Forgiveness in Action

"... but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time onward until His enemies be made a footstool for His feet. For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified." Hebrews 10:12-14

Hebrews chapter 11 is referenced by many titles. It is called the "Hall of Fame of Faith" because of all the Old Testament saints referenced in the section. At times the chapter is referred to as "Faith in Action" for the same reasons. One subject the chapter illustrates but is seldom discussed is the forgiveness of sins. Many saints commended for their faith were guilty of some of the most notorious transgressions detailed in the Bible. 

Sarah laughed at God.

God had come to Abraham and Sarah in their old age and promised they would have a child. At the time of the promise, they were both about 100 years old and 90 years old, respectively. Genesis 18:11-13 says, "Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; Sarah was past childbearing. Sarah laughed to herself, saying, "After I have become old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?" And the Lord said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh, saying, 'Shall I indeed bear a child, when I am so old?'" Sarah didn't believe what God had promised. In her unbelief, she laughed at the notion of giving birth to a child at her age. What did Sarah say when God acknowledged her for not believing Him? She lied. "Sarah denied it, however, saying, "I did not laugh"; for she was afraid. And He said, "No, but you did laugh (Genesis 18:15)." God didn't condemn her on the spot for laughing at His promise. He also did not punish her for lying to Him about laughing. God didn't hold her sin against her. That is why Hebrews 11:11 says, "By faith, even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised." The author of Hebrews doesn't even acknowledge Sarah's unbelief. All that is remembered is that she believed God and would eventually give birth to a son. 

Moses killed a man.

Not long after growing up, we read this about Moses. "So he looked this way and that, and when he saw there was no one around, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand (Exodus 2:12)" Moses murdered a man who was beating on a fellow Jew. However, at the time, Moses was still living as an Egyptian. "When Pharaoh heard of this matter, he tried to kill Moses. But Moses fled from the presence of Pharaoh and settled in the land of Midian, and he sat down by a well (Exodus 18:15)." Moses murdered an Egyptian and then escaped to Midian to avoid being held accountable for his actions. When the author of Hebrews recounts this moment in the life of Moses, they write, "By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin ... (Hebrews 11:24-25)" The entire episode of murdering the Egyptian and becoming a fugitive to avoid capture is eliminated. God chose to remember Moses for his faith rather than his sin. 

David, a murderer, and an adulterer.

Referencing David, 1 Samuel 13:14 says, "The Lord has sought out for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has appointed him as ruler over His people because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you." David, who would become King, is described as being a man after God's own heart. This is the same man who committed adultery with Bathsheba, who became pregnant with his child and then to cover up his sin, arranged the death of Bathsheba's husband, Uriah. In 2 Samuel 11:15, David wrote a letter to Joab, commander of his armies, saying, "Set Uriah in the forefront of the hardest fighting, and then draw back from him, that he may be struck down, and die." Although terrible, David's sins did not stop Luke from writing "And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, 'I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will (Acts 13:22).'" The Lord still saw David in the same light as before he sinned. Thus, in Hebrews 11:32-34, it says, "And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight." God includes David in the list believers recognized for their faith in God instead of their sins against Him. 

In Hebrews chapter 10, the author reminds the reader that God is no longer counting our sins against us, that no sacrifice for sin remains, and that Jesus is the once for all sacrifice for sins. This means that our sins from birth to death are no longer separating us from God. Additionally, if anybody believes that sin is still an issue, there is no sacrifice for sins that God requires or accepts. God has chosen not to remember being lied to by Sarah, Moses murdering an Egyptian, and David both committing adultery and arranging the death of a man. He did all of this to commend these people for their faith. This should encourage all of us because God does not remember our sins. We may not be written down in the pages of scripture for our faith in God. Our names are in the Book of Life for believing in and trusting in Jesus Christ as our Savior.