The Discussion

Inquiry. "I have been a Church member for about fourteen years, but I have arrived at the point where I cannot go on."

Answer. "Why? What's the matter?"

Inquiry. "The time has come when I have got to stop kidding myself. I am so confused. I feel lost. It is as if I am drowning. Nothing seems to make any sense. Oh, I sit there in the praise meetings and I do join in, but it is a sham. It has always been a sham. I have never really fitted in. Deep down I feel as if I am cheating, and I also feel as if I am being cheated by God. I think that I am losing my faith."

Answer. "What is your actual problem? Why do you feel lost and cheated by God?"

Inquiry. "I'm not sure. I am just so confused and muddled. Nothing seems to make any sense. I don't understand why. I just feel like I am drowning."

Answer. "OK Let us try and find the problem. Do you pray a lot?"

Inquiry. "Yes."

Answer. "And when you pray, what do you generally pray for? What do you ask God to help you with?"

Inquiry. "Much the same as other people, I suppose. I pray that God should forgive my sins. I pray for more strength to overcome my sins. I pray that God should grant me more grace, that He should fill me more with the Holy Spirit, that I may be given the strength to produce more fruit, to become more Godly and upright."

Answer. "Do you believe that Jesus has died for your sins?"

Inquiry. "Of course!"

Answer. "Then why do you pray for more strength to overcome them?"

Inquiry. "Because I am a Christian, and it is surely every Christian's greatest desire to overcome their sinfulness."

Answer. "Is it?"

Inquiry. "Well, isn't it?"

Answer. "No. It isn't my greatest desire, and I am a Christian."

Inquiry. "But if you are a Christian, how can the desire to overcome your sinfulness not be your greatest concern?"

Answer. "In general, my sinfulness doesn't really bother me any more. It used to, and there are still times when that old devil doubt slithers its way into my conscience and causes me some discomfort, but in general it is not my greatest concern."

Inquiry. "But how can you not be bothered about it?"

Answer. "Why should I be?"

Inquiry. "Do you not fear God?"

Answer. "No. Once again, I used to, but not any more. God has revealed His Grace and mercy towards me, and I now walk and talk with God. He is my Father. He is my Saviour. He is my Comforter. He is my friend. Why should I fear Him?"

Inquiry. "And do you not fear being rejected by Him?"

Answer. "Why should He reject me?"

Inquiry. "Because of your sins."

Answer. "I thought you said that you believe that Jesus has died for your sins?"

Inquiry. "I do."

Answer. "Then if you believe that Jesus has died for your sins, how can you also fear being rejected by God because of them?"

Inquiry. "Just because Jesus died for our sins does not mean that we can use it as an excuse to commit more of them."

Answer. "I didn't say that it was. I asked you how it was possible to believe that Jesus has died for your sins, and at the same time also fear that you will be rejected by God because of them."

Inquiry. "I want to be Godly. I want to be a good example to others."

Answer. "So do I, but you are not answering the question."

Inquiry. "But what about judgement?"

Answer. "Judgement for what?"

Inquiry. "Judgement for sin."

Answer. "How can judgement for sin be of any concern to me, if I believe that Jesus has died for my sins? Or, more to the point, how can judgement for your sins be of any concern to you, if you believe that Jesus has died for your sins?"

Inquiry. "You are trying to make it sound as if I don't believe that Jesus has died for my sins."

Answer. "Do you?"

Inquiry. "Yes, of course I do. I have already told you that I do!"

Answer. "In that case, this question deserves an answer. How can judgement for your sins be of any concern to you, if you believe that Jesus has died for them?"

Inquiry. "We must know Jesus as our Lord as well as our Saviour."

Answer. "You are not answering the question. You are avoiding the issue. You are not being honest with me at all. Your brain is starting to wriggle and squirm like a worm on a hook while it hunts for a way out of its dilemma. You are just saying the first thing that enters your head without thinking about what you are saying. You are just quoting the arguments and answers that you have learned off by heart from the teachings of others, which, if I may say so, is the very reason that you are so confused.

STOP IT!

Think about what you are saying. Go outside and dunk your head in the water butt at the bottom of the yard, take a deep breath or two of clean air, and think about answering the question in a rational and logical way.

How is it possible to believe that Jesus has died for your sins, and at the same time also fear that you will be rejected by God because of your sins? How is it possible to fear being judged for your sins, if you believe that sin has been paid for?"

Inquiry. "I'm not sure, you are confusing me."

Answer. "Not at all. I am trying to get you to come to terms with the reason why you are already confused. And do not imagine that you are on your own. You are not! There are many people within Christian churches who feel just the same as you do. And I know exactly what you are going through because I was in the same position myself for a long time.

Have you ever seen a T.V. documentary which shows how certain people specialise in breaking the indoctrination of cult groups like the Moonies by trying to de-program the victims.?"

