February 2007 chaplain's corner
The Chaplain's Corner is a monthly message for chaplains.
Chaplain’s Corner – February 21, 2007
Rev. Rich Hines
The Answer for Super-Sinners
This message is primarily for those who call on the name of Jesus Christ as
their own Lord and Savior from sin, and serve as a Chaplain or gospel minister
in a jail, prison or a follow-up ministry such as a rescue mission – in the
United States.
All Scripture quotes are taken from the New King James Version (NKJV) of the
Bible, copyright 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson,
Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. When quoting a
text, any deviation from the NKJV text is placed within parenthesis signs ().
These usually occur as direct translations from the original languages,
or as notes from the original setting to help apply the text to today’s
culture.
ALL CAPITAL LETTERS are sometimes used to emphasize words in a text, or to make
a comment about a biblical text, or emphasize a statement.
One of the more common things inmates or residents struggle with as they think
about God is this: they imagine they have sinned too much, or too greatly to
ever possibly be cleansed and forgiven, and brought into a right relationship
with Him.
In their own minds, many see themselves as "super-sinners." They
don't and in some cases won't understand the grace of God in their life can be
greater than all their sin. Ultimately it comes down to a matter of faith. I’ll
say more on that later.
Part of the problem is guilt. Their guilt is intensified as they see the human
suffering they have caused, especially in those they love. Another factor is
the role of bad religion. Unbiblical, man-made works-righteousness systems -
that look to self to be good enough, not only don't work with the true God,
they often produce frustration and hopelessness in those with intense guilt.
Furthermore, inherent human pride opposes the gospel of grace, because in God's
way of salvation there is absolutely NOTHING FOR THE MORALLY EVIL PERSON TO DO
TO MAKE UP FOR THEIR INHERENT AND DELIBERATE SIN.
Many of those that come into the facilities you serve bring all this baggage
with them. They’re guilty, yet proud. In most cases they’ve been taught the
wrong things about getting right with God. They haven’t truly heard, or understood
and believed the true God and His gospel of grace in the Person of Jesus
Christ.
The truth is, we humans simply do not have the
capacity to fully understand HOW BAD SIN IS - OR HOW GREAT GOD'S GRACE IS.
Before an All-Holy God, sin is more than a million times worse than the worst
thing or person we can think of. Yet, coming from that very same All-Holy
Person is a grace that is even greater than all the sin, of all
the world, for all time.
Speaking about the rebellion and sin of all humans, Romans 5:20,21 says to believers:
20 …the law entered (so) that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded,
grace abounded much more,
21 so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through
righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
This passage (just two verses) contains wonderful, eternal truths for you to
explain to THOSE WHO SEE THEMSELVES AS SUPER-SINNERS. You need to understand
what these verses are saying. But most importantly, both you and the ones
you're giving this to must realize, with ever increasing certainty, Who said them!
These words came through Paul, but they are FROM GOD, THE HOLY SPIRIT. This is
what God says. So, let’s take a closer look.
20 …the law entered (so) that the offense might abound.
God gave His law – the commandments, in order that we might see our own sin and
guilt clearer. That’s why the law “entered” human history. The word “OFFENSE” here, is a reference to human sin. This word actually means
a false step, a trespass against righteousness and truth. It’s another word, a
synonym, for the concept of sin.
When the law of God was spelled out clearly, our own trespasses WERE MORE
SERIOUS IN OUR OWN MINDS. That’s the sense of the offense abounding.
“But WHERE SIN ABOUNDED,”
This phrase “where sin abounded” is literally “where sin was extremely more.”
What was sin EXTREMELY MORE than? More than we had ever imagined when we didn’t
know the law of God. In other words, when the law of God had its effect and
showed us the enormity of our sin and offense against God, something else is
revealed.
Which is to say, when we see in our own mind’s eye, how awful
our sin really is against God, something else ought to be realized. -
“BUT where sin abounded,”
“BUT” is a hinge word. When something bad has been stated and then the text
says “But,” the next statement swings the opposite direction towards the good.
Here the good is EXTREMELY MORE THAN THE BAD.
“But” what? …“GRACE ABOUNDED MUCH MORE”
Grace here refers to God’s grace. This timely phrase literally says “GRACE
SUPER- OVERFLOWED!” God’s grace is larger and greater than the enormity of all
our sin. That grace is offered and provided to believers through Jesus Christ
alone. This is brought out in the rest of the sentence, in verse 21 – when it says:
21 so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through
righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ OUR Lord.
God’s super-overflowing grace was given in order that death might be conquered
by God’s righteousness through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Without God’s grace, sin and death rule. The word “righteousness” in verse 21,
refers to the righteousness of God.
