeking Elisha’s life.  Elisha’s servant, in panic mode, warns Elisha about this threat.  When Elisha appears unconcerned, the servant wonders if his master is losing his (natural) eye sight.  But Elisha’s calmness was not the result of what he didn’t see but of what he did see.

Then Elisha prays, “’O Lord, open his eyes that he may see.’  Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha” (2 Kings 6:17).  

Too often like the servant of Elisha, we fail to grasp spiritual reality, limiting our understanding to our physical senses, basing our view of reality on what we are told by the media, others, and even our own experiences.  Sometimes we fail to see the spiritual warfare that is opposing us and neglect the armor needed to stand firm.  At other times we fail to see all the spiritual resources God has made available to us and choose to live as impoverished sons and daughters of the King.  That is why Paul gave the Corinthians this reminder, “So we fix our minds not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary but what is unseen (invisible but real, …known only with spiritual eyes) is eternal” (2 Cor. 4:18).    

When Samuel was sent to the household of Jesse to identify God’s choice of a new king to replace Saul, he was reminded of the limitations of natural eyes.  Samuel saw the older sons and was impressed.  As he worked his way down from the oldest to the youngest, Samuel would have selected any one of them.  They all had good resumes. 

But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart” (1Sam. 16:7). 

King Saul was the result of looking at the outward appearance.  Now God selected a king based on the heart.  Eventually as Samuel listened with his spiritual ears to the voice of God, he selected David.   

So how do we lift up the eyes of our hearts to see more?  As disciplemakers, how do we help others increase the scope of their vision?  The following questions give us possibilities.

Lift up our eyes

• Where has God been?  Remember His works.

We need to remember God’s story line.  Scripture gives us examples of the visible meeting the invisible in biblical history.  History also tells the stories of men and women who through faith saw what others failed to see. 

• Where is God going?  Review His promises.

Reviewing God’s promises in Scripture can lift our eyes to the real but not yet.  It is like reading the final chapters of the story before we get there.  Knowing how the story ends helps us see more clearly in the present.

• Where is God now?  Reflect on Christ’s current role as ascended mediator, High Priest, and crowned King.  The book of Hebrews is a good place to start.

Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe. (St Augustine)

How is it that we can know anything?  Everything in our physical world is discovered via our sensory systems.

We are in a series called “Making Sense of Our Senses”.  In the last blog we discussed the five sensory systems used to experience reality both physically and spiritually.  When any one of them is underdeveloped or impaired, we lose our capacity to experience reality.  As with our physical senses, our spiritual senses need training and use if we are to live the Spirit controlled life God designed for us.

All of our five senses are linked together through our nervous system which is a complex structure that coordinates sensory information with our actions.  The nervous system permeates the entire body; it is hidden but essential. 

Faith in the life of a disciple functions much like the nervous system.  It is hidden, working behind the scenes to coordinate sensory input and actions.  Our spiritual life cannot function without it.  It is the part of our spiritual anatomy that links everything together.

The writer of Hebrews summarized its importance when he said, “And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to Him must believe that God exists and that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him” (Heb. 11:6). 

Notice he is not saying that it is our faith that pleases God (although that would be true), he is saying that without faith we have no chance of pleasing God or even coming to Him.  Faith is a prerequisite for the spiritual senses to function in real life.  The examples of the men and women of faith written about in Hebrews 11, illustrates making decisions based on belief in something real but intangible.

Because faith functions like a spiritual nervous system in the life of a disciple, it merits some focused attention before exploring each of the spiritual senses individually. 

•   At its basic level, faith is believing in something we have not personally observed but still accept as true on the bases of the testimony of a trusted authority.  For example:

• We have faith in the records of historians regarding a past event or person.
• We have faith in the doctor’s assessment of our medical condition.
• We have faith in the scientist who claims the cosmos is expanding.
• We have faith in the teaching of a pastor or theologian regarding Christian doctrine.
• We have faith in the teaching of biblical authors who say that Jesus is the revelation of God.

