PLEASE oh PLEASE Watch the video below by Steve McVey called, Christian Religion Lie #35: “God Punishes You When You Sin“ and read my comments below…
This is one of the biggest, most insidious, most hurtful lies in Christianity today.
In fact, right now, it’s keeping the life of a woman I LOVE dearly in total bondage. She’s unable to see that God is NOT angry with her… that God is NOT punishing her for past sins… that God is NOT “withholding blessings” from her.
She is unable to see God as the loving God that He is… who lavishly pours out MERCY and GRACE and LOVE.
Here’s how it breaks down…
We were born into Adam, into sin nature, and we were sinners. The wages of sin = death. Throughout the whole Old Testament, priests had to sacrifice animals to pay the PENALTY for the sins of the people.
Once God forgives you, Your sins are FORGOTTEN!
BUT… and this is IMPORTANT:
Once the sins of the people had been paid for by the blood of an innocent sacrifice — they were completely forgiven AND forgotten by God. The Psalmist writes in 103:12 (NASB):
” As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.”
Once the penalty for the people’s sins was PAID FOR it was stricken off the record. The slate is cleaned. God removes that sin from you as far as the east is from the west… you are totally and COMPLETELY forgiven.
Which means if God has removed those sins from you… has forgiven you of those sins — then He certainly will NOT punish you for them!
Christ = Ultimate Sacrifice for ALL TIME…
Then Christ was born. He was God’s son. He was God — yet fully man. He lived perfectly, letting His Father’s life be expressed through Him every moment of every day, He was without Sin. This made Him the perfect, ULTIMATE sacrifice for the sins of the ENTIRE world and ALL TIME.
Christ died on the cross as the once and for all “payment” for ALL the sins of the world. Your sin… my sin… the world’s sins… past, present AND future! Your debt was paid by Christ’s blood.
Scripture says in John 19:30 (NASB, emphasis mine)…
“Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.”
When Christ died for the sins of the world on the cross He completely forgave all the sins of the ENTIRE world. Once again, ALL sins of ALL time of ALL people. The only thing we are required to do to receive this forgiveness is ACCEPT the free gift of salvation.
Once we do this, we are immediately put IN to Christ and Him IN to us. As Christians we now have Christ’s spirit. And we are completely forgiven for all time for all sins because we’ve stepped into this life in Christ.
Will you believe scripture… God’s words… or your feelings?
God’s word says we were born into Adam and into sin…
The wages of sin is death — (Romans 6:23)
To pay the penalty for these sins (so we don’t have to) a sacrifice can be made, in the OT a blood sacrifice was required (Leviticus 4:35; 5:10)
But when this death penalty is paid, our sins have been totally removed from us — they don’t count anymore (Psalms 103:12)
That with Christ it was finished (John 19:30) He was the ultimate sacrifice (1 Timothy 2:6) — your sins were forgiven.
Now that you are IN Christ — through salvation — your sins of all time… past, present and future have been removed from you, they’ve been wiped from the record, which means…
God Will NOT Punish You For Sins He Has Already Forgiven You For!
To do so would be against His very nature. His very just system that He has put into place.
Now that we are IN Christ, we’ve been joined to His life, there is now NO CONDEMNATION for those in Christ (Romans 8:1-2).
So the idea that God punishes us for our sins is a COMPLETE LIE!
To believe this is to believe a LIE… to call Jesus a liar when He said it was finished… to call the Psalmist a liar… to call the apostle Paul a liar!
And even worse, it will keep you in bondage. Because when you sin, you will think God is angry and is going to punish you so it will keep you from turning away from your sin and running back to God.
Believing this will keep you worrying about your past sins and thinking God is cursing you… punishing you… “spanking you” for them and it will keep you from running back into the loving arms of your father, who doesn’t want an apology, who doesn’t want you to feel “guilty for your sins”, who simply wants to hug you and take you back into His arms and lavish love on you. This is what Jesus’ prodigal son story is a picture of — the Father’s love for us (Luke 15:11-32)
But isn’t God punishing you = reaping what you sow (Galatians 6:7)?
