Call Us: 423 661-4734 | Email: requests@comeandreason.com      
Forgiveness in the Non-Penal View

Forgiveness in the Non-Penal View

In this non-penal picture of God, when I ask Him to forgive me, what am I asking Him to do? And then, following that vein, when I ask a person to forgive me, what am I asking them to do?

R


Thanks for a great question that many struggle with because we are so conditioned to believe that the problems in “sin” is breaking rules requiring imposed punishment, and thus the need for “forgiveness” is taught to mean “legal pardon.”

I have discovered that there is a split in how people define words, such as forgiveness, that seems to break down two divergent paths. That divide seems to cluster around how one sees God’s law. Does one see God’s law, like human law, imposed without any inherent consequence, thus requiring the ruling authority to police breeches in the law and impose external punishments and the offender to seek legal payment and pardon? Or, does one see God’s law as the design protocols upon which the Creator constructed His universe to operate and breeches are incompatible with life unless the Designer intervenes to heal and restore His creation back into harmony with His design? 

This is the great divide throughout centuries of Christianity, ever since Constantine converted and Christianity switched its view of God’s law from the Scriptural view that God’s law is the “law of love” (not a feeling but a design protocol upon which life is built) to the Imperial Roman concept of law, rules put over requiring enforcement and punishment. As the Bible teaches, “The entire law is summed up in a single command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Galatians 5:14 see also DT 11:13, Rom 13:10, James 2:8, Matt 12:37-40).

Consider the case of a 14 year old young lady who was raised by her parents to protect her sexuality until marriage. She was told, in fact, that it is sin to have premarital sex. But, she also struggles with typical adolescent fears and insecurities and sadly succumbs to a boyfriend’s advances and becomes pregnant.

 

What will she experience when her parents find out? Will she struggle with fear of rejection, guilt, and shame perhaps? Might she doubt her parents’ response? Might she ask them for forgiveness? If so, for what is she asking?

Is she asking that her parents not kill her? Is she asking for legal pardon, for her parents not to inflict punishment upon her? Sadly, in some cultures this very well might be for what she is asking, but would she need to ask that of you? And what does it say about love in cultures where parents do kill their adolescent daughters for making such mistakes? So when she asks, in a culture where parents would not kill her, for forgiveness is her heart primarily seeking penal solutions? Or is she seeking reconciliation, the assurance that her parents still love her and don’t hold hostility and rejection in their heart toward her? Is she seeking for their help in dealing with the problem her own choice has made?

So, in the healing model, when people ask God for forgiveness they are seeking for the peace that comes when they experience His heart of forgiveness, but which their own misconduct, self-recrimination, guilt and shame obstructed them from experiencing. In opening our heart to God in humble acknowledgement of our wrong, and repentance, we experience His grace, which is transformational via the indwelling of His Spirit. Thus, we are being changed and renewed in a relational process with our Creator.

So first, forgiveness is relational and is extended from the heart of the offended toward the offender. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:16,17 emphasis mine)

God is love and therefore God’s heart is always one of forgiveness, and never needs inducement or requests to be so. Our confession and request to be forgiven is the opening of the heart to receive the forgiveness that God constantly extends. (Remember Jesus on the Cross extending forgiveness to His murderers. They didn’t open their hearts in repentance, but Jesus demonstrated God’s attitude is one of forgiveness).

Second, forgiveness can also be used in a theological sense to describe the completed process of salvation. If used in this context then it can mean the internal transformation of heart motive and restoration to righteousness i.e. new heart and right spirit. Thus forgiveness can also mean the entire process of healing and reconciliation with God. Therefore, when we ask for forgiveness we are really asking to experience God’s grace and healing power in our lives to restore us back into a right relationship with Him, by transforming us to be like Him. This is what David was praying when he prayed, “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” (Ps 51:10) This healing, recreation of godliness within, is what Hebrews 9:22 is referring to when, in some translations, it say, “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” Other translations say, “without the shedding of blood there is no remission.”

The idea of the Hebrews text being very much like healing someone with cancer, the cancer needs to go into remission. Without Christ’s life, death and resurrection – (i.e. shed blood) sinfulness in humankind would not remit. It is only through Christ that sinfulness is remitted from the character and we are recreated back into God’s original ideal that He intended mankind in Adam to be.

This is Biblical forgiveness from a forgiving God. It is healing, transformational and restorative. This is the view of forgiveness understood when we understand God’s law as the law of love, an expression of His character, and the protocols upon which He constructed life to operate.