When you think about it, much of what we believe can be attributed to faith.  In reality, we have very little firsthand knowledge of even the simple things in life … ones we take for granted.

Everyone lives by faith…even scientists

Faith is not just for religious people.  Everyone lives by the principle of faith.  Frequently secular voices try to demean and discredit religious people of faith by implying that Christians live in a fantasy world of faith whereas they live in a factual world.

However, no scientist has observed a black hole, yet it is almost a given in the scientific world that they exist.  Albert Einstein first predicted their existence back in 1916 with his general theory of relativity.  The term “black hole” was coined years later (1967) by the American astronomer John Wheeler. So how do we know that black holes exist?

Scientists can’t directly observe black holes with telescopes that detect x-rays, light, or other forms of electromagnetic radiation. We can, however, infer the presence of black holes and study them by detecting their effect on other matter nearby (science.nasa.gov).

Both black holes and dark matter are known by “inference” not direct observation.  The same is true for the spiritual dimension of faith.  Our faith is not based on fantasy or optimism but on inference from reliable documents. 

What we see depends on the lens we use.

The Hubble telescope just celebrated its 30^th year of service.  Pictures during that time have greatly expanded our knowledge of our expanding universe.  However, Hubble is primarily a visible light telescope which limits its ability to see into deep space through the clouds and gases present in the cosmos.  Currently scientists are super excited about the Webb telescope (scheduled to launch in 2021) that will be able to penetrate through this material by using a large infrared lens, revealing what has been there all along but hidden. 

Faith does not create reality but reveals it.  Though physically unseen the spiritual dimension is real.  Exploring the spiritual world by faith is like looking at the cosmos through an infrared telescope.  We see what has always been there but unknown when using only our physical sensory system. 

Spiritual faith “believes in order to see” verses “sees in order to believe”.

The apostle Thomas said he refused to believe in the resurrection unless he could actually see and touch the scars on Jesus’ body.  In other words, he insisted that he must “see in order to believe”.  A few days later Jesus accommodates him with a personal appearance in which Thomas physically touches Him and then declares his belief.  However, Jesus then identifies another pathway to knowing reality:  “Blessed are those who believe without (physically) seeing Me” (John 20:21).

An earlier example of belief leading to sight is the story of the people at Sychar in Samaria.  Jesus has an encounter with a woman from that village near a well (John 4).  When the woman returned to her village and reported her experience with Jesus, many of the Samaritans believed because of her testimony (faith).  Fueled by their initial faith, they went out to see Jesus personally.  Then they said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this One is indeed the Savior of the world” (John 4:42).  Their initial faith led to their own encounter with Jesus and increased clarity.

Faith is our means for perceiving spiritual reality; it is the nervous system that allows our spiritual senses to discern what is real though invisible.  Our faith must be implemented and our spiritual senses developed if we are to discover life in the dimension of the kingdom of God. 

“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Cor. 4:18).

For Reflection

1.  Think of examples of when your belief has led to greater sight.

2.  Why are we so resistant to living by faith?

Now hear this, O foolish and senseless people (Jeremiah 5:12)

Every day we experience our physical world through our five senses.  What we know of our natural world is dependent on how well these senses function.  Although they usually function automatically from birth, our senses go through a process of development as we mature.  They also complement each other, by detecting a unique part of our natural world. 

Our senses don’t create reality; they simply perceive it.  They perform like a window through which we can experience our world in different dimensions.  Amazing as they are, our sensory system is limited.  There is more in our physical world than our five senses can perceive without assistance.  

Throughout history men and women have imagined the reality of this invisible world and then proceeded to develop different aids by which to “see” it.  On the micro level, for example, viruses were suspected even in the 19th Century, but it wasn’t until the invention of the electron microscope (1930s) that viruses were made visible. 

At the macro level, until fairly recently, the only lens we used to look at the cosmos was some form of a visible light telescope.  But with the development of infrared lenses, we can now see what has always been there but hidden. 