In God’s grace plan for human salvation from sin, ALL the righteous demands of
His law are met by the believer’s Substitute, Jesus Christ. Truly - His grace
offers beauty for ashes, eternal life where eternal death was deserved. This
phrase “through Jesus Christ OUR Lord,” refers both to His sacrificial death
and the believers connection to it through faith.
Julia Johnson’s hymn “Grace Greater than Our Sin,” wonderfully captures this
truth.
Marvelous grace of our loving Lord, grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt,
Yonder on
Sin and despair like the sea waves cold, threaten the soul with infinite loss;
Grace that is greater, yes, grace untold, points to the refuge, the mighty
cross.
Dark is the stain that we cannot hide – what can avail to wash it away?
Look! There is flowing a crimson tide; whiter than snow you may be today.
Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace, freely bestowed on all who believe!
You that are longing to see His face, will you this moment His grace receive?
Chorus-
Grace, grace, God’s grace, grace that will PARDON AND CLEANSE WITHIN!
Grace, grace, God’s grace, grace that is greater than all our sin!
That’s the message of Romans 5:20,21. In Hebrews, we
see even more on this.
The theme of the Book of Hebrews is that Jesus is better in every way than
anything else. It teaches believers that He’s a better Priest with a better
sacrifice. Part of a priest’s job was to offer sacrifices. Looking at what
Jesus’ sacrificial death accomplished for believers, Hebrews 7:23-27 says:
23 … there were (meaning in the Old Testament economy) many priests, because
THEY WERE PREVENTED BY DEATH FROM CONTINUING.
24 But He, (this refers back to Jesus in verse 22) because HE CONTINUES
FOREVER, has an unchangeable priesthood.
Here the point is – Jesus is a better Priest, because He, by virtue of His
resurrection, continues forever. But the God-breathed text goes on and widens
the idea of His superiority in verses 25-27, when it says:
25 Therefore He is also ABLE (this means He has the power) TO SAVE TO THE
UTTERMOST (to the completion, or - to perfection) those who come to God through
Him, since He ALWAYS LIVES to make intercession for them.
26 For such a High Priest was fitting (or necessary) for us, who is holy,
harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens;
27 who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices,
first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He DID ONCE FOR ALL
when He offered up Himself.
Hebrews 10:11-14 adds to this idea of Jesus being a superior Priest with a
superior sacrifice – ONE THAT EVEN CANCELS OUT SUPER ABOUNDING SIN:
11 …every (Old Testament) priest STANDS ministering daily and OFFERING
REPEATEDLY the same sacrifices, (which is to say, many sacrifices) which can
never take away sins.
12 BUT THIS MAN (Jesus), after He had offered ONE SACRIFICE for sins forever,
SAT DOWN (because the purpose for sacrifice was finished forever) at the right
hand of God,
13 from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool.
14 For BY ONE OFFERING HE HAS PERFECTED FOREVER those who are being sanctified.
So this infinitely better High Priest offered an INFINITELY BETTER SACRIFICE
THAT TAKES AWAY ALL THE SIN OF THE BELIEVER. In this context, the question you
need to pose to those who see themselves as super-sinners is, “BY FAITH, IS HE THEN YOUR HIGH PRIEST AND SAVIOR?”
Of course we all need to understand this is an intensely spiritual question.
Because no one can believe the Scripture, especially these key gospel truths
from Romans 5 and Hebrews, without God enabling and granting them
saving faith. I strongly suggest at the end of your presentation of
these truths, you ask the “super-sinner” to pray to God and ask Him to grant
them the faith to truly and fully believe these things.
Do they believe God’s word, or not? Do they believe what He said is true, or
not?
If not, all is not lost! They can respond in faith as long as God gives them
opportunity. Remember, He is merciful and patient with sinners (consider 2
Peter 3:9). To the ones that are not yet ready to
repent and believe the gospel, explain this verse and passage in 2 Peter. It
says:
“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise (to judge the world), as some
count slackness, BUT IS LONGSUFFERING (patient) toward us (i.e. sinners He
plans to save), not willing that any should perish but that all should come to
repentance.”
Here’s one way to explain this verse. It means, THE REASON GOD HAS NOT YET
JUDGED the world in its entirety, is His GREAT PATIENCE WITH SINNERS, EVEN
SUPER-SINNERS He intends to save! BUT a day of judgment WILL COME, and for
those on Earth that are found unrepentant it will then be too late forever.
The same is true of any person when they die, as Jesus said in John 8:21-24,
when they die “in their sin,” without a saving faith in Him.
So, we’ve looked at solid and strong verses on the answer to give super guilty,
super-sinners. And we’ve seen that the thing that will provide them with
eternal freedom from guilt and sin is A PERSONAL FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST.
I pray as you give these answers, God will grant them that faith to repent and
believe His gospel!