“All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live” (Ezekiel 18:22).
TEXT — Ezekiel 18:20-23
Message
Dane Ortlund, in his book, Deeper, narrates “how an inmate caused a mild drama in the Nigerian High Court after a judge acquitted him of all charges against him. But he refused to go home and demanded to go back to prison. Instead of the usual jubilation that follows any ruling of “discharged and acquitted”, the inmate headed straight back to the prison. He was intercepted by a correctional officer who reminded him he was free to go home”. Probably, the inmate in question did not believe that his offenses could be forgiven.
Yet, forgiveness is the very nature of God. He is not only forgiving but merciful. God is not delighted in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn away from their wickedness and return to Him in repentance. God is so magnanimous He will not hold the son responsible for the father’s sins, nor will He hold anyone’s past sins against us after he or she has repented.
Many people find it hard to accept that God will forgive hardened criminals and wicked people who caused pain to others. They wonder why God will give life to someone who has denied others the privilege of living. Even the pardoned sinners wonder at God’s mercy, how He could forgive them of their past sins and grant them a completely new life, free from condemnation and guilt.
The criminal justice system in our world does not acquit criminals who confess to their crimes. Nor would prisoners be released when they repent and show remorse for their crimes. But God is not man. His ways are different from ours. He not only forgives sins, He forgets them altogether. Those who were once forgiven by God, but now desire to return to their sinful lifestyle, will receive the full repercussions of their deeds.
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.
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