The Bible tells us about a spiritual reality that is real but hidden from our natural senses.  Our inability to “see” it doesn’t mean it is not there.  Scripture teaches that there are spiritual realities that require spiritual receivers/sensors to perceive them.  Amazingly, our spiritual sensory system resembles our natural one.

The inner man can see, hear, taste, smell, and touch.   This is what Jesus meant when He said of the people: “They seeing see not, and hearing they hear not” (Matt.13:13). The inability to see and understand spiritual things is not the fault of the intelligence but of the heart. The eyes of the heart must be opened by the Spirit of God  (Warren Wiersbe commentary on Ephesians).

Without a spiritual sensory system, there is a part of reality that remains a mystery.  Greek philosophers referred to the non-bodily essence of God, for example, as not just invisible but “nonsensible”: not perceived by our natural five senses.  And although intangible, the essence of God is intelligible through the “eyes of the soul”.

Part of our spiritual birthright is a new sensory system that must be developed if we are to benefit from it. We know that our natural senses can be developed with practice and training.  When we so choose we can develop a greater acuity in any one of the five senses.  In my military infantry training we spent hours practicing detection of hidden things in the landscape.  Initially most of us missed seeing what later became fairly obvious.  We had to learn to pick up subtle clues that enhanced our ability to see.

Likewise, we must learn to use, rely on, and develop our spiritual sensory system.  Scripture refers to spiritually seeing, hearing, tasting, touching, and even smelling.  When our spiritual senses are developed, they allow us to perceive what is hidden or unknown but nevertheless real. 

The writer of Hebrews rebukes his audience for their immaturity caused by their defective spiritual sensory system.

Concerning him (ascended Jesus) we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant…. (Heb. 5:11-13).

Evidently, the Hebrew audience had digressed in their spiritual capacity to hear, resulting in being spiritually dull or deaf.  They were still spiritual infants needing a liquid diet of milk rather than a solid diet of meat.

He then goes on to say that, “…solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil” (Heb. 514).  There are several reasons we could list for spiritual immaturity, but evidently a defective sensory system is one of them.  Conversely, a developed spiritual sensory system that sees, hears, tastes, and touches, is key to our development and maturity.

It is difficult to imagine physical maturity without a healthy sensory system allowing us to perceive and interact with our environment.  The same is true spiritually.  Discipleship involves the process of developing our spiritual senses so we can experience this real but “nonsensible” reality.  Correspondingly, disciple making is helping others develop their spiritual senses so that they are equipped to grow towards maturity.

Although the prophet Eli in the Old Testament, had become dull of hearing the voice of God, he was able to help young Samuel detect and respond to God’s voice.  Perhaps teaching Samuel to hear the voice of God was Eli’s greatest contribution in preparing Samuel to become a leader of Israel and a mighty man of faith.

In the following series I want to explore our spiritual senses both as disciples and disciplemakers.  Fulfilling the great commission of making disciples is more than passing on biblical truth, it is training others to develop spiritual sensory acuity. 

For Reflection:

1.  How are our senses both unique and complementary?

2.  What are some ways we can develop sensory (spiritual and physical) acuity?

Recently I was sitting on our deck as a thunderstorm passed through Kansas City.  First the sky darkened followed by a gentle rain followed by gusting winds and heavier rain.  As I observed the trees in our backyard that had only recently leafed out, I saw in nature what I see in our culture.  The storms and winds of secularism, materialism, and relativism are blowing into our lives with increasing intensity.

Living as an exile in Babylon requires the wisdom of controlled flexibility.

Like God’s people in the Old Testament we find ourselves living as exiles in a Babylonian culture.  We are no longer living in a Jerusalem culture which is friendly to our values, beliefs, and practices.  The God followers of antiquity whether they were Jews living in a Hellenistic/Roman dominated world or early Gentile Christians living in a religiously pagan Roman Empire, faced a similar conundrum:  how to follow God and live in but not of the dominate culture.