No. Reaping what you sow is a part of living on earth…
God made a perfectly ordered world.
If the moon was just a couple feet off of it’s alignment, gravity would be thrown off on Earth and life couldn’t exist.
Everything in nature has a balance to it, an equal and opposite force. Science, Physics specifically, proves this. And every cause has an equal effect…
So if you sin, it will naturally work it’s course in your life. There will be consequences.
But this is NOT God punishing you! You are NOT cursed! Your sin can NEVER be big enough to block God’s blessings, God’s love in your life.
This is sin punishing you — this is reaping what you sow — this is cause and effect.
So the idea that “God punishes you when you sin” is a complete and utter LIE. Scripture proves it. This is one of those lies that Satan uses to control Christians… to keep them feeling defeated… to keep them feeling unworthy of receiving God’s love.
Please, please, PLEASE be transformed by the renewing of your mind (Romans 12:2), EVERY TIME you hear this lie, or your emotions start to feel guilty over some past sin… Tell yourself the TRUTH!
- I am already forgiven for that sin, Christ said “it is finished!”
- I’m in Christ, and there’s no condemnation for those in Christ
- I am fully loved by God and nothing I can do can change that, my sin will NEVER be bigger than God’s love!
These are Biblical truths. NOT LIES. And if you remind yourself of them daily, you will start to see God for who He really is…
God LOVES you!
Nothing you can do can get in the way of God’s love for you. (Read the prodigal son story!)
If you can just FATHOM how MUCH God loves you, then you won’t ever have to worry about “being a good Christian” because you will automatically love God back and start doing things for Him and submitting to Him and wanting to spend every waking moment with Him just like you would a human love (scripture confirms this , “we love Him because He first loved us”–1 John 4:19)
So please, I BEG you, with tears in my eyes to not be fooled by this LIE.
{ 23 comments… read them below or add one }
Mom 05.01.08 at 9:43 pm
Just wanted to say I totally agree with this. Especially have to agree with your take on “Reaping What We Sow”. There is a natural order of things and NO God is not punishing us — Hallelujah!
calebo 05.01.08 at 11:50 pm
I’m glad to here it Mom
This is one of those lies that sneaks its way into your thoughts when life seems crazy or emotions start to take control…
But that’s when you have to remind yourself of the truth
Love you much,
Caleb
Mark Vilen 05.26.08 at 6:36 am
I listened to all of these when Steve McVey first put them out, all 101. It’s great to hear some of them again, and your comments are right on the money. It’s all about grace. It took me about 40 years of my 42 years as a Christian to figure that out, but better late than never . . .
Mark
calebo 05.26.08 at 6:46 pm
Mark,
Thanks for the comment Mark!
4 minutes… 4 weeks… 4 months or … 40 years… God is faithful to complete the good work He started in you
And there is a purpose for all that time in between — even if we can’t see it now — have faith in Father that He knows what’s best for you (because He does!)
With Love,
Caleb
hilary 09.13.08 at 11:48 pm
Hi there. I chanced upon your blog, but I must say that I disagree with you on this post. Colossians 1:24 – Why does Paul want to “complete what is lacking” in Christ’s sufferings?; Hebrews 12:5-11 – Why does the writer tell us that God punishes because He loves? We must read the Word in its entirety. And not simply read simgle lines here and there and use any line as WE see fit. Otherwise we’ll make God’s Word highly contradictory. He is not. His Word is not. He NEVER contradicts Himself.
I agree with you, however, that your friend might be a little over anxious about the punishment. We must, at the same time, trust in God’s complete forgiveness and stop thinking EVERY bad incident as punishment.