But, when we replace the Biblical view of God’s law with the Imperial Roman idea of imposed law, then we misconceive of God as a dictator who must police His universe and enforce punishments. In this twisted worldview, forgiveness becomes misunderstood to mean legal pardon that we must receive from God, and that God but receive legal payment in order to “forgive” or “pardon” us. And, unbelievably, the payment, which somehow causes God to extend forgiveness, is typically stated as the blood of His Son.

We are calling people back to worship the Designer, the Creator, the Builder of the universe and understand His law as the design protocol of life and reject the dictator view of God that has so infected Christianity. This is the call of the first angel of Revelation, to “Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.” (Rev 14:7) It is a call to see God working through Christ to achieve His goal of restoring His creation back into unity with Himself. “God was in the Son reconciling the world unto Himself.” (2Cor 5:19)

So by all means, ask God to restore, recreate and renew you in the likeness of His Son, bringing you into “at-one-ment” (unity) with Him. This is true forgiveness.

 

Email me the blog whenever a new one is published.

Donate online, securely via PayPal using your credit or debit card (no PayPal account needed, unless you want to set up a monthly, recurring payment).


cancel recurring payment

 

Want to use zelle instead?
See how on our
Support and Donations page.

Upcoming Events

calendar

Testimonial Post Slider

Testimony 14

We really appreciate your views on the judgment and they make good sense considering our free choice.

Anonymous

 

Testimony 54

I had a lot of pressure, as a pastor’s kid, to conform and be “good.” I was good at being “good.” I thought my life was going along well until it all started falling apart and I could not figure out why! In my search for “why is this happening to me, God?” I came across your book, “Could it be this Simple,” and God started revealing to me the many distortions I held about His character, His principles, and how He has designed His universe to operate. I remember thinking, “Wow, I have had this all backwards.” I was happy and angry all at the same time. Happy to have the light of truth break through the darkness, revealing a wonderful, beautiful way of understanding God and His plan for His children, and angry, because I felt deceived and cheated by the church, my family, and myself!

My heart thrills when I listen to your bible study lessons. Literally I have gone from death to life. It is a journey I look forward to every day, as God reveals areas this distortion affects. Praise GOD! I will ever be grateful to God for this ministry and your cooperation with the Spirit!

Karen S., Portal, AZ, USA

 

Testimony 59

I’m a native Ghanan, but am currently in France for my master’s degree. Prior to this, during my final years at undergraduate studies in Ghana, I was introduced to your ministry and I’ve been immensely blessed by what you share, especially about the Design and Imposed Laws. God richly bless you for that.

One of the first things I did when I arrived in France was to buy all four of your books. They not only helped me, but those I shared them with. I shared the message with an atheist student and I marveled at how God worked mightily in his life. Today this person shares the Love of God with others and debunks theories of who God is not. I want to share what you present in your “Heavenly Sanctuary and Investigative Judgment” pamphlet, because the message brought rest to my soul and I live today as a healthy person.

God bless you so much and your ministry.

Michael A., Ghana

 

Testimony 2

I continue to enjoy your lessons every week. The more that I research your conclusions, the more I am convinced that the Holy Spirit has lead you to distill out the essence of human redemption. Thank you for your courageous stand for the truth.

S. G., TX, USA

 

Testimony 19

I truly believe that to know who God really is the first step to understand ourselves in a balanced and kind way, so the healing can take place. Your approach really makes sense – Thank you for your ministry!

A.M., Pittsburg, PA, USA

Testimony 47

I can’t even begin to thank you and your ministry enough for introducing me to the Truth about a loving and merciful God! I have my daughter and her in-laws to thank for sharing with me “The God-Shaped Brain” as well as your website. I listen to the Bible study class lessons on my daily walk. May God continue to bless your thirst-quenching ministry!

Liz H., Port Angeles, WA, USA

 

 

Testimony 32

The message [of Come And Reason Ministries is] for all Christians (and those who may become Christians) and not just Adventists or any other group. It is difficult to imagine why any [anyone] with intellectual and spiritual honesty could find fault with the way you explained the healing substitution concepts and the truth about God’s character, though I know some will reject and criticize. On behalf of those in our group near Tacoma, WA, thank you and your staff for all of the hard work and for sharing the Gospel in this manner. God’s message of healing love will be carried to the whole world and then Jesus will come – He promised it.