Various groups at the time of Christ took different approaches:

• Sadducees:  Sought accommodation by compromising
• Pharisees:  Sought separation by criticizing
• Zealots:  Sought liberation by confronting
• Essenes:  Sought isolation by cocooning

What was beautiful about the trees in the storm was the way the branches would flex without breaking.  They would give way a little but always return to their original place.  Bend but not break.  In fact flexibility was a sign of health.  It was the dried up, brittle branches that broke and ended up on the ground.  How then do we bend but not capitulate, stand up without breaking, give way without giving in?

To live an effective counter-cultural life there is one thing more important than being right…being right with compassion.  Maybe there are times when we even give up the right of way.  Consider you are driving your car at an intersection when the light turns green.  You now have the right to proceed.  But you notice a car approaching from your left that is not slowing down.  Will it stop or not?  You are not sure, although you do have the right away legally, is this the time to demand your rights?

Paul when modeling for the Corinthians how to live counter-culturally, said that there were times when he gave up his rights for the sake of the gospel.  Paul demonstrated bending in 1 Corinthians 9.

                “For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more.”

                …I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some.”

Daniel and his three friends give us another example of healthy trees growing strong in the storms of life.  They had the wisdom to negotiate regarding the king’s food but were uncompromising regarding the king’s edict to worship the image.  Daniel contributed to his culture but never lost his convictions.  He and his friends had the courage to stand in a fire or in a lion’s den when no other option was available.  They were convinced that God could deliver through or out of danger.  They had the “but if not” spirit which gave them controlled flexibility and an exceptional legacy.

Jesus gives a different model of counter-cultural living.  He didn’t fit into any of the four models listed earlier.  In some ways he was unpredictable.  When his disciples thought He would be inflexible, he would bend.  When they expected Him to isolate, He would embrace.  When they thought He would fight, he surrendered.  When they expected Him to condemn, He would accept.  He was nothing like what they expected, ….confusing at times but always effective. 

The current storms of gender confusion, conspicuous consumption, civil incivility, and selective intolerance will test our controlled flexibility.  The way to bend yet remain strong will demand a vibrant consistent walk with Christ in the power of His Holy Spirit.  As the landscape changes and we face new storms, we will need fresh manna from God and ears to discern the voice of the Shepherd as He says, “This is the way, walk in it.”   To “wait upon the Lord” is not passive or effortless.  It requires focused intentionality to stay daily in communication with the Christ who is never surprised, threatened, or confused by the storms. 

For Reflection

1.  What are some other examples from Scripture of controlled flexibility?

2.  What is a current example in your life where you need to apply the principle of controlled flexibility?

Our new identity in Christ as reconciled, adopted, and naturalized, is a reality that we will not come up with on our own but only by the revelation of Scripture.  It is challenging to understand and embrace that identity and allow it to transform our worldview concerning who we are in Christ and how to live in His kingdom.  In fact, I have discovered that changing my identity to align with Scripture is not easy or a onetime event.  It takes constant reflection and exercising my faith for these truths to change my heartfelt understanding of who I am and the world I live in.

A quick summary before we go on may help keep the big picture in mind.

God’s work                   God’s Role         Result/focus                 Identity  

Reconciliation               Redeemer                          New Relationship            Saint

Adoption                           Father                                 New Family                        Heir

Naturalization                King                                     New Country                     Citizen

The third part of our spiritual spinal column is “naturalization”:  the legal acceptance into a new country and the establishment of citizenship.  Like our new spiritual family, our new spiritual citizenship is exclusive.  When we are issued our new passport, we must relinquish our old one because there is no dual citizenship in God’s kingdom.  Paul tells us that “He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Col 1:13-14).  An aspect of repentance is to change our allegiance from the kingdom of darkness to embracing a new kingdom with a new passport.  The implication is that we are now permanent residents not temporary tourists like those with a visa.    