God bless you Caleb!
ps: I must say I’ve not watched the video, so I’m not speaking in the context of the video.
calebo 09.14.08 at 4:06 pm
Hilary,
Yes, you are correct, we must read the word in its entirety and that is why it is impossible to believe God would still punish someone AFTER forgiving them. When Christ said “it is finished” He wasn’t joking.
In re: to Colossians 1:24, the “what was lacking” that Paul is talking about is SHARING what God has done through Christ — the Good News. You see this as you continue reading and Paul says in 28-29:
The only thing lacking was people knowing about what God has done through Christ — taken away the sins of the world.
In re: to Hebrews 12:5-11, the only time the word “punish” is seen is in the OT verse Paul is quoting, and when Paul expands upon his point he is quick to tell you that the Lord is simply Disciplining and NOT punishing.
The Message translation makes it clearest (imo):
Thanks for your comment.
With Love
Caleb
hilary 09.14.08 at 5:41 pm
Well, looks like we ARE on the same page, then. I saw punish as discipline anyway. Like how a father might punish his child for a wrongdoing. The ‘punishment’, of course, is ‘discipline’. As long as we do accept that God disciplines His children, we’re on the same page…
The Message is not an accurate translation. Not only does it not translate word-for-word. In fact, looking at Bible Gateway, it even summarises chunks of verses at the same time…
calebo 09.15.08 at 11:17 am
well… there’s a world of difference between discipline and punishment… see Jesus took the punishment for ALL the sins of the world. We get to go through life experiences, situations and things like that to develop discipline — to discover how to trust God, live out of faith, strengthen our relationship with God.
But NEVER are these things punishment for sin we have committed, are committing or will commit…
For God to punish us would be like slapping His Son Jesus in the face and saying “yeah, your sacrifice was good — but it wasn’t enough!”
And the message translation is fine because there isn’t a single translation that does translate the original languages word for word. The concordant literal new testament comes close… but they’re all “summaries” in one way or another.
With Love
Caleb
Julie 11.12.08 at 5:35 pm
Well, I agree Christ took the punishment for our sins, when he died on the cross. But, after we receive him, we sin again, and I believe he does discipline those he loves, into obedience. Just like a father does his child.
Check out this blog, it explains it perfectly and biblically.
http://www.gotquestions.org/God-punish-sin.html
Just wondering, do you have children?
calebo 11.17.08 at 5:31 pm
Hi Julie,
First off, no I don’t have children
Second, this…
I don’t think is quite accurate, the way it is stated highlights an underlying belief I think you (and not just you, but most Christians, including myself for MANY years) have…
And that is… “discipline those he loves, into obedience“.
God only has one way of inspiring obedience in us — through LOVE!
God doesn’t discipline someone until they turn away — turn back to Him. This is like punishment…
The prodigal son didn’t get a harsh disciplining when he came home — he didn’t even get to explain himself, or say sorry to his dad — his dad wrapped his arms around his son before he could say anything and started loving on him…
And it’s the same way with our heavenly father. Because He has perfect love, he can inspire obedience that way — unlike us human parents who have to resort to disciplining through other methods.
As far as the Hebrew verse in question (which the blog you referenced quoted) and I quoted before… the correct context has to be set for that verse.
Paul is referring to the trials and tribulations the early church is going through and referring to it as discipline given to them as a gift from God. Like a parent would give their child discipline.
None of the things that are happening though are “payment” (punishment/discipline) for “sins” these Christians have committed. This would be inconsistent with God’s perfectly just system.
The “discipline” Paul is speaking of here is the tough times the Christians are going through because it’s these tough times that are shaping them into the people they need to be. It’s definitely NOT a “spanking” from God because they’re messing up.
This is clear when you read the entire chapter 12 from the beginning, Paul is talking about not giving up because the times seem tough — that they’re just God’s allowing disciplining circumstances to occur…
Thanks for your comment!
With Love
Caleb
psyfect 02.20.09 at 9:11 am
Your post leaves room for interpretation and, consequently, can be interpreted to mean that one can sin freely and worry not for punishment. I’m not saying that’s what you said, just that it could be read in that manner.