Inquiry. "Yes."

Answer. "And I'll bet that you watched it in amazement, wondering how people can be so easily conned, didn't you?"

Inquiry. "Yes, don't we all?"

Answer. "Yes. We always find it easier to look at others and not at ourselves. And whether I can be of any help to you really depends on you. It all depends on how far you are prepared to go."

Inquiry. "How do you mean?"

Answer. "If you have been a Church member for fourteen years, you will, no doubt, have listened to many sermons and attended many study groups in that time, so your head will undoubtedly be filled with many errors and false understandings which are now causing your confusion. So it depends on how honest you are prepared to be in meeting these errors head on, coming to terms with them, and discarding them."

Inquiry. "Are you suggesting that I need de-programming?"

Answer. "Yes."

Inquiry. "But I am a Christian, so what do I need de-programming for?"

Answer. "From what you have said so far, I would say that you have a very incorrect understanding of Christ, His work, and its relevance to you. And it takes a great deal of courage and nerve to make a stand against false teaching, especially when you invariably find yourself having to withstand those whom you now perhaps consider to be more godly than yourself. So you must make the decision whether you want to hear or not. It is up to you.

If your present beliefs and understandings are worth a light, they will stand up to the necessary scrutiny."

Inquiry. "I do not really care what I have to do. I cannot go on like this much more. I am at my wits end. I either find what I am looking for, or I give it up."

Answer. "OK Then I will make a bargain with you. I will not ask you to believe anything which is illogical or absurd. But if I show you that something which you now believe is invalid or false, no matter how dear to your heart it may be, you must recognise it, admit it, and make every effort to discard it."

Inquiry. "Fair enough."

Answer. "I think that due to ideas which have been previously taught to you, you believe that when we depart from this life, God will judge us to see how much good or bad we have done. And if we have done enough good, we will be accepted by God as fit to enter into eternal life, but if we have committed too much sin, we will be rejected as unfit to enter."

Inquiry. "Well, yes I do. But I also believe that Jesus has died for my sins."

Answer. "No you don't. You have heard it so many times, and probably said it so many times, that you think that you believe it. But you do not believe it at all."

Inquiry. "How can you say that? How do you know what I believe and what I don't?"

Answer. "Many people would have us believe that their mouth operates entirely on its own, without any connection to their brain. But it doesn't! Under normal circumstances, your mouth can only speak what your brain tells it to say.

If therefore, somebody claims to believe something, and then, two seconds later, they deny that same belief, they are either not telling the truth, or they are very confused indeed!

When I was at school, for part of a study course, I had to read a book called Nineteen Eighty Four by George Orwell. In it he describes a peculiar phenomenon which the fictional people were inflicted by, and he gave it the title "Doublethink." He describes it thus - "To hold simultaneously two opinions which cancel out, knowing them to be contradictory and believing in both of them."

I want you to consider this description of "Doublethink" carefully, because it is truly remarkable. It describes somebody who suffers from a thinking disorder which allows them to hold simultaneously two opinions which cancel each other out. It allows them to use logic against logic. The people who suffer from it can believe two contradictory beliefs at the same time, knowing them to be contradictory, yet still believing both of them.

Now, any rational, logical thinking person may well find this amusing. How, they may ask, is such a thing possible? It is surely only the figment of a novel writer's imagination. But I am afraid that they are very wrong. "Doublethink" is real. It virtually reigns in the world of Christianity today. Many so called Christian teachers have been teaching doublethink for centuries, and it is still being continually taught.

And the most unfortunate result of continually being taught "Doublethink" is witnessed by people such as yourself. You have been force-fed nonsensical teachings, and they have taken such a deep root in your brain, that when you try to think logically and clearly, you find that you are unable to do so. Deep down your own brain is rebelling against the illogical nonsense, but it is so difficult to filter it out and discard it because you have believed it to be true for so long. There can be only one possible result of this situation, and it is a state of utter confusion. And the few statements that you have so far made show me that your confusion is the result of your own doublethink concerning the message of the gospel, and Christ's death for sin."

Inquiry. "How do you mean?"

Answer. "How can anybody say they truly believe that Christ has died for their sins, and at the same time say they believe that they must pay the penalty for their sins? How can anybody say they believe that Christ has paid for, and removed the penalty for their committing sin, and at the same time say that the penalty for committing sin still remains?

Don't just reply with the first thing that comes into your head.

THINK ABOUT IT!

Think logically. Don't fly off at a tangent and start quoting what other people have taught you.

Christianity has been totally subverted with teachers and writers who do not even believe the basic foundation principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ themselves. They teach all kinds of nonsense and doublethink in the name of God. So clear your head from all of those thoughts that have been passed on to you by others, and consider the matter.