“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household (heirs)” (Eph. 2:19). 

“Our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Phil 3:20).

There are two aspects to our new citizenship.  One is our relationship to our new country and the second is the changed relationship to our old country.  As citizens of a heavenly kingdom we now live as exiles, strangers and pilgrims in our current “Babylonian world”.   The challenge comes because we are much more comfortable in Babylon than in our new country.  It is what we are accustomed to.  Every generation of believers has faced this challenge since Jesus rose from the grave. 

In this blog I want to explore the implications of our new citizenship and then refer you to previous blogs that discussed the challenge of living as exiles. 

Most of us have not changed our geographic country of residence so our picture of naturalization is limited.  In Paul’s day, citizenship was a major issue.  Rome as the dominant world power had a clear distinction of who was and who was not a citizen of Rome.  Just because a people group was conquered by Rome didn’t automatically mean they became citizens.  Paul was a unique person being both a Jew and a Roman citizen.  His Roman citizenship provided privileges others did not have. 

Consider some of the implications of our new citizenship in the Lord’s kingdom.

• New Government/Authority:  Christ is King of his kingdom.  In our old country He could be disrespected or just ignored but no longer.  He is the honored head of State, the ultimate authority, the benevolent monarch.  Though currently invisible to most, His reign is still very real.  One day it will become visible to all.

• New Covenant/Constitution:   As citizens of His kingdom we have a new and better covenant.  The Old Testament covenant based on law has been replaced by the new covenant based on the completed work of Christ.   He is now our mediator with the Father. 

“But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises”  (Heb. 8:6; 13)

• New Residency:  We who were once homeless have now been given a permanent new home.  This is difficult to comprehend because this world is the only home we have ever known.  This change of home address is one reason Paul said we should set our minds on things above…”for we have died and our life is hidden with Christ in God.” 

• New Currency:  Merit is the currency of our old country, but in our new country merit is like trying to use Monopoly money.  It is not even a close counterfeit.  When we changed countries, all our merit became piles of “funny money”.  It is worthless.  Faith is the new currency (Heb. 11:6).

• New Freedom:  In our old country we were slaves under a cruel regime.  It just became so natural we didn’t realize the oppression of sin and what freedom could be, but now we experience the freedom a relationship of grace brings.  It will take intentionality to unlearn old habits and ways of thinking in order to adjust to this new freedom (Gal 5:1).

• New legal system:  We still have an accuser, but now we have a new legal defense team.   The One who was in all points tempted as we are is now the one who stands in our defense.  He has never lost a case!

 “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John 2:1).    

• New Portfolio:  In the bank of heaven we have an eternal IRA with our name on it.  It is secure, non-depreciating, always paying dividends.  It doesn’t fluctuate with current events but is based on the outcome that has already been announced.  It is simply being played out according to plan (Matt. 6:19-20).

• New Protection:  No longer do we need to walk in fear or uncertainty.  The armor of God is ours to put on.  It will equip us to walk in victory and enable us to stand against the rulers of the kingdom of darkness (Eph. 6:10+).

• New Role:  As citizens of a new country our relationship with this world has changed.  It is no longer our home, but we still live in it and have been given a mission to be ambassadors representing our new country.  Our role is not to just survive or pass away the time, but to make a distinct difference in our current culture.

You can read more about how to live as an exile in this Babylonian world in TAD Blog #55.

For Reflection:

1.  What are other implications of our citizenship now being in heaven?

2.  How does the term “exile” help us know how to live life now?

Forgiveness is not a cosmic do over

God as Judge is one of the basic tenants of a biblical view of God.  To judge means to consider, render an opinion, and announce the verdict.  We normally think of judgments in a punitive context, but the concept is much broader.  For example, in athletic events there are judges who hand out trophies (rewards) for accomplishments.  Scripture teaches that God is our Judge who has the authority and power to judge mankind for good or evil. 