It’s important to note that you must do more than simply accept what Jesus has done, but also turn away from all sins at that very moment; never to return to them again. Completely devoting yourself to GOD and JESUS.
You said: I am fully loved by God and nothing I can do can change that, my sin will NEVER be bigger than God’s love!
That’s inaccurate, an example is: rejecting GOD and/or JESUS would be a sin not forgiven. Now, it’s possible to say that there is no sin bigger than what JESUS can forgive, but one would have to be true of heart in repentance, and it’s very important to note that repentance means to turn away and the intent to never go back.
Again, you have to fully devote your life to GOD and Jesus, not just stopping one or two sins of twenty that you commit, but all sin must be permanently rejected by you.
One could certainly be punished by GOD during their life for sins they have committed, are aware of and not yet sought forgiveness for. That doesn’t conflict with any promise he’s made to us, and HE’s GOD; his will be done. Job thought that’s what was happening to him.
Kevin M 03.10.09 at 9:33 pm
So if all of sin is paid for, or in other words, the wrath of God is satisfied for all sins, for all sinners, past, present and future, even ones that are in hell and ones that will die without Jesus in the future…if this is true, what grounds does God have to send anyone to hell if His wrath has already been satisfied, if what Jesus truly said, “It is finished”, meant that he truly atoned for the sins of every person that ever lived or will live.
Wait, you’ll say you have to “accept” the sacrifice, right? So, God sends someone to hell for not “accepting” Jesus. Doesn’t this mean that Jesus didn’t pay for the sin of unbelief, not believing in Jesus as the Messiah? So, in effect, you’re saying that “it is NOT finished” and that Jesus sacrifice did not secure salvation for anyone, but only made it possible for everyone. Think about it, study the scriptures.
Jesus died for the “whosoever will believe”, not everyone. How can God condemn the just, those that Jesus died for, the ones for whom he paid it all, forgiving their every sin? Rejecting Jesus is also a sin, didn’t he pay for that sin just like the others? Or are we “required” to add something to Jesus’ work to make it effective – our “acceptance” of him.
Ask yourself if you believe Jesus sacrifice was enough to secure the salvation of his elect, or did it only make it possible? Salvation is of the Lord, not by the will of man, but by the will of God.
Jacey 07.07.09 at 11:17 pm
Heres the thing about God’s discipline. God does not discipline us with love, but IN love. The purpose of God’s discipline is to show us where we are not living according to God’s standards and to bring us out of sin and into obedience. However, if we repent of our sins God’s discipline is unnecesary, for His Holy Spirit has already given us repentance. thats what happened with the prodigal son, he repented and came back to His father, and his father accepted him back and showered him with love. But God will use many “unloving” (according to our standards) ways to work greater and greater sanctification in us.
calebo 09.08.09 at 3:25 pm
@ Jacey: see my commnet above …
calebo 09.08.09 at 3:47 pm
@ Kevin: hence, the topic of my next book — or at least a big part of it
Love
CAleb
calebo 09.08.09 at 3:48 pm
@ Psyfect: as I’ll reveal in my next book …
Yes, God is bigger than even this!
Love,
Caleb
levi 02.26.10 at 6:08 am
wow!!… i was just doing an essay on a film we watched. the father messes up and the family suffer ect… the question in my essay talks about if its possible that God punished the family because of the fathers’s sin. i answerd no ect…as i as i was writting i went on to say God doesnt punish us for the sins of our fathers because he doesnt even punish us for our own sins. i got a bit stuck as i as writting so i thought i would do some research to see what other christians think. i stumbled onto your website and as i was reading this i realised how similar my essay was to what you have written. E.g the reaping and the sowing, us facing our consequences and Jesus being the ultimate sacrifce. s a yound christian It was just pleasing to know that they are other christians who think the same things as you do.