How can anybody say that they truly believe that Christ has paid the penalty for their sins, and at the same time say that the penalty for their committing sin still remains?

Inquiry. "I don't know. I admit that it does sound illogical."

Answer. "You may not realise it yet, but there are a few angels in heaven that have stopped doing their chores and have become interested in our little discussion. Your admission that it does sound illogical has just sent a ripple of anticipation through them, because they are waiting to hear the outcome. They are waiting to hear what answer you will give. Because this question demands an answer.

God expects you to answer this question in a logical and rational way, for I can assure you that God does not, nor ever did, ask any person to believe blatant and provable rubbish or illogical absurdity.

There are many false teachers today who make a great deal of money out of telling us not to question what they teach us. "Just believe us," they cry. "Don't try to work it out. Don't try to reason it out, just simply believe that what we tell you is correct, and stick a big cheque in the bucket on the way out." But God is smarter than they are. God has given you a brain to reason with, and He expects you to use it.

And I tell you, that by admitting that this question exists, and that your present understanding of the answer is illogical, means that you have taken a more positive step towards God and truth in the last fourteen minutes than you have done in the last fourteen years.

You CANNOT say that you truly believe that Christ has paid the penalty for your sins, and at the same time say that the penalty for your committing sin still remains. Anybody who says such a thing is saying two things which are utterly opposed to each other. Anybody who believes such a thing is believing two things which are utterly opposed to each other. We cannot believe both of these things at the same time and remain logical, because it would be nonsense!"

Inquiry. "But, surely it is blasphemous to presume that God will accept those who commit all manner of sins?"

Answer. "There is nothing blasphemous about it. It is the essence of the gospel of grace. It may sound unreasonable to you at the moment. But this is because your head is still filled with the false belief that righteous, good people will inherit eternal life, and sinful people will not."

Inquiry. "And is this not reasonably correct?"

Answer. "Have you ever read the text which says - "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us."? 1 John. 1:8

Inquiry. "Yes."

Answer. "And have you ever read the text which says - "There is none righteous, no, not one."? Rom. 3:10

Inquiry. "Yes."

Answer. "And do you believe that these texts are an honest and truthful description of the reality of our situation and the situation of all human beings?"

Inquiry. "Yes."

Answer. "Then how can you suggest that it is also reasonably correct that righteous people will inherit eternal life and sinful people will not, when you say that you understand that ALL men are sinful, and there are NONE who are righteous?"

Inquiry. No reply.

Answer. "The plain, simple, logical fact still remains that anybody who does truly believe that Christ has died for their sins CANNOT at the same time also believe that they will have to pay the penalty for sin themselves.

And if you say that you do believe that you will still have to pay for your own sins, the words that come out of your mouth, which are only the result of your deepest thoughts, betray you. They are the evidence that you do not really believe that Jesus has died for your sins, no matter how much you say that you do.

St. Paul told the Corinthians quite clearly - "For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures." 1 Cor. 15:3.

His statement it bold, plain and simple. We are told that somebody else has already paid for our sins. Somebody else has already taken our place in judgement. That person has been condemned in our place, and has died in our place. Jesus Christ, the Saviour of sinful man has already DONE it.

This fact is a plain, simple fact. It does not matter how much or how little sin we have committed, and it does not matter how large or how small our actual sins are. These factors do not even come into the matter. They are irrelevant, because the gospel news is - SIN HAS BEEN PAID FOR!

The gospel message - that Jesus Christ has died in our place, for our sins, is repeated time after time throughout the New Testament, but more often than not, it takes a long time for it to sink into the mind of one who still fears the judgement."

Inquiry. "Yes, I know that the message of sins paid for is repeated time after time. But the problem is - I am such a terrible sinner."

Answer. "I know. But Jesus has already died for your sins!"

Inquiry. "But how can God accept me while I am such a sinner?"

Answer. "Because Jesus has already died for your sins."

Inquiry. "But my sins are terrible. They are the worst sins in the world. You do not know what I am really like. You do not know what I have done in my life. You do not know my thoughts. They are simply heinous."

Answer. "Of course I know!"

Inquiry. "How can you know?"

Answer. "Because I am a human being too. I am just the same. All men are the same. We are all in the same position. We are all sinful, that is why Jesus had to die for our sins."

Inquiry. "But how can I possibly meet God while I am such a terrible sinner? How can I avoid being condemned?"

Answer. "Because Jesus was condemned in your place, and He has already died for your sins."

Inquiry. "But I am still a sinner. I am not only talking about what I did years ago. I am also talking about what I do now. I still commit terrible sins."

Answer. "Of course you do! You have committed sins in the past, you are still committing sin, and you will undoubtedly commit many more before you die, as do ALL men without exception, but Jesus has already died for your sins."

Inquiry. "But you don't know what I am like. You don't really know how sinful I am."