Terry U., Tacoma, WA, USA

 

Testimony 45

I have been confused for years about what [christianity] calls [its] most disgusting teaching. It has never made much sense to me and for that reason has been evermore empty. I have listened to your class off and on and have struggled determining what is truth, because of the resistance design law encounters in the church. So, I thank God for your ministry. What you teach makes sense. It’s logical and backed up by the power of love. I have never seen that in Christ until now. I am astounded by the insight that is found when we look at God’s ministry through design law. All strength to this message, as I believe it to be the power of God.

Brendon S.

 

Testimony 62

I would like to express my thanks to the C&R team for creating a platform from which people can learn to trust in God and grow. My life is a witness to the effectiveness of this ministry. Without believing the truth about God as you have shown, I don’t know what my life would be like. I had given up on God helping me with certain sins – it was all useless. Given that the scripture is clear and God is so good, how could I have betrayed him so many times? I was a yo-yo christian; spinning up and down. My faith and enthusiasm was driven by discoveries/threats that prophecy is about to be fulfilled. But when I watched your “Healing the Mind” seminar, it was like a light finally went on. I could see God had no plan to hurt me, the danger came from sin, and that He is working to protect me and strengthen me. Thank you for allowing God to use you. The message God gave C&R saved my life!

Antony N. – Hobart, Australia

 

Testimony 1

Thank you! I love listening to the Come And Reason Ministries Bible study classes and am using some of your notes to get the lessons together that I will be teaching. You always have such good quotes and Bible texts and pull things together to make good sense.

T. C., IN, USA

 

Testimony 40

I was brought up in a different faith and have been petrified my whole life of God. I believed that I would burn in hell for eternity. When I was 12 I started pursuing the things of this world, but for the next 45 years the Spirit was always calling me, as I knew there was a God through nature. I could see the vast sea of stars in the universe and knew there was something bigger out there. Five years ago, through a Revelation seminar, I was blessed to learn about God’s character and government.

Then I found Come and Reason Ministries and have come under some extreme pressure when I speak about the ministry. One time a member sent me an internet article titled “Whats wrong with Tim Jennings?” I asked her what she thought of it and she said “I don’t know, I didn’t read it.”

I have always wanted to find out for myself the truth about God, so I stayed with the Design Law construct and have been liberated to understand the big picture. Once we consider Design Law, all other Bible stories and prophecies seem to fit perfectly. It is truly beautiful to see people grasping how God operates this Universe of Love and the liberation it has provided in their lives. It blows my mind to see how consistent Design law is with what our founders believed. I hear statements like “This makes so much sense.”

Tom W., Mt. Pleasant, MI, USA

 

Testimony 15

I have been sharing Come And Reason Ministries Bible study lessons with several folk. You have such a beautiful view of the plan of salvation. If we had this message preached when I was young, my generation would still all be in church.

H. R., New Zealand

Testimony 72

I am blown away by the truth that you present. God’s Design Law makes so much sense! You have validated my impression that, if God is love, He would not kill those who don’t want to know him. If God gives us choice, then how can He destroy us if our choice is not to follow him. Thank you for opening my eyes and heart to the pure love of God seen through Jesus. The love I now have for Jesus is deeper and free from condemnation. My heart has been opened to love others as Jesus loves me. May God continue to bless your God-given insight into His word and your ministry. The truth has set me free!

H. Miller, Centereach, NY

Testimony 60

Just watched watched lesson 10 in the 1st quarter 2021 bible study classs on Isaiah. I want to thank you for your intellectual spirituality; it’s not an oxymoron! From the point of view of a teacher I also enjoy seeing how much personal pleasure you clearly take in not just tasting, but feasting on God’s word – it reminds me of Jeremiah not being able to hold it in! It makes me smile that your cup is so full and overflowing that you make it to Tuesday’s lesson (on a good day). It just goes to show the richness of God’s Word.

God bless the Come and Reason Team from our church here in Great Britain.

Andrew H., Great Britain

 

Testimony 36

Thank you and may God continue to bless you as you share with others the intricacies of how we are all “fearfully and wonderfully made”. I must share that you have opened a whole new world to me, and I have found tremendous healing through what you have shared in two of your books, “Could It Be This Simple?” and “The God Shaped Brain.” I praise God for what you shared, what I have learned, and how I have grown and healed! My prayer is that My Precious Jesus will be seen by others in the way I live, act, talk, etc. and they may be encouraged to know He is truly a GREAT God of LOVE, desiring that no one should perish! God Bless you in your continued endeavors to present Him as He really is!

Joleen H. GA, USA