| HIGHLIGHTS OF DAWN | May 1999 |
Forgive Us Our Trespasses
ON NOVEMBER 27, 1998, The New York Times reported an announcement made for Christians of certain churches, that “in celebration of entering the third millennium of Christianity, penitents who do a charitable deed or give up cigarettes or alcohol for a day can earn an indulgence!” Indulgences are an ancient form of church-granted amnesty that release penitents from certain forms of punishment for past sins.
LUTHER OBJECTED TO INDULGENCES
The news article continued, saying, “The medieval church sold indulgences, a practice that drove Martin Luther to rebel, beginning the Reformation.” Indeed, indulgences which began in early Christian times have not always been viewed favorably. When they became a moneymaking scheme, they were denounced by many.
In the 16th century, indulgences were offered in exchange for contributions to build St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Luther protested, and as his theological criticisms mounted he was excommunicated in 1521. Later the church banned the sale of indulgences because it became evident that the rich would profit most from such a practice. The importance, however, of indulgences was affirmed at the Council of Trent in 1563, and further elaborated upon in 1968.
The concept is not supported by Biblical authority. It is based on the teaching that when forgiveness is granted for sins, the person living and having weakness of the flesh will commit more sins and these can be covered by indulgences. Those who have committed such sins, and have died, must be punished for these in purgatory.
All of this is predicated upon the teaching that Jesus Christ and his saints have, by their good works, made vicarious satisfaction to God for the sins of others. The amount of the satisfaction is called doctrinally the ‘infinite treasury of merits’. The official statement of such remission by the church is an indulgence.
MILLENNIUM EXPECTATIONS
It is interesting to note the high interest the Christian world has in the start of the third millennium of Christianity. There are dire predictions and joyous expectations. The dire predictions concern a complete breakdown of information processing in the switch-over of computers from a two-digit dating system to a three-or-four digit dating system. Experts are working on the problem to insure avoiding a breakdown of the high technology that has been developed in the twentieth century. There is a fear of failure to supply utilities, purchase of food, bank transactions, and many services that have been computerized. For some people there seems to be a sort of ‘doomsday’ cloud overhead. For others there are brighter expectations.
The joyous expectation for the third millennium is only held by a few Christian people. It is the establishment of God’s kingdom on earth, for which all Christians pray, using the Lord’s prayer: “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” (Matt. 6:10) Jesus gave many signs that would precede the setting up of the kingdom. These are recorded in Matthew 24:13-15; Mark 13:19-37; and Luke 21:25-36.
In the Luke account, Jesus says, “So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.” (Luke 21:31) Jesus’ words were spoken concerning Israel ‘budding’ as a nation. Mark also speaks of the same event, saying, “So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it (summer—a picture of the kingdom) is nigh, even at the doors.” (Mark 13:29) We are so close to the realization of our hopes and prayers, that certainly the new millennium is bound to see God’s kingdom on earth.
EVER-PRESENT SIN
Conditions in the world at present continue to be tragic. There are wars and bloodshed, starvation and poverty, suffering and dying—all characteristic of the ‘present evil world.’ The Bible, however, tells of our deliverance from this present evil world, through our Lord Jesus Christ.
In his letter to the churches of Galatia, the Apostle Paul says in his opening salutation: “Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father.” (Gal. 1:3,4) We note how Paul stresses that Jesus gave himself for our sins. These include all of our mistakes. The Apostle John likewise confirms this when speaking to present believers who have consecrated their lives to follow Jesus. He says: “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation [satisfaction] for our sins.”—I John 2:1,2
We know that those in this Gospel Age who are striving to be a part of ‘the Church,’ have the great blessing of forgiveness of sins. This is plainly written by the Apostle Paul, when, in advising the brethren on marital relationships, he says: “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.”—Eph.5:25-27
FORGIVENESS WITH LOVE
This love that Jesus has for the church was clearly expressed by him in his beautiful prayer to the Father recorded in the Gospel of John. He said, “I have declared unto them [the apostles] thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.” (John 17:26) In John 3:16, it is also recorded how God loves the world: “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” It is little wonder, then, that when John writes about the sins of the church being forgiven through Jesus, he should hasten to add: “And not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” (I John 2:2) The meritorious sacrifice of Jesus Christ is the complete satisfaction for all sins. There is no other payment needed to ransom the world of mankind.
John also presents a beautiful picture in his remarks on mistakes made by the followers of Christ in this present time after accepting Jesus as their Redeemer, and being forgiven by the Father. ‘If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.’ The scene depicted for us is in a courtroom, or the legal bar of justice, with the Great Judge being our Father in heaven. Jesus, as our advocate or legal counsel, pleads our cause. There are no special proclamations necessary, except that we try very hard ‘to sin not.’