Answer. "Oh yes I do, and so does God. In fact it is God's word that tells you how sinful you are, listen - "Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them." Rom. 1:29-32.

Inquiry. "Yes! Yes, that's right, and look what it says. It says that I will die because of it."

Answer. "No! You look what it says. It does NOT say that you will die, but that you are worthy of death. Worthy of death? Yes. Deserving of death? Yes. Guilty enough to warrant death? Yes. But not to worry because somebody else has already died instead of you. Jesus has already died in your place."

Inquiry. "But my sins are atrocious. My life is filled with all manner of sin. I can hardly think a thought which is not sinful."

Answer. "I know. That is why Jesus took your place and died for them."

Inquiry. "Oh it's no use, you don't understand. I just can't get through to you. I am not talking theory here, I am talking fact. I am a sinner, a terrible sinner, maybe the worst sinner that ever was."

Answer. "I know. So am I. But take heart because Jesus has died for your sins just like He died for mine."

Inquiry. "But, don't I have to stop committing sin before I can enter into eternal life?"

Answer. "No."

Inquiry. "What?"

Answer. "I said, No!"

Inquiry. "But I have heard so many other people say that I must."

Answer. "I do not care what you have heard other people say. As time goes by, you will discover that the majority of such people are vain hypocrites. And if they still insist on telling you that you must stop committing sin, ask them if they have. And if they say that they have, then tell them that the Bible says that they are a liar.

"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." 1 John. 1:8

Inquiry. "But surely I must make some effort to become a better person?"

Answer. "NO!"

Inquiry. "You cannot be serious!"

Answer. "I am deadly serious!"

Inquiry. "You are actually saying that I need not make any effort to become a better person, and God will still accept me?"

Answer. "Why? Do you believe that He will reject you if you don't?"

Inquiry. "Yes!"

Answer. "It would seem to me that you have already tried to make such an effort for the last fourteen years, and it has not got you very far has it? You have evidently believed this for some fourteen years, and yet, after all of that time you still have not found true peace with God. Do you not think that it is about time that you came to terms with this obvious fact, and started to look very carefully at just what it is that you do believe? I would say that it was about time that you started to face a few facts and re-examine what you believe, because there is evidently something terribly wrong with it.

I have asked you now on several occasions if you believe that Jesus has died for your sins. And on each occasion you have replied that you do. You even became offended when I suggested that you did not. But from what you have been saying for the last few minutes, it is evident that you most certainly do not.

Knowing the good news that Jesus has died for sin and believing that He HAS died for YOUR sins are two different things."

Inquiry. "I do believe that Jesus has died for my sins. Of course I do! But I also believe that we must endeavour to cease from committing sin as much as possible. We cannot be granted eternal life unless we endeavour to cease committing sin."

Answer. "I am sorry to have to say it, but you are talking absolute nonsense! You are trying to present yourself as a true believer in Christ's death for sin, but every other word that you speak cries out against it. Your own arguments are proof that you do not, truly, in your heart, believe it at all.

You CANNOT say that you believe that Jesus has died for your sins with one breath, and then, with the next breath, say that you also believe that you must cease committing sin to be granted eternal life. The last statement argues against the first. You CANNOT believe both of them at the same time, and remain logical. If the sins that you still commit can keep you from eternal life, then it is obvious that Christ did not die for them. Is it not?"

Inquiry. No reply.

Answer. "It's that old devil "double - think" again. And it is concerning exactly the same question that we have before looked at. And I am telling you that if you are truly, sincerely searching for true peace with God you will never find it unless you meet this problem head on, and deal with it. The correct answer to this question is so crucial that I am going to repeat it - if the sins that you still commit can keep you from eternal life, then it is obvious that Christ did not die for them. Is it not?"

Inquiry. "Yes, I suppose so."

Answer. ""I suppose so" is not a good enough answer. The answer "I suppose so" shows a reluctance to admit to the answer. If I am saying something which is wrong, then show me where it is wrong. If I am saying something which is illogical, then show me where it is illogical. And if you cannot, then you need to be brave enough to examine your present belief and see it for what it is - illogical nonsense and Doublethink.

You CANNOT say that you believe that Jesus has died for your sins with one breath, and then, with the next breath, say that you believe that we must cease committing sin to be granted eternal life. If the sins that we still commit can keep us from eternal life, then it is obvious that they have not been paid for.

The only way that anybody can subscribe to these two opposing beliefs is if they suffer from "doublethink". They are using logic against logic! They are holding simultaneously two opinions which cancel each other out, knowing them to be contradictory and believing in both of them."

Inquiry. "Yes. But...."

Answer. "NO! There are no "buts" These two totally opposed teachings which claim that Christ has died for our sins, but the penalty for sin still remains are constantly being taught side by side by Christian teachers and writers world-wide. It is crazy nonsense, and utterly against all sound teaching!

