THE SOUL WHO SINS WILL DIE. GOD WILL PUNISH ALL SIN. ~ EXPOSING HYPOCRISY ~ PART 18

High treason is treason against the king. Disloyalty or treachery to one’s country or its government. Treason is any attempt to overthrow the government or impair the well-being of a state to which one owes allegiance; the crime of giving aid or comfort to the enemies of one’s government. Dictionary.com

 

The Israelites were guilty of not just treason, but the highest treason possible. High treason against the King of kings! He was not a tyrannical dictator. His divine government was one to which they had voluntarily submitted themselves. Israel’s government was a divine theocracy under God who wanted only the best for her.

 

The Levites were those called to carry out the work of judgment in order that divine government would be maintained, and that God would be known as a God of justice. The men from all the tribes had lived together as family for a long time. They had suffered together and come out of Egypt together in a great victory. The Levites knew that they must obey God, not men. Even in judgment, God’s mercy was put on display in allowing the people freedom to choose to repent. Those who stubbornly refused God’s gracious offer were cut off in their rebellion.

 

Sin must be punished. Why? Because God is God! ALL SIN IS AGAINST GOD, something we would do well to remember in our day when many in our culture are trying to redefine sin. God is not only loving, but He is holy and just. What is every human being’s purpose in life? Every human being’s purpose in life is to glorify God. Israel, as a nation, was God’s chosen people. She was not better than the pagan nations surrounding her, but God chose to work through her in His plan of redemption. While being related to all nations through creation, God had called her to be separate. She was separated by God for God—for His glory. Her witness in the world was intended to draw others to Him through her testimony as she pointed to the one true and living God. Before the foundation of the world, God had a plan for all humanity. In Genesis 12:3, the Lord told Abraham He would bless those who blessed him, curse those who cursed him, and that in him all the families of the earth would be blessed. These provisions extended to the nation of Israel because of Abraham, their father. Along with the blessings came responsibilities.

 

God gave Israel the Law. The Law was good. God’s Law is for our good and His glory. The pagan nations around them did not have His Law, so they were a law unto themselves, which is never good! When Israel was obedient to God’s Law, they would be His representative on earth displaying His character; and He would bless them. In order to maintain their uniqueness, they would need to shun all pagan customs that would only serve to draw them away from Him. As history reveals, Israel failed often in her God-given purpose. Like so many newly released prisoners with good intentions, we see them returning to their old ways soon out of the gate.

 

After the golden calf debacle, Israel was forced to choose whom she would serve. They had all broken the covenant they had just made. Those who stood in their rebellion were killed by the sword. The Israelites were to go to the other pagan nations condemning the idolatry found there. Now they would look like complete hypocrites, and their testimony would have no credibility. But the stories of how God had executed justice upon His own disobedient people would also spread to pagan nations; specifically, those stories of how God had executed judgment upon those who claimed Him as their God and then made a calf and worshipped it. Every time this incident was thrown in their faces as they testified regarding God’s character, they would be forced to admit they sinned and that they had watched how God dealt with that grave sin. They would be able to affirm that God does not turn a blind eye to sin letting it go unpunished. The recorded consequences of idolatrous behavior by Moses would serve as an example and testimony to all men thereafter regarding the seriousness of idolatry.

 

There is also another story we looked at previously that shows what happens when God spared the life of a man whose heart was set on rebellion against Him. When Cain sinned, he deserved death, as we all deserve death due to sin. Instead, although God punished him, He did not kill him but spared his life. We may not consider Cain’s life after he went out from the presence of the Lord and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden. But we must tie Cain to his descendants who followed in his rebellion. What was the result? Judgment upon the whole earth in the Flood. One writer said that “long life is not a blessing to the sinner. God’s forbearance does not repress the wickedness of the sinner. The longer he lives, the more corrupt he becomes.” In other words, longer life for the sinner only builds up greater judgment for him. Had God not dealt swiftly with the sin at Sinai, corruption would infiltrate the earth again as in the days of Noah.

 

How is God’s mercy seen in the execution of 3,000 plus that day? Thousands would suffer at Sinai in order that millions down the line would be spared. Because they had cast aside God’s protection under the Covenant, the whole nation would now be exposed to the power of their enemies. For the good of Israel and God’s glory in His plan of redemption for men of all nations, this lesson would be a reminder for all time that God is holy and just and must punish sin. Lastly, had they been spared in their sin, the same spirit of rebellion that had caused them to rise up against God would manifest itself in hatred that would eventually lead them to destroy one another. This was God’s love to the world, to Israel, and even to the transgressors themselves. And it was love to you and to me.  

 

One might ask, what about the others who sinned? They repented, but their sin was not punished. Great question!

 

Moses dealt with the idol, then Aaron, then those still in their rebellion. Lastly, he turned to those who had repented but who still had committed a great sin. I can only imagine what terror must have been in the hearts of those left at this moment. They had just witnessed the holy wrath of God against sin. And they were sinners, too, guilty of the exact same sin! They had to have been desperately hoping that somehow Moses could make things right with God on their behalf.

Exodus 32:30-35—And on the next day Moses said to the people, “You yourselves have committed a great sin; and now I am going up to the LORD; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.” Then Moses returned to the LORD and said, “Oh, this people has committed a great sin, and they have made a god of gold for themselves! But now, if You will forgive their sin, very well; but if not, please wipe me out from Your book which You have written!” However, the LORD said to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against Me, I will wipe him out of My book. But go now, lead the people where I told you. Behold, My angel shall go before you; nevertheless, on the day when I punish, I will punish them for their sin.” Then the LORD struck the people with a plague, because of what they did with the calf which Aaron had made.