Although not very visible in current Christian culture, the subject of judgment is a consistent theme from Genesis to Revelation.  It is a critical part of the gospel and a biblical worldview.

Much of the story line of the Bible is about God judging man’s performance and issuing a verdict whether positive or negative.  This fact does not contradict any of the other characteristics of God.  For example, there is no judgment of God that is not loving as well as just. 

The first Doctrine to be denied, according to the Bible, is the doctrine of judgment. In many disputes about God and religion, this pattern often repeats itself, because if you can get rid of that one teaching, then rebellion has no adverse consequences, and so you are free to do anything.(DA Carson, The God Who is There, p32)

The theme of judgment can be categorized as past, present, and future.  I have listed several important judgments under each as a way to highlight a very complex subject.  We need to consider them especially in light of the atonement, forgiveness, and reconciliation.

Past Judgment (Eden –Gen. 3:14-18)

1.  Physical and spiritual death (Gen. 2:17)

2.  Conflict socially and with nature (Gen. 16-19)

Present Judgment

3.  Moral decay and degeneration (Rom 1:18-22)

4.  God’s fatherly discipline (Heb. 12:4-11)

Future Judgment

5.  Final Judgment for those without Christ (Great White Throne)

6.  Stewardship judgment for those in Christ (2 Cor. 5:10; cf. Rom. 14:10-12; 1 Cor. 3:9-14; 9:24-27)

Reconciliation through the cross has a major impact on understanding the above spectrum of judgments.  Specifically, reconciliation overcomes spiritual death but, it does not eliminate all the consequences of sin. The conflict between people and with nature remains with us as God’s judgment from the past and it will remain until we begin life in the new heaven and earth.  Forgiveness and reconciliation do not remove us from the struggle and pain of this judgment/curse because of man’s fall.

In the present, moral decay is evident in our broken world.  We are impacted by it whether we are complicit in it or not.  Paul teaches in Romans 1 that when people continually reject God and His revelation through nature, He eventually removes His hand of protection and “gives them over” to the natural consequences of immorality.  People and cultures that continually deny God and His authority and sovereignty over all that He has created, will drift further and further into immorality and its consequences … dragging all of society with it.

As His children our loving heavenly Father will also judge, correct, discipline and chastise us.   It is part of our birthright (Heb. 12:5-6).  The New Testament gives us several examples of the judgment/discipline of the Lord:

                         1.  The seven churches in Revelations Rev. 2-3

                         2.  Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5

                         3.  Misusing the Lord’s Supper in 1 Cor. 11:29

Although God’s discipline of His children today may not always be as dramatic as these examples, we should not become complacent and think He will not discipline us. Rather we should be grateful He does because, although painful at the time, it “produces a harvest of righteousness and peace…” (Heb. 12:11). 

The future, final judgment of condemnation has been eliminated for those in God’s family of faith, but there will still be the judgment of accountability (Behma) … not from the standpoint of sin but of stewardship.   Although the picture of how this will impact our future remains cloudy, there is no doubt of the continuity between this life and the next.  Being reconciled, dying physically, or experiencing the return of Christ will not provide a “do-over” for believers.  There will be no cosmic eraser that eliminates our history and level of responsibility.  Paul states it this way:

“Each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it, because it is to be revealed with fire; and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. If any man’s work which he has built upon it remains, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved, yet so as through fire” (1 Cor. 3:13-15).

Paul, in his anticipation of being home with the Lord also wrote:

“Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him.  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad” (2 Cor. 5:9-10). 

In conclusion, being forgiven and reconciled to God has not eliminated all forms of God’s judgment.  This fact should motivate us to avoid a casual or cavalier attitude regarding our relationship with Christ.  In the book of Hebrews we are reminded to come boldly into His presence, but that does not mean carelessly.

