IRAC
TO: A sinner
FROM: A forgiven sinner
DATE: Today
RE: Discharge from the penalty of sin
Issue Statement
Under the principles of the infinite and holy God, how should a person live, what is the penalty for not living according to God's will, and what is the possibility of not having to pay the penalty?
Rule Statement
The just and wise Judge has decreed the manner in which each person is to live.
- Genesis 7:1 (app. 2000 B.C.) (holding, ". . . I am the Almighty God; walk before Me, and be you perfect.").
- 1 Kings 8:61 (app. 1000 B.C.) (stating, "Let your heart therefore be perfect with the Lord our God, to walk in His statutes, and to keep His commandments . . .").
Accordingly, Jesus, the Son of God, has upheld the decree of our Judge concerning how people are to live.
- Matthew 5:48 (app. 33 A.D.) (stating, "Each of you therefore be perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.").
In addition, the Word of God tells about the perfect justice of God and His consistency in not overlooking offenses to His laws.
- Deuteronomy 32:4 (app. 1406 B.C.) (holding, "He is the Rock, His work is perfect: for all His ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is He.").
- Hebrews 10:30-31 (app. 60 A.D.) (stating "For we know Him that has said, Vengeance belongs unto Me, I will recompense, says the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge His people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.").
Consequently, the Word of God has codified the penalty for disobedience to the laws of God.
- Romans 6:23 (app. 56 A.D.) (holding, "For the wages of sin is death; . . .").
- Matthew 25:41 (app. 30 A.D.) (holding, "Then shall He say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from Me, you cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels").
Beyond this, the Word of God states that God has arranged a way by which the penalty for disobedience against God can be paid.
- 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (app. 54 A.D.) (stating, "For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures").
- 2 Corinthians 5:21 (app. 56 A.D.) (holding, "For He hath made Him who knew no sin, to be sin for us; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.").
In addition, the Word of God states that the justice of God can be satisfied and the penalty for disobedience can been paid.
- Romans 3:24-26 (app. 56 A.D.) (stating, "Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God has set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time His righteousness: that He might be just, and the justifier of him who believes in Jesus.").
- Romans 5:8-9 (app. 56 A.D.) (stating, "But God commends his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.").
Consequently, the Word of God informs how a person can be forgiven of sin and discharged from the penalty.
- Acts 3:19 (app. 30 A.D.) (stating, "Repent you therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out . . .").
John 6:47 (app. 30 A.D.) (stating, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believes on Me has everlasting life.").
- Romans 6:22 (app. 56 A.D.) (stating, "But now, being made free from sin, and become servants to God, you have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.").
Finally, the Word of God gives the verdict for those who remain liable for their disobedience against God.
- John 3:36 (app. 28 A.D.) (stating, "he that believes not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abides on him.").
- Romans 6:16 (app. 56 A.D.) (holding, "Know you not, that to whom you yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants you are to whom you obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?").
Application / Analysis
In the facts at issue, every person has disobeyed God. Thus, since God requires that each person be morally perfect, each person has built up a long list of offenses against God for not living according to God's requirements.
The Word of God has expounded that each person is to live morally perfect.
- Genesis 7:1 (app. 2000 B.C.) (holding, ". . . I am the Almighty God; walk before Me, and be you perfect.").
- 1 Kings 8:61 (app. 1000 B.C.) (stating "Let your heart therefore be perfect with the Lord our God, to walk in His statutes, and to keep His commandments . . .").
- Matthew 5:48 (app. 33 A.D.) (stating, "Be each of you therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.").
Concerning the penalty for disobedience against God, He has declared that He will be just.
- Deuteronomy 32:4 (app. 1406 B.C.) (holding, "He is the Rock, His work is perfect: for all His ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is He.").
- Hebrews 10:30-31 (app. 60 A.D.) (stating "For we know Him that has said, Vengeance belongs unto Me, I will recompense, says the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge His people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.").
Pertaining to disobedience against God, He has declared the penalty.
- Romans 6:23 (app. 56 A.D.) (holding, "For the wages of sin is death; . . .").
- Matthew 25:41 (app. 30 A.D.) (holding, "Then shall He say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from Me, you cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels").
On the other hand, God has revealed how a person can be discharged from being liable for sins.
- 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (app. 54 A.D.) (stating, "For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures").
- 2 Corinthians 5:21 (app. 56 A.D.) (holding, "For He hath made Him who knew no sin, to be sin for us; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.").
Likewise, the Court has made provision for offenses of disobedience against God to be paid and God's justice to be satisfied by the sacrifice of Jesus.
- Romans 3:24-26 (app. 56 A.D.) (stating, "Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God has set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time His righteousness: that He might be just, and the justifier of him who believes in Jesus.").
- Romans 5:8-9 (app. 56 A.D.) (stating, "But God commends his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.").
In regard to the payment that Jesus made for the debt of sin, the Word of God has declared that it can be applied to those who repent and believe in Jesus.
- Acts 3:19 (app. 30 A.D.) (stating, "Repent you therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out . . .").
- John 6:47 (app. 30 A.D.) (stating, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believes on Me has everlasting life.").
- Romans 6:22 (app. 56 A.D.) (stating, "But now, being made free from sin, and become servants to God, you have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.").
In contrast, concerning those who do not turn from disobedience and do not accept Jesus as the payment for their debts, the Word of God pronounces the penalty of death.
- John 3:36 (app. 28 A.D.) (stating, "he that believes not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abides on him.").
- Romans 6:16 (app. 56 A.D.) (holding, "Know you not, that to whom you yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants you are to whom you obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?").
Conclusion
The Court will hold that,
- although each person deserves to die and to suffer continuously for not living in perfect morality as God has instructed, Jesus has paid the penalty for offenses; and
- the Court will apply Jesus' payment on behalf of those who turn from sin and trust in Him, it will hold that,
- because they are forgiven, they are no longer considered guilty, and
- the Court will discharge them from their debt;
- but the Court will continue to consider the others guilty and
- will sentence them to death and to continuous and eternal suffering.