We either accept and believe that Jesus Christ has died for our sins, or we do not. It is as simple as that! But to say that we believe that Christ died to remove the penalty for sin from us with one breath, and then to also say that the penalty for sin still remains as a threat over us by teaching that unless we cease from sin God will not grant us eternal life, is absolute rubbish.

God has given you a brain, and He expects you to use it. So come on, get to grips with this. Look at it objectively and decide whether you are a believer in Christ or not, and whether you really do believe the gospel or not. Get this matter crystal clear in your mind. Ask yourself openly and honestly - do I believe the message of the gospel, that Jesus Christ has already died for my sins? Do I believe that Christ's death for sin has removed the penalty of sin from me?

It is a simple enough question. Indeed it is the answer to this question that the whole principle of all Christian teaching is based on. Take this away and Christianity does not exist! So let us get it right - do you believe the message of the gospel, that Jesus Christ has already died for your sins, and in so doing has removed the penalty of sin from you?"

Inquiry. "Yes, of course I do."

Answer. "Then let us prove it by asking the further question - what therefore remains to keep you from eternal life?

Don't just reply with the first thing that comes into your head.

THINK ABOUT IT!

And I tell you that you had better think long and hard before you give an answer to this question. You had better come to terms with what you have already declared that you DO believe - that Jesus Christ has already died for your sins and removed the penalty for sin from you, and keep it in your mind as you work out your answer. Because ANY answer that you may give must always be examined and judged by the criterion - is it a sin? And if it is a sin, then I will return you back once more to that which you have already affirmed that you believe - that Jesus Christ has already died for your sins!

Do you see what I am saying?"

Inquiry. "No, not really."

Answer. "If in reply to the question, what can keep us from eternal life? somebody says we must do "X", or cease from doing "X", then the factor "X" must be examined by the criterion - is it a sin if we do, or do not cease our doing it? If it is a sin, then once again we must ask the question - do we believe that Jesus Christ has already died for our sins?"

Inquiry. "This sounds a bit like a trick question."

Answer. "Oh no! It is NOT a trick question. It is the very essence of the gospel! It is a very simple equation. For instance -

Do you believe that Jesus Christ has died for your sins?

Yes

Then what can keep you out of eternal life?

I need to be more loving.

STOP! Is it a sin if you are not more loving?

Yes.

But you have already affirmed that you believe that Jesus Christ has died for your sins. So if Jesus Christ has already died for your sins He has also died for your not being more loving, so what remains to keep you out of eternal life?

I need to fight more strongly against the sins of the flesh.

STOP! Is it a sin if you do not fight more strongly against the sins of the flesh?

Yes.

But you have already affirmed that you believe that Jesus Christ has died for your sins. So if Jesus Christ has already died for your sins He has also died for your sins of the flesh, so what remains to keep you out of eternal life? Etc.

This equation puts us into a kind of a loop, and we can go around this loop as many times as we like, and for as long as we want to, because it is a loop which allows only ONE escape route, which is if we should say - "No, I do not believe that Jesus has died for all of my sins." And if we answer thus, then we are blatantly denying both Christ and His gospel work."

Inquiry. "But doesn't Paul tell us that the wages of sin is death?"

Answer. "He does. But you are only quoting half of the text. The full text reads - "For the wages of sin is death: but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Rom. 6:23.

So, the question that must always be asked is - if the wages of sin is death, and sin, which is the only thing that can keep us from eternal life has already been paid for by Christ, then what remains to keep us from eternal life? If the condemnation of sin has been taken away, done away with, paid for by another who has already died in our place, then what remains to keep us from eternal life? In all reality the answer has got to be - ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! Which is exactly why, having shown us one side of the coin with the statement - "the wages of sin is death," Paul shows us the other side with the words - "but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

Just stop for a moment and consider what I am saying in the form of a mathematical equation. Were you any good at maths at school?"

Inquiry. "No, not really."

Answer. "Well, you don't have to be an Einstein to work this one out.

1 - 1 = 0

This is a very simple subtraction sum, and as long as the numbers on either side of the minus sign are the same, the answer will always be - zero. You could say 9 minus 9, or 600 minus 600. The answer will always be - zero. It is simple, it is logical, and it is correct.

If anybody told you that 1 - 1 = 4, you would undoubtedly have the ability and confidence to tell them that there was something sadly lacking in their mathematical ability, wouldn't you?"

Inquiry. "Yes, undoubtedly."

Answer. "Right, so now, instead of using numbers in the equation, insert words instead -

The penalty for sin minus the penalty for sin = no penalty for sin.

Or to put it in its true gospel context -

Our sin minus Christ's payment for our sin = no more penalty for sin.

Death minus death = Life.

