Conferral does not Cancel/Reverse Natural Consequences

In this part of the sermon: Martin begins by reading 2 Samuel 12:1-15, setting the stage with David's sin and God's response. He then poses the question from Psalm 130:3, 'If you, Lord, should mark…

Nathan's parable to David about the rich man taking the poor man's ewe lamb is used to expose David's sin of adultery and murder, leading to his confession.

But the Lord sent Nathan unto David, and he came unto him and said unto him, There were two men in one city, the one rich and the other poor. The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds, but the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had brought up and nourished up, and it grew up together with him and with his children. And it did eat of his own morsel and drank of his own. And it ate of his own cup and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter.

1:39 - 2:15 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin introduces the third pastoral perspective: the conferral of gospel forgiveness does not cancel or reverse the natural consequences of sin. He provides examples of sins…

A man converted after committing a felony is forgiven by God but still serves a prison sentence, illustrating that forgiveness does not cancel natural consequences.

Has committed a felony. A serious crime. And when he is converted, he goes to the authorities and he acknowledges his crime. He is indicted.

18:59 - 19:08 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin introduces the third pastoral perspective: the conferral of gospel forgiveness does not cancel or reverse the natural consequences of sin. He provides examples of sins…

A person who contracts AIDS due to sexual promiscuity is forgiven by God but still carries the disease, demonstrating that forgiveness does not automatically reverse physical consequences.

However, God's forgiveness does not reverse or cancel. The natural consequences of the very sin that has been freely and fully forgiven. Or someone else who is carelessly, sexually promiscuous contracts AIDS. Gets forgiven.

19:26 - 19:48 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin introduces the third pastoral perspective: the conferral of gospel forgiveness does not cancel or reverse the natural consequences of sin. He provides examples of sins…

A converted teenager causes a fatal car wreck due to reckless driving, leading to death, paralysis, and amputation, illustrating that even forgiven sins committed after conversion have lasting physical and relational consequences.

He has earned the trust of his parents. And part of that trust is he is entrusted with the family car. He is even entrusted to have other young men and women with him in that car. And one night he is out.

20:19 - 20:32 Read in full sermon

The point: Understand that while God forgives, there is no promise that He will reverse the natural consequences of sin, including haunting memories.

God can forgive sexual promiscuity, but He does not restore virginity, and the memories remain, illustrating the lasting, unreversed consequences of certain sins.

For the rest of your life. God can forgive any and every sin of sexual promiscuity. But he doesn't give you back your virginity. He doesn't give you back your virginity.

25:30 - 25:49 Read in full sermon

The point: Understand that while God forgives, there is no promise that He will reverse the natural consequences of sin, including haunting memories.

People struggle with 'haunting, ghost-like memories' of sins long since forgiven, showing that while guilt is removed, the psychological impact can remain.

How do I know it? I said these are pastoral, practical perspectives. They grow out of dealing with people struggling with the haunting, ghost-like memories of sin long since forgiven and cleansed in the blood of Christ. They're not going around crippled with unforgiving guilt.

26:27 - 26:54 Read in full sermon

The point: Understand that while God forgives, there is no promise that He will reverse the natural consequences of sin, including haunting memories.

Noah's drunkenness after the flood led to a shameful act and a curse on his son, illustrating that even a righteous man's sin, though forgiven, can have generational consequences.

Remember Noah? The only righteous man in the whole world. No sooner does God cause the waters to recede when we find that man Noah. In what condition?

28:30 - 28:48 Read in full sermon

The point: Understand that while God forgives, there is no promise that He will reverse the natural consequences of sin, including haunting memories.

Lot's drunkenness and subsequent incest with his daughters led to the birth of the Moabites and Ammonites, who became a perpetual plague to Israel, illustrating that forgiven sin can have lasting national and historical consequences.

What do you think he would have said? Be my cup of wine! What about Lot? God sends hell out of heaven upon the cities of the plain.

29:27 - 29:43 Read in full sermon

The point: Be God-like in dealing with others, both in the home and in the church, by understanding that forgiveness does not always cancel consequences or discipline.

Parents who cancel chastisement when a child shows repentance create 'clever little hypocrites,' illustrating that discipline should follow rule-breaking even with forgiveness, to reinforce lessons.

If you don't do it, here are the consequences. Here are the paternal, maternal chastisements that will follow. If they get the idea that if I show repentance and acknowledge fault for what I did, mom and dad cancel the chastisement you make clever little hypocrites out of them. Every time they've done something wrong they just come with the look of, oh, I'm so sorry.

48:51 - 49:17 Read in full sermon

The point: Implement church discipline even when a believer is repentant, as it is God-like and necessary, resisting the 'weak-kneed, flabby concept' that repentance negates all consequences.

The practice of quickly restoring ministers who fall into gross sins back to ministry is criticized as a 'horrible statement' that misunderstands the principle of consequences and discipline.

And we need, by God's grace, to resist this weak-kneed, flabby concept that if someone shows repentance, it doesn't matter the nature of the sin, then everything should go back to square one the way it was before the sin was committed. They're even doing this with men who fall into gross sins in the ministry. And in a matter of several months, they're right back in the ministry again.

51:04 - 51:28 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin outlines three practical implications: it helps believers understand and respond to God's dealings in their lives, it guides parents and churches in administering God-like…

Martin recounts his father's consistent, rational, and loving discipline, including a specific ritual, to illustrate that a healthy fear of discipline can coexist with love and be a legitimate motive to avoid sin.

I never, never once remember fearing that my father would walk by me and cuff me on the side of the head, put me over his knee and spank me for no reason whatsoever. My father never disciplined me irrationally, capriciously, with carnal context. It was always for some specific house rule that I broke in a way that he was in perfect control. He was never a wild, raging thing.

53:32 - 54:05 Read in full sermon