Here are several observations to consider as we live out our reconciled relationship with God:

• We are all under the judgment of God (Acts 24:15-16) and that is sobering (Heb. 10:31-32).
• His judgments are loving as well as just.
• His punitive, correcting, or rewarding judgments (verdicts) can be immediate or deferred.
• The atonement eliminates condemnation but not accountability (Rom 8:1; 2 Cor. 5:10).
• Forgiveness is a “start over” not a “do over”: not a “delete” key on our computer (Gal 6:7-8).
• God’s judgments provide a proper motivation for discipleship: holy living and stewardship (2Cor 5:10; Acts 24:15-16).

Question for reflection:

Why do you think the teaching about the judgments of God have become marginalized in our current church culture?

God’s forgiveness is often referred to as a pardon.  But is it?  The word pardon is never used in the New Testament in connection with the atonement.  So why do we use the terms interchangeably?  Forgiveness is intrinsically linked to reconciliation in the Bible.  No one is forgiven who is not also reconciled to God.  I would suggest that the concept of a legal pardon, while providing some helpful illustrative parallels, is inadequate to explain what is offered to us through God’s forgiveness.

Our current constitutional model of a pardon comes from our English heritage.  Modeled after English monarchs, the power to pardon was built into our constitution and given to presidents – not the judicial system. 

Although the constitution does not describe a pardon, it is generally accepted that a legal pardon can be given for any reason and it can be granted at any time in the legal process.  A pardon can be given before conviction (President Ford pardoned Nixon), while serving a prison sentence, or after the sentence has been completed.  A pardon does not wipe the conviction off the record, but it does release the convicted from future punishment and restores some, not all, of the civil rights lost due to the conviction.  

As you can see from the above description, there are parallels between an executive pardon and God’s forgiveness, but a pardon falls far short of the magnitude of God’s forgiveness.  A pardon can release us from further judgment, but it cannot infuse new life, impart righteousness, restore fellowship (reconciliation), or give us a new identity.  Forgiveness does all of the above.   It is an act of divine mercy which is undeserved but definitely not free or unconditional.  It is offered at the cost of the substitutionary sacrifice of Christ at Calvary and it is conditionally given on the basis of faith and repentance. 

Here is a brief comparison between a legal pardon and biblical forgiveness:

How they are similar: 

• Both are granted by the sovereign of the country or state.
• Both are an act of mercy.
• Both can be granted for any reason and at any time.
• Both can have conditions attached at the will of the sovereign.
• Both are permanent. 
• Both remove some, but not all, of the consequences of the conviction.
• Both must be accepted to become effective.

How they are dissimilar:

• One is an outright declaration; the other is based on substitutionary atonement.
• One changes our liability; the other also changes our identity.
• One gives us freedom; the other also gives us His righteousness.
• One is an impersonal legal construct; the other is a relational covenant promise.
• One restores our rights; the other restores our relationship.

It is apparent that forgiveness is similar to a pardon but a great deal more.  If people do not understand the difference, salvation becomes a pardon in their minds and they treat it like a “get out of jail free” card.  A person who has been pardoned in the penal system may be grateful for the commuted sentence but still remain detached, distant, and even defiant toward the one who pardoned him.  

Biblical forgiveness involves reconciliation based on substitution and exchange.  Those who hold to a retributive view of justice argue that pardons are unjust since justice is not served.  With God’s forgiveness justice is served on the cross and grace is offered in the gospel message.  As Judge He convicts, as King He pardons, and as Savior He takes our penalty and exchanges our sin for His righteousness so that we can be reconciled into an eternal, intimate relationship with God. 

Therefore, when we are forgiven (not just pardoned) through the work of Jesus Christ, we are reconciled to God and begin a whole new relationship with Him.  Growing in that relationship is what discipleship is all about.  It is the purpose of discipleship.  Understanding the difference between pardon and forgiveness turns discipleship from an option to a priority and from a duty to a delight.    

Question for reflection

How should the difference between a pardon and forgiveness affect how we deal with those who have offended us?

^1.  L. Gregory Jones, Embodying Forgiveness:  A Theological Analysis (Grand Rapids, MI:  Eerdmans, 1995),5.