So, the penalty for sin, which is death, minus Christ's death for sin = no more penalty for sin and no more death, or in other words - eternal life!

Just stop and think about it for a moment. Instead of asking - what you need to do to obtain eternal life, ask - what remains to prevent you from obtaining it? This is a very interesting way of looking at it.

You can raise as many points and objections as you like, it makes no difference. Whatever you say, whatever points you raise, the question must always be asked - is it a sin if I do or do not this thing? And if the answer comes back - yes, it is a sin, then I re-affirm the truth of the gospel - that Jesus Christ has already paid the penalty for sin!

What else is there? We cannot argue that the penalty for sin still remains when the penalty for sin has already been paid for by Jesus. And if we take the condemnation of sin away, there is NOTHING left to condemn us. We should be freed from our guilt-burdened conscience. We should be set free from any and all fear of being condemned for our sinfulness.

We could take three texts written by St Paul and use them in the form of an equation which would show the same result.

1. The wages of sin is death. (Rom. 6:23.)

2. Christ died for our sins. (1 Cor. 15:3.)

3. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus. (Rom. 8:1.)

Inquiry. "I don't know what to say. I am torn as to whether I like it or not. On the one hand I can see the logic of it, but on the other hand it grates against my moral sensibilities."

Answer. "Why?"

Inquiry. "Because it sounds as if you are saying that we can carry on committing sin without fear. I am sure that you are not saying that. But it does sound like it."

Answer. "No, you are wrong. That is exactly what I AM saying!"

Inquiry. "But this is a terrible thing to teach men. It does nothing more than to teach men that they can commit sin without any fear of the consequences."

Answer. "That is quite correct. Yes! That is exactly what it does. You are one hundred per cent correct! Isn't the gospel of grace truly amazing. It shows the poor in spirit, the fearful, indeed, every sinful person who frets and worries and is cast down into despair because of their sinfulness, that even though they are still sinful ever so much, they can be secure in the knowledge that they will not be condemned by, or for, their sinfulness, because Jesus Christ has already paid their penalty for them. It shows all who are earnestly searching for peace with God, and are desperately seeking rest from a guilt ridden conscience, just how and where to find it - in the knowledge of sin paid for by Christ!"

Inquiry. "But, to teach men that they can commit sin without any fear of the consequences, sounds awful!"

Answer. "I could not care less what it sounds like. The teaching of the One True Gospel will always sound awful to people who think more of themselves than they ought and vainly imagine themselves to be better than other people. So let it sound awful. And when you next pray to God, tell Him how you do not like the fact that Jesus has paid the price for your sins that you might be granted eternal life. Complain to God, tell Him how awful it sounds, and see how He will answer you.

Because whether you like it or not, and whether you are offended or not, Christ died for your sins, and has removed the penalty of death from ALL who are in Christ Jesus. You can accept it or you can reject it, but after today you will not be able to complain that it was never explained to you."

Inquiry. "Oh, I am so confused."

Answer. "I understand only too well that when a person is in the desperate situation of a tender conscience, when the condemnation of sin is constantly before their eyes, it is often very difficult to think logically. And all too often, they discover that their thoughts are filled with doubt and despair. The Bible, is in fact filled with peace-bringing gospel texts, but it is as if they do not exist to such a person. They are blotted out and overshadowed by those texts which show the true nature of man as a sinful creature, warranting condemnation and deserving death. Guilt, condemnation, death and hell loom up before them like a destroying angel. The torment of mind and palpitations of conscience are so great that most of their reason is driven away. Reason and logic find small space to co-exist in such a guilt burdened conscience.

Logically however, it should be understood - that if sin, which causes us to fear the judgement has already been paid for by Christ; if the condemnation of sin has been taken away, done away with, paid for by another who has already died in our place, then what remains to cause us to fear the judgement? The answer is - ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!

You can raise as many points and objections as you like, it makes no difference. Whatever you say, whatever points you raise, the question must always be asked - is it a sin if I do or do not this thing? And if the answer comes back - yes, it is a sin, then I re-affirm the truth of the gospel - that Jesus Christ has already paid the penalty for sin!

What else is there? We cannot argue that the penalty for sin still remains when the penalty for sin has already been paid for by Jesus. And if we take the condemnation of sin away, there is NOTHING left to condemn us. We should be freed from our guilt-burdened conscience. We should be set free from the fear of judgement. We should be able to find true peace with God. But what a difficult job it is at times for the guilt-burdened soul to believe such a thing.

When Paul wrote the words - "For he was made to be sin for us", he was not joking. He was not just playing around with fanciful words so that our hope might be built on sinking sand. He was telling us a simple, gospel truth. He was telling us that God sent Jesus into the world for this very purpose. This is what it was all about! Jesus was sent here to accomplish this very thing - to be condemned and to die in our place, for our transgressions, for our unrighteousness, for our sins, no matter how great or how heinous those sins are. He died for ALL sin. For those sins that you have never dared tell anybody else about because they are so awful. For those sins that deep down you imagine to be so great that Jesus could not have paid the price for them. For those sins that make your skin crawl with shame when you even think about them. They have all been paid for in full.