This same type of scene is presented by the Apostle Paul in the book of Romans. Wilson’s Emphatic Diaglott translates the words with a question being used as an answer to a prior question: “Since God is for us, who can be against us? Surely he who spared not his own Son, but delivered him up on behalf of us all, how will he not with him also graciously give us all things? Who will bring an accusation against God’s Chosen ones? Will that God who justifies? Who is he who condemns? Will that Anointed one who died; and, still more, who has been raised; who also is at the Right hand of God, and who intercedes on our behalf?” (Rom. 8:31-34) How comforting it is to know that we have such a capable legal counsel pleading our cause for the mistakes we make as we battle against Satan, the world, and our own flesh. These foes cannot succeed in their accusations, since God and Jesus are on our side.
AWAITING THE KINGDOM
In this same chapter (8) of Romans, the Apostle Paul spoke earlier of the Church’s sufferings with Christ, and how they will lead to being glorified with Christ. Then, speaking of the whole world he says, “The creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God; for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay [or corruption] and obtain the glorious liberty of the children of God.”—vss. 19-21, Revised Standard Version
The world, in a subconscious way, is looking for ‘better times’—which, unknowingly, is the revealing of the sons of God, when the footstep followers of Christ complete their trial. This is the way that the ‘better times’ will come, because the manifestation of the sons of God accompanies the revelation of Jesus Christ—the Prince of Peace, and the King of Kings, and the Lord of Lords, as he establishes his kingdom.
The blessings of that kingdom were prophesied hundreds of years before Jesus came at his First Advent. One such prophecy is Isaiah 55, which reads: “Ho, every one who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.” (Isa. 55:1, RSV) The wording of this prophecy causes us to recall the blessing of life offered to all mankind in the kingdom message of Revelation. “The Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”—Rev. 22:17
FREELY RECEIVE
During Christ’s kingdom in the Millennial Age, the waters of life are received through the raising of the dead. Then the poor, who have never had enough material necessities to sustain their lives prior to the kingdom, will be able to fill their needs without money. They will also receive an understanding of God’s plan (the milk of the Word), and the benefits of the ransom (wine representing the blood of Christ). All this is available without cost, which is quite different than in the present Gospel Age. In order to receive a knowledge of God’s Word and the benefits of the ransom now, it is necessary for the prospective members of the body of Christ to make a consecration to the Lord and to be willing to lead a sacrificial life under adverse conditions. At the beginning of the Millennial Age, the milk and the wine are available without cost. As mankind progresses and comes to a knowledge of the truth, and becomes obedient to God’s laws, they must consecrate to do God’s will.
The prophecy continues by reminding mankind that in the past they spent money on ‘food’ that was inadequate. All of the past philosophies and false religions will be gone. Instead, the good ‘food’ of God’s Word will cause them to “delight in the richest of fare.” (Isa. 55:2, NIV) God had promised to do all this for King David. He accomplishes this through the establishment of the New Covenant, and the kingdom of David’s descendant, Jesus, who will reign forever. (II Sam. 7:11-13) As stated in this prophecy, and many others such as Micah 4:1,2, all nations will flow into this kingdom.
The New Covenant, which is made with the house of Israel and Judah, is also mentioned in Jeremiah: “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a New Covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord: But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”—Jer. 31:31-34
A RANSOM FOR ALL
When the Apostle Paul wrote, in his letter to Timothy, the words, “This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (I Tim. 2:3,4), he was confirming Jeremiah’s prophecy. Paul does not stop there, but continues, saying: “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” (vss. 5,6) Such, then, is the great blessing for the world of mankind in the millennial kingdom— that of receiving forgiveness for sin through Christ’s all-satisfying blood. How glad they will be to know that the wicked deeds of the past will not be held to their charge. This is why our prophecy in Isaiah 55 singles out ‘the wicked’ and ‘unrighteous man,’ saying: “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.”—Isa. 55:7
There will not be a teaching of less punishment for sin by the granting of indulgences, because God does not grant indulgences, and he is the only one who can forgive (along with those empowered by him, as was Jesus). The educating of all in righteousness will be the means whereby all return to the Lord. When it finally becomes clear to all mankind that God’s plan made a basic provision for their forgiveness, they will extol Jesus and say, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain” (Rev. 5:12), and will praise God, saying, “Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”—Isa. 25:9
The plan of salvation is God’s plan. He is the author of it. His only begotten Son willingly cooperated with his Father to lay down his life and make all these blessings of the kingdom possible. May praise unceasing be given to God, the Father and to his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, forever and ever. Amen.