I was out for evangelism on a university campus a few weeks ago. In one of my encounters with a student, I had a lightbulb moment. After we’d established common ground on the fact that we’re all sinners in this world, I asked him what his hope was to have his sins forgiven. He told me, “I’ll pray to God for forgiveness. And he’ll forgive me.” So I asked, “On what basis?” He seemed puzzled at the question. That’s when it hit me. I asked the question assuming he understands that God must punish sin.
Now, hold that thought.
A Short Story About Free Stuff
Every year, my church—Sovereign Grace Bible Church (SGBC)—hosts its flagship conference in the first week of November: the Lagos Bible Conference. During the conference in 2023, announcements were made every day in between messages and breaks about the free books and Bibles to be given out. But, were they really free?
It is true that we gave those books and Bibles out freely, without charging the participants. However, the books and Bibles weren’t free in the sense that they cost nothing. How so?
The books and Bibles weren’t free in the sense that they cost nothing.
Well, the books were given to participants at this conference, but did Sovereign Grace Bible Church receive these books freely? Yes, they did, actually. But did those who gave it to SGBC also receive them freely? No, they didn’t. For although they didn’t charge us, the cost of the printing machine and the labour had to be paid, somehow and by someone.
To adapt something R. C. Sproul used to say, “in the final analysis” we see that the books and Bibles that were given out freely at our conference weren’t free; they cost somebody something. Someone had to pay for the paper, the printing, equipment, labour, transport, electricity used and so on.
Stay with me.
What Do Free Books Have to Do With Forgiveness?
You might be thinking: what do those free resources at the Lagos Bible Conference have to do with forgiveness? So, please indulge me for just a few more lines.
We think that God must forgive us our sin when we ask him to.
There is a problem that pervades Christian circles in Nigeria, possibly Africa too. It’s this: we think that God must forgive us our sin when we ask him to. There is a vibe, if I may use that word, around most of these people. They might answer Paul’s question in Romans 6:1—”Shall we continue to sin so that grace may abound?”—with a, “Yes, why not? Would he not forgive us? Isn’t he merciful and loving?”
Of course, the Bible tells us that God is merciful (Psalm 103:8). Amen. But at the same time it also tells us that he is just (Deuteronomy 32:4). The problem comes when we believe that his mercy somehow covers up or cancels out his justice. That is, because God is merciful we think that he’ll forget the righteous judgment that sin deserves. Remember, the Bible teaches that no sinner will go unpunished (Proverbs 11:21).
God Has to Punish Sin
Release the thought now.
The main thing, I’ve come to realise, is that most Christians, or even people, fail to realise that God has to punish sin. He must. If he doesn’t he will fail to be good. Just as in my illustration about free books above, someone has to be punished for every sin. Although freely offered, they were paid for by someone. It’s no different with forgiveness.
God has to punish sin. He must. If he doesn’t he’ll fail to be good.
Sin has consequences. Through Adam’s sin, death came into the world (Romans 5:12-19). The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). Eternally, God will punish sin in hell (Matthew 13:36-43, 47-50). All of us have sinned. Those sins must be punished by God—the righteous and good judge. Shall the judge of all the earth not do what is right? (Genesis 18:25).
How can you obtain forgiveness from God? On what basis will you say God should forgive your sin? He cannot forgive your sins by merely overlooking it. He cannot, because he is just. God always does what is right. If God must punish sin, what is your hope of obtaining forgiveness?
Our Forgiveness and Punished Sin
This is why God sent His only Son, that whosoever believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). You see, God knows he has to punish sin. Therefore, he gave the Son as a substitute, to be punished for the sins of his people. He who knew no sin become sin for our sake, so that we might become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21).
The basis of our forgiveness is Jesus Christ’s work.
This means that we can be forgiven. However, our forgiveness isn’t on the basis of how much we cry or how much regrets fill our hearts. It’s on the basis of Jesus Christ’s work, his death and resurrection (1 John 2:1-2). We know God accepted Jesus’ self offering on the cross because he rose on the third day and is now seated at the right hand of God (Romans 8:34).
Connect the Dots
Someone pays. For the books. For our sins. God freely forgives, but someone paid the price. Christ’s cross work is the basis of our salvation. We can only be forgiven through faith in him and that work. He bore the punishment we should have, so that we might no longer be slaves of sin who’re bound to hell but slaves of righteousness who’re bound for heaven.
God freely forgives, but someone paid the price.
So, “shall we continue to sin that grace may abound?” Paul’s answer is plain: “God forbid.” For “how can we who have died to sin continue to live in it? (Romans 6:1). In fact, he writes later, we ought to offer ourselves as living sacrifices to God (Romans 12:1).
Why Would We Do This?
For starters, the believer is someone in whom God is already at work. He’s started transforming us from the inside out. In other words, the Christian desires to please her God. He aims at glorifying his God. Then there’s gratitude. The believer knows that God has dealt with their greatest problem. God has worked to bring us to him, by grace and at a great cost to himself.
This is the beauty of the gospel.