Every sin that you have ever committed, those sins that you now commit, and all sin that you may commit in the future, all of those sins which now send you scurrying to hide your head in shame, and cause such fear of judgement within you; they have all been paid for, finished with. Not by you, but by Jesus Christ for you. You are set free from condemnation! Freed from the power of the law to judge you! Freed from the penalty of death which the law requires for your sins, because Jesus Christ has taken your condemnation upon Himself and paid the penalty of death for you. You are freed because - "He has made Him to be sin for us." 2 Cor. 5:21

Consider the way that Paul, when writing to the Romans quoted the Psalms -

"Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, saying Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin." Rom. 4:7-8

This verse is like a lighthouse flashing safety, like water in a desert, like a life-raft in the middle of the ocean, for it tells us in simple terms that even though we do still commit all manner of sins, they are not imputed to us.

OUR SIN IS NOT IMPUTED TO US.

The word "impute" means - "to account " or "to reckon". So this text is telling us that our sins are not accounted to us. They are not reckoned to us. The penalty for our sin is not imputed to us, because it has already been imputed to Jesus. It has already been laid to His charge! It has already been dealt with.

This does NOT mean that we commit any less sin! This does NOT mean that we have become a better person! It means exactly what it says and no more! It means that God, in His infinite mercy has made the way clear for us to pass through judgement without being condemned for our sin, because our sins are not reckoned to us. It means that God offers all men true peace through the knowledge that He has already caused Jesus to die in our place. He imputed the penalty of our sins to Jesus and Jesus paid the penalty. The penalty for sin has been dealt with, finished with, not because we have committed any less sin, but because God has already dealt with it.

You are guilty, and that is a fact! But God has already charged Jesus with your guilt. Your guilt for sin was imputed to Him, and He was charged and condemned in your place. This means that your debt is no longer imputed to you, it is no longer laid to your charge, because it has ALREADY been laid to the charge of another, who has paid the penalty in full.

And to all who do tremble in fear at the prospect of judgement, I say, hear these words and understand them. Because they are telling us that by the grace of God, even though we do still continue to commit sin, our sins are not imputed to us. They are no longer charged to us, because they have already been imputed to Jesus, and God does not require the same debt to be paid twice over!

The equation that I before showed you was - Our sin minus Christ's death for sin = no more penalty for sin.

This text - "blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin," looks at exactly the same equation from a different angle. It looks at the result of the equation - no more penalty for sin.

It tells us very plainly and very simply that the blessing of grace from God to man entails our NOT having the sins which we do still commit imputed (charged) to us. It presumes that the equation - our sin minus Christ's payment for our sin is understood, and simply presents us with the answer - blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not charge sin.

Why are we not charged with our sin?

"For the Lord has laid upon Him the iniquity of us all." Isaiah. 53:6.

Why are we not charged with our sin?

Because the penalty for our sin has already been laid upon Jesus. It was charged to Him and He has already died in our place.

Now, again I ask you - do you believe it? Do you believe that the sins which you still commit are not imputed to you, not laid to your charge?"

Inquiry. "I am not too sure. This is something which has always given me a problem.

I do believe that God has forgiven my past sins, but the sins which I continue to commit do cause me a great deal of concern. I do many things that I know very well are sinful while I am doing them, and even before I do them, but I still do them even though I know that I should not."

Answer. "Welcome to the human race. There is not a person living who can say that they are not in the same situation. And if anybody does say that they are not in the same situation, take a good hard look at them, for you will be hard pressed to clap eyes on a bigger liar than they are.

There are a number of different texts that we could look at to resolve your fears, but for the moment we will use the one that we are presently looking at.

The text does not say - Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord will not impute past sin, but - "Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin."

If you do not believe that the gospel message concerning the non imputation of sin includes both past and present sin, then you present yourself with an enormous problem, and once again, it is a problem that we can treat in a similar way as before."

Inquiry. "How?"

Answer. "Because, if you do not believe that the sins which you still commit are no longer charged to you, then you must believe that they are! One of these two things it must be! God either still charges you with your sins or He does not. Is this not logical?"

Inquiry. "Yes."

Answer. "And if you believe that God DOES still charge you with your sins, then you are still in a position where you will have to pay the penalty for them. I mean, we cannot with any sense of reason, on the one hand claim that our sins ARE still charged to us, and on the other claim freedom from having them charged to us, can we?"

Inquiry. "No."

Answer. "And we know the penalty for sin do we not? - "the wages of sin is death"! The wages of sin is not life, mark you, but - "death"!

