The Weekly Encourager – June 26, 2013 – A Father's Duty (Sin and Its Consequences)

On Father's Day, a small boy persisted in misbehaving during our church service. As his father carried him out of the hall, I heard the boy say with tearful anticipation, “I don't like discipline.” Yet the good father continued with his task. The second time his dad had to take him out, the boy said, “I don't want discipline.” Ironically, the sermon that day was about sin and its consequences!

It should be noted that this child had been amply warned by both parents and he was fully aware of what was expected. Out of love, his parents were doing what was necessary to train up their child in the way of righteousness. Yes, it's humiliating and painful for the child, and frustrating and tiring for the parents. But it must be done. How remiss that father would have been had he failed to administer consequences for the child's rebellious attitude and actions! Yet we feel that we should be able to keep on sinning without our Heavenly Father having to spank us.

As Pastor Stephen Coleman pointed out in his sermon, the concept of sin is considered quaint today; even in Christian circles, terms such as disease, failure, mistake, and problem replace the word sin. But to ignore sin is the the height of blasphemy. “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us....If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.” - I John 1:8,10

For me, that little boy's words summed up the essence of sin. Every time I sin I am saying to God, “ I don't like discipline. I don't want discipline.”

We think, “It's only natural to fudge a little. This isn't such a big deal. I obey God in many areas, can't I just keep this one thing for myself?” After all, “nobody's perfect.” But that's precisely the point: nobody's perfect, no, not one. A perfectly holy God requires perfect holiness, and we can't do that. God is the ultimate Good Father, and He cannot ignore our rebellious attitude and actions. Just like that little boy's dad, God is faithful and just to punish our sin.

Wait a minute, you say. The correct quote is, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” - I John 1:9 Yes, that is a comfort; but, I think a lot of us remember the forgiveness part and forget the fact that sin, our sin, had to be punished. This Father doesn't get frustrated or tired, and He is perfectly just. He is never remiss in His duty. That means every sin must have consequences, now or later.

What are the consequences? Any sinner who rejects Christ will face eternal punishment, but any sinner who belongs to God will face natural consequences only in this life. In His great kindness, our merciful Heavenly Father sent His perfectly holy Son to bear all the humiliation and to endure all the pain on our behalf. As Pastor Coleman said, “Acknowledge sin and receive forgiveness given at the cost of His own Son.” Now, because of Jesus, “it would be unjust for God to punish anyone for whom Christ died!” That to me was an amazing statement. First it would be unjust not to punish, but once the discipline has been administered, it would be unjust to keep on punishing!

For me, this was a true Father's Day sermon. Not only should we appreciate our earthly fathers for whatever love and discipline they provided, but we should thank our Heavenly Father for His perfect faithfulness, justice, mercy and love shown in the forgiveness of our sin and the certain hope of eternal life. Every day is Father's Day! Thank you, God.

God is faithful and just,

j

To hear the excellent sermon given by Pastor Stephen Coleman on 6/16/13, go to http://newhopefairfax.org/resources/sermons-to-hear and click on the sermon titled, “Hope for Sinners.”