Why Faith Matters in the Face of Punishment

Has anyone reading this or hearing this message ever broken a law? If so, did you receive some type of punishment? Children who disregard something their parents have instructed them to do or not to do may have certain privileges revoked: cars, no telephone use, not allowed to watch television or play video games, not allowed to use the family car, etc. Adults who may have disobeyed a law, such as speeding, might receive a ticket. If an adult does something wrong at their place of employment, they may be fined, reprimanded, receive a loss in their paycheck, or maybe even fired from their job.

Can we agree that all laws, regulations, directions, etc., are human only? No? So, laws are also of a spiritual nature? Really? Wow, what a thought. We can see various crimes committed on any television news broadcast. From our own personal point of view from what we hear about, we all may agree or disagree that the alleged criminals did or did not receive the proper punishment for their crimes. Is that a correct generalized statement?

When we read Exodus 20:1-17, we can see that it gives us the Ten Commandments. This was God’s Law given to the children of Israel. Why was God’s new nation dependent on the Law? God demonstrated to His people the true design and elegance of the Law at the base of Mount Sinai. Israel was to live a life of practical holiness through the Law. Its orders and rules were meant to tell the community how to meet each person’s needs lovingly and responsibly. However, by Jesus’ time, most people had a negative perspective on the Law. They saw it as a path to success in this world and the next. They believed the only way to obtain God’s protection from foreign invasion and natural disaster was to observe every law. Keeping the law became a goal in and of itself, not a tool for enforcing God’s ultimate law of love.

Just a moment ago, I commented that we may all agree or disagree with the statement that alleged criminals do or do not receive the proper punishment for the crimes that they have committed. I know I have passed my judgment on what I have heard on the news. But today, we need to take some time to look at our Scripture, think about what has happened, mull it over for a bit, and agree with it or disagree with it. That is your choice. But we can all agree that there is a penalty that all of humanity will pay for some actions that we have or have not, may or may not commit.

Now, we will get into the message for today. 

The Penalty for Cursing God

What did this man do? This man was half Jewish and half Egyptian. He went out and met a Jewish man, and they “strove together in the camp.” I understand that to mean that they were walking together. Then suddenly, the one man blasphemed the name of the Lord and cursed. He was taken before Moses and put into custody. The people wanted to see what the Lord wanted them to do with this man.

What was God’s reaction? The Lord tells Moses to bring the man outside the camp; those who heard the man are to lay their hands upon him and let the congregation stone him. What?! Just for cursing, does the man have to be stoned? That seems a bit harsh, but it was God’s verdict of the man’s crime, and the sentence was to be carried out. The Lord goes on to tell Moses that anyone who blasphemes the name of the Lord shall be put to death by stoning, whether the person is a stranger or one who is part of the congregation (Exodus 22:28; Acts 23:5). Moses tells the children of Israel what God has said, and they did as the Lord had commanded.

Punishment for Sin Today

What have we learned from this, that cursing is terrible? Yes, it is, especially in blaspheming the name of the Lord. It is an insult. God is serious regarding sin, any sin. Sin is to be punished.

Have any of us committed this same crime? What has been our punishment? Should we all be stoned? Have we committed any worse crimes? What was the punishment? Where and how do we stand today?

Is there hope?

Would you please now turn to Romans 3:23-28.

Because of the obvious severity of their consequences, some sins appear more serious than others. For instance, we believe that adultery and murder are significantly worse than lust and hatred, respectively. However, this does not imply that we are entitled to eternal life because we commit lesser sins. We are all sinners, and every sin separates us from our holy God. Therefore, regardless of how insignificant or significant it may appear, all sin ultimately results in death because it prevents us from living with God. We should not undervalue the “large” sins or minimize the “small” sins. Even though they separate us from God, they can all be forgiven.

“Being justified freely” refers to being declared not culpable (not guilty). All charges against a litigant are erased from his criminal record when an appointed authority (a judge) finds that the litigant is not responsible. It appears as though the individual was never charged. When God absolves us of our sins, our record is erased as if we had never committed any sins in the first place.

The word “redemption” makes reference to the liberation of sinners from servitude of sin through Christ. During the time of the Old Testament, a person’s debts could lead to their being sold as a slave. He could get out of debt and buy freedom from his closest relative. However, Christ paid with His life for our freedom.

Christ is our “propitiation,” or atonement sacrifice. God is legitimately furious at sinners. They have disobeyed Him and cut themselves off from His power that gives life. God recognizes Christ’s death as the appropriate sacrifice for our sins. Because He paid the price for our sins, He takes our place and completely fulfills God’s requirements. His death secures freedom, ransom, and absolution.

What took place for those who lived before Christ’s atoning death for sin? Is God being unfair if He pronounced their sentence? Was Christ’s death necessary if He saved them? Paul demonstrates that Jesus’ death on the cross atoned for all of humanity’s sins. Even though they did not know Jesus’ name or the specifics of His earthly life, believers in the Old Testament looked forward to the coming of Christ by faith and were saved. Unlike believers in the Old Testament, we are aware of God, who gave His own Son because He loved the world so much (John 3:16). Have we placed our faith in Him?

Many religions specify certain actions that must be taken for a person to be accepted by God. The teaching that doing good deeds will not make us right with God is unique to Christianity. The gap between God’s moral perfection and our imperfect daily actions cannot be bridged by human achievement or personal development. Even though doing good deeds is important, it will not guarantee eternal life. Only by trusting in what God has done for us can we be saved (Ephesians 2:8–10).

Why does God only save us through faith? First, because faith is not something we do, it takes away the pride that comes with human effort. Second, faith praises God’s work, not people’s actions. Thirdly, faith acknowledges that we cannot uphold the Law or fulfill God’s requirements. Fourth, our relationship with God is the foundation of faith, not our accomplishments for God.

Christ took our punishment, and without Christ, punishment is warranted. No one is innocent.

Photo Credit: ©Getty Images-Brian A Jackson

Chris Swanson answered the call into the ministry over 20 years ago. He has served as a Sunday School teacher, a youth director along with his wife, a music director, an associate pastor, and an interim pastor. He is a retired Navy Chief Hospital Corpsman with over 30 years of combined active and reserve service. You can check out his work here.

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