So you see, you cannot have your cake and eat it at the same time. You cannot believe that your sins are still laid to your charge, and at the same time believe that you will, or can, escape the penalty. If your sin is still laid to your charge, then so is the penalty. If God still charges you with your sins, then the penalty of death for sin still stands."

Inquiry. "Yes, this is the problem. This is why I still fear the judgement for sin."

Answer. "But this is a denial that Jesus has already paid for your sins. You cannot, on the one hand, say that you believe that Christ had the penalty for your sins imputed to Him, and that He died in your place, and then say that you also believe that the penalty for sin still remains and your sins can still be laid to your charge. It is doublethink. It is nonsense.

So let us get it right! We are told quite emphatically by Paul as he explains the gospel to us that - "Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin." Rom. 4:8. And again - "To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them." 2 Cor. 5:19.

We are told that God WAS in Christ. He WAS reconciling the world unto Himself. And He was doing it by NOT imputing their trespasses unto them.

So, once again, we can go through the same loop as before -

Do you believe the gospel message that God does not impute your sins to you?

Yes.

Then what can keep you from eternal life?

I need to be more loving.

STOP! Is it a sin if you are not more loving?

Yes.

But you have already said that you believe the gospel message that your sins are NOT imputed to you, as it is written - "blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin."

So what can keep you from eternal life?

I need to fight more strongly against the sins of the flesh.

STOP! Is it a sin if you do not fight more strongly against the sins of the flesh?

Yes.

But you have already affirmed that you believe the gospel message that your sins are NOT imputed to you, etc."

Inquiry. "But this means that we can commit all manner of sin and be saved at the same time."

Answer. "Of course we can! There is not a man alive who can claim otherwise. All men are sinful. They might not like to admit it, but it is a fact! Every person alive who can claim an assurance that they will be saved and enter into eternal life does still commit all manner of sin! But the peace-bringing gospel message is that Christ has already died for our sins, and God does not impute our sins to us.

The gospel of Jesus Christ, as I have here shown, is really quite simple. In fact its very simplicity can be a stumbling block to many people. Salvation is a free gift, but man tends to have a very suspicious nature as far as free gifts are concerned! I recall an instance several years ago when a man was being secretly filmed as he stood on a busy, city street, offering the passers by free money, but hardly anybody would accept it. They walked around him, crossed over the road to avoid him, or just ignored him. The few who were brave enough to stop and look all gave a wry grin as they asked - "what's the catch?"

We are not used to getting something for nothing. We have been taught that if anything is free, then we had better read the small print. So when we are offered something for nothing, our suspicious nature takes over and we start to look for the catch. We know there is a catch. There has got to be a catch, because nobody does anything for nothing.

The same thing applies where the gospel is concerned. Tell somebody that they will have to work like a dog, and do all manner of good things, and even then they might only scrape through into eternal life, and they will generally feel a lot happier than if you tell them the truth - that they do not have to do a single thing. But this is the very real truth of the matter.

How much of the law must we keep in order to be saved?

NONE OF IT!

How many good works must we do in order to be saved?

NONE!

How much good do we have to do?

NONE!

How much righteousness must we do?

NONE!

Do we have to stop committing all sin?

NO!

Salvation requires no payment from us. It is a free gift. Eternal life, the gift of salvation is free. You do not have to pay for it. You do not have to work for it. You do not have to earn it. You do not have to strive for it. You do not have to do anything but simply accept it for what it is - a free gift.

So, the question that all people who worry about their eternal security must ask themselves is - why am I so concerned regarding my salvation? Why do I think that God might reject me in the end? Why? Why do I think such things? Ask yourself and determine the answer? Is it because you think that you are not good enough to enter into the kingdom of God? Is it because you still see yourself to be the terrible sinner that all men are? Is it because you know only too well that you are not as good as you ought to be? that you are not righteous? that you are not as loving as you ought to be? If these are the reasons that you doubt that God will accept you then you are still looking at the necessity of your own good works for your salvation, and it is no wonder that you still feel despairing and despondent.

If you want to find true peace with God, then you must understand what the gospel of Jesus Christ is all about, and you must be able to discern between truth and error in the things that other people teach as Christian doctrine.

Do you need the victory over sin?

Christ has already won the victory for you.

Do you need to be blameless before God?

Christ has already removed the blame from you.

Whatever you can possibly think of that can separate you from the love of God has been broken down. Whatever you can possibly think of that stops you from entering into eternal life has been moved out of the way.

Whichever way we word our problem, whatever it is that we say we must do, the answer comes back loud and clear "It is finished, it is ended, it is done." It was finished, ended and done two thousand years ago; before you were even born. God knew that you needed it, so He did it. And now he cries out to all who want to hear -

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Matt. 11:28-30.