DOES GOD’S FORGIVENESS TEACH US TO FEAR HIM?
The psalmist asked a rhetorical question of the Lord, that begs an answer from each of us. If the Lord kept record of all our sins, our impure thoughts, motives and actions, if He decided to judge us according to that record, who could stand? The answer? No one. For we are all sinners. We would all fall before God’s perfect and holy justice.
I’m glad that this isn’t the only way that God looks at us. For the psalmist begins the next verse with the word, “But.” God does see our sin, “but” He is ready to forgive those who will repent and believe, not marking their record by their sin, but according to His grace and forgiveness.
The psalmist wrote that it is God’s willingness to forgive that should cause an appropriate fear, respect and awe of Him. Do you find this surprising? Shouldn’t it be God’s judgment that causes us to fear Him? Surely so. But it is actually God’s forgiveness that the psalmist saw as the real motivating character trait that moves us to fear and awe of God.
For if there were no forgiveness with God, men would be most desperate. Having no hope, they would sin all the more. For what would be the point? If there is no forgiveness, then there is no hope and therefore no reason to look to God in awe. For all would be condemned and cut off. Sin would increase without limit, until God swept all humanity away.
But there is forgiveness with God. This forgiveness is found by those who repent of their sin and believe in Christ Jesus as the One who paid for and “canceled the record” of their sins. As the apostle Paul wrote, “God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross” (Col. 2:13-14).
For this reason, we can stand before God forgiven. And standing, we stand in fear and awe of Him.
PRAYER: Dear Father, we stand in awe of You and of Your Son, Christ Jesus. We worship and adore You. For You have forgiven our sins and adopted us as Your children. What joy! Yet, we do not forget Your holiness and perfection. We confess our sins to You. Thank You for forgiving us. Cleanse us and sanctify us for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, amen.