Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know— Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death. (Acts 2:22-23)

Forgiveness May Not Change The Consequence Of Sin

The Day of Pentecost was the most important day in world history. It was the day the full plan of the Divine will came together to show the world the abundant mercy of God. The gospel of Jesus Christ was preached to a lost world, and three thousand souls obeyed. Peter told the Jews that God had shown His divine plan by sending Jesus to reveal the Divine power through signs, wonders, and miracles. All of the events of that day were the fulfillment of the prophet Joel, who spoke to the people eight hundred years earlier.

Peter explained that Jesus of Nazareth was the promised Christ. Everything in the life of Jesus was established by the determined purpose of the Father. Jesus knew He would suffer and die at the hands of the Jews and Romans. Jesus’ death was not a failure. Everything pointed to the sacrifice of the Lamb of God. Peter boldly told the Jews standing before him that they had taken Jesus by lawless hands, crucified Him, and put Him to death. It had only been a little over a month since the travesty of justice where Jesus was sentenced to death had taken place. Everything about the charges against Jesus was false, His so-called trials a sham, and the Roman court’s sentence of Him to death illegal. And yet He was killed. Many witnesses testified the man in the middle was Jesus of Nazareth.

Peter told the crowd they must repent of killing the Son of God. He convicted many in the crowd of the guilt of what they had so hastily done in screaming out, “Crucify Him.” Peter declared to the house of Israel that God had made Jesus of Nazareth, whom they crucified, murdered on a cross, both Lord and Christ. When the people heard the words of Peter, they cried out, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Peter told them to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins. Three thousand souls gladly believed the words of Peter and were baptized. Their sins were washed away. The guilt of killing the Son of God was measured by the mercy of God in forgiveness.

In all the joy of seeing the hearts of devout men face their guilt of sin and immerse themselves in water to wash away their sins, there is one issue that remains clear. Jesus was killed by lawless hands. When God forgives sin, He removes it as far as the east is from the west. He buries it in the deepest parts of the sea. Forgiveness is total and complete, but that does not suggest that the consequences of sin do not remain. The death of Jesus was in the plan of God, and Jesus had to die. Forgiveness does not remove the consequence of sin.

David and Bathsheba were forgiven, but their sin had consequences. A man can commit a crime and, while forgiven before God, may have to serve out punishment in the courts of law. The murderer can find the grace of God in forgiveness and still face the death chamber. Forgiveness is in the mind of God. A man will reap what he sows, even if he has been forgiven. When a person desires to come to Christ, there may be things in life he cannot change, but the most important thing is his relationship with God. Many must live with the consequences of their sin, even as they are blessed with God’s forgiveness.

There is joy in knowing God takes away the stain of sin through the blood of Jesus Christ. Those who obeyed the gospel on the Day of Pentecost were forgiven, but lawless hands still killed Jesus. The depth of God’s love, mercy, and grace will take away the guilt of sin, but most often the consequences remain. It takes courage to accept God’s grace and forgiveness and still live with the consequences that sin may bring.