santino 04.22.10 at 11:54 am
I would just like to let you know that your website has changed my life… My whole life my parent’s and granparents and those around me always told me that if I do wrong God is going to punish me. toward my teenage years i began partying and strayed away from christ…
As I got older I went through some tough times, tried to turn my life to christ and failed over and over again. Only once i had given up and realized i can’t change and that i need to come as i’am christ changed me. after that i got baptized and then soon after i got baptized i slept with my ex girlfriend, temptation got the best of me. I was destroyed and i wasn’t sure if God was gonna forgive me. I was just waiting for God to punish me as well… Shortly after my car window got smashed.. i figured this was punishment.
after reading your website it all clicked, God made it clear to me through you! be blessed man!
dandav 06.28.10 at 4:18 am
man….this is soooo amazing becuase this is somethin i struggle with and it makes me feel sad sometime and scared but this just shows me how MUCH christ did for us on the cross …thank you
dandav 07.06.10 at 5:10 am
thank you for this from the bottum of my heart this has taken an un beleivably heavy load off of me and ……. i just kinda get a glimps of Gods love so much more this is so meaningful to me it sets me free thank you i love gods word its amazing
AFENI NELSON 03.03.11 at 7:22 pm
DEAR GOD, I HOPE THAT IT IS TRUE, THAT YOU DON’T AND WILL NOT PUNISH ME, BECAUSE OF MY SINS! HOWEVER, COULD YOU PLEASE RECREATE ME? CREATE ME, A NEW MIND, SPIRIT, SOUL AND BODY, BY PEACEFULLY MAKING BECOME A BRAND NEW GIRL, WOMAN AND LADY, WHO NEVER GOING TO SIN, PLUS WHO NEVER GOING TO EITHER GET ABUSED, NOR HARSHFULLY PUNISHED BY RIGHTEOUS PEOPLE, WHETHER THEY BE AFRICAN PEOPLE, ASIAN PEOPLE, HISPANIC PEOPLE, LATINO AND LATINA PEOPLE, PLUS OTHER PEOPLE, AS WELL AS I MUST NOT EVER WHO IS NEW, GET ATTACKED BY UNRIGHTEOUS PEOPLE. PLEASE LET LIFE, PRINCIPLES, POWERS, FORCES, BEHAVIORS, ETC., AND PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY ALL RIGHTEOUSNESS AND RIGHTEOUS PEOPLE BE ALL RESPECTFUL TO ME, ALL HONORABLE TO ME. START LETTING MORE PEOPLE, AND ALL PEOPLES BE TOTALLY PERFECT IN BEING KIND TO ME, NOW, FOREVER AND EVER, INFINITY, ETERNITY. PLEASE DO NOT LET SIN PUNISH ME WHO IS A NEW CHILD AND HEIR, PLUS ADULT. THANK YOU, AMEN AND LOVE, PLUS LIKE AFENI PERFECTLY! HALLELUJAH!
Refine Earth 03.03.11 at 7:44 pm
Dear Partners, Peace, and God Bless You, in Yeshua(Jesus)name! I feel a whole lot better about myself, because I found out that, I can be a humbled person, even without God, and others making me humbled or disappointed, because I made a mistake or an accident of ruining people’s clothes, appliances, and furniture, etc., or causing other mistakes, etc. Also I am happy, I am glad that God does not punish us, everytime we err or sin, or transgress! May we try to avoid committing sins, and transgressions, etc. in the future. However, He forgave us, and whether our past, present and future sins are forgiven or are not forgiven, I hope that we will be forgiven, not our sins, transgressions, accidents, etc, not be forgiven and we not be forgiven. In this life and world, plus the next ones to come, we shall be successful and in the peace of God; Peace of God, however also Peace of us! Thank You, and Sincerely, Refine with Love!
crystal 04.23.11 at 10:45 pm
I have sent this to my son who is also suffering and feeling, God is punishing him… I pray for your wife…and my son, and all the other suffering people misled by Satan..May God turn them to himself again. May they be healed..