 

Can you feel the terror when the word “perhaps” comes out of Moses’ mouth? Perhaps? What? Is that like a 50/50 chance? What they are looking for is assurance! They need assurance that they can be saved from the wrath of this holy God. They need atonement for their sin!

 

Moses’ words to God are hard for us to wrap our heads around. First, making no excuses for the people, he specifically acknowledges the sin they have committed. He confesses their sin. Then, in order that they might be preserved, Moses shows his willingness to lay down his own life for them. He will die in their place. What is going on here?

 

It appears Moses is offering his own life as an atonement for his people. Paul made a similar noble, yet impossible, request regarding his people in Romans 9:3. Was Moses so wrapped up in God’s glory that in pleading for God’s chosen people, he is essentially saying, “If You wipe out the nation, I cannot bring You glory in the purpose for which You called me, so you may as well kill me, too.” That would be in keeping with the righteous indignation Moses had just displayed. In any event, as their appointed leader, he is identifying himself with the sin of his people and God rejects his plea. We can see from this chapter that although the Law of Moses was good, showing men the righteousness of God and that which He requires of them, it was unable to reconcile God to man resulting in perfect peace with Him.

 

Many, many years ago, I was trying to find an answer to the question of the record-keeping books of God. How many books are there? What do each of them represent? What I know to be true is that: One book is the Lamb’s Book of Life, sometimes referred to as the book of life. Only the names of those whom God chose (the elect) before the foundation of the world are in the Lamb’s Book of Life. They can never be erased or blotted out. Of that we can be certain. There is eternal security for those who are in Christ. (See Philippians 4:3, Romans 8:37-39, Revelation 3:5, 13:8, 17:8, 20:12, 15, and 21:27.)

 

In his commentary on Revelation 3:5, John MacArthur says this: In John’s day, rulers kept a register of the citizens of a city. If someone died, or committed a serious crime, their name was erased from that register. Christ, the King of heaven, promises never to erase a true Christian’s name from the roll of those whose names were “written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain” (13:8).

 

One theory I came up with back then is that there are at least two books, and possibly three. The second book is the book of the living which is not the book of life. I believed that the book of the living contains the names of all who have ever lived.

 

The White Throne Judgment is the scene of Revelation 20:11-15. It is the judgment for unbelievers of all time. Verses 12-15 says: And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them; and they were judged, each one of them according to their deeds. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

 

It would appear that there might be another book that records all the names of the living, along with their deeds, thoughts, and words. Scripture affirms that God, knowing everything that has ever been said, done, or thought will reward or punish each one accordingly (Psalm 28:4; 62:12; Romans 2:6; Revelation 2:23; 18:6; 22:12). Although Christians are held accountable for their deeds, they are forgiven in Christ and their names were written in the book of life before the creation of the world. Anyone whose name is not found in the Lamb’s book of life will be thrown into the lake of fire.

 

MAYBE, JUST MAYBE (These are just my thoughts) (I would welcome insights anyone who reads this might have) it is like this: Just like an accountant’s books all have to balance each other, there are three books.

1. The book of the living which records all those who have ever lived.

2. The book of deeds, thoughts, and words.

3. The Lamb’s book of life which records the name of all God’s elect.

 

What if on judgment day when all the books are opened, the Judge compares the book of deeds to the Lamb’s Book of Life. The deeds of those whose names are not found in the Lamb’s book of life will damn them, and their names are erased from the book of all living. At the end of judgment, all three books will have the names of the elect. This is just an idea, but it is the only one that makes any sense to me at this point in my understanding. The only thing we can be absolutely dogmatic about is the fact that any person’s name recorded in the Lamb’s book of life, according to the New Testament passages, will have eternal life.

 

There’s another passage in Isaiah 4:3 that speaks about those who are left in Zion and who remain in Jerusalem on the Day of the Lord. They are recorded for life in Jerusalem. In verse 2 these are referred to as the survivors of Israel. Daniel 12:1, speaking of this same day, says: Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such has never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued. In Malachi 3:16-17, a “Book of Remembrance” is referenced. Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord gave attention and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the Lord and who esteem His name. “They will be Mine,” says the Lord of hosts, “on the day that I prepare My own possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him.”

 

So, what was Moses saying in Exodus 32:32? I’m not sure. If he thought he could make actual atonement for the people, he could not. Moses was not the ultimate Mediator who was to come (the Man Christ Jesus—the better Mediator of a better covenant). He alone could give His perfect life for another.

 

Is there another book in reference to the remnant of Israel? I don’t know. What I do know is that God had a purpose for Israel. They, like us all, are prone to wander, prone to leave the God we love. Even the elect will continue to wrestle against idolatry at times, in wanting other things more than we want God. But the ultimate sacrifice for sin has been made once for all, and those who put their trust in Him based upon the work He alone has done, will find their names recorded in the Lamb’s Book of Life and will never be blotted out.

 

God must punish sin. It will be punished for all eternity in those who refused to trust Christ for their salvation, or it was punished at the cross for the sin of all those who were in Him from before the foundation of the world.

 

God said to Moses, “Go! Continue doing what I called you to do. Judgment Day is coming, and all accounts will be reconciled on that day.” God would strike the people with a plague because of what they did with the calf which Aaron had made. The people may not have gotten answers to put their hearts and minds at rest, but they knew they were dealing with a God who is holy and very different from the supposed gods they had been accustomed to worshipping in Egypt—the God who declares, “The soul who sins will die.”