“One of the greatest barriers to forgiveness is the myth that forgiveness automatically frees our offender from any consequences for his actions” (When Forgiveness Doesn’t Make Sense, Jeffress p. 88). While we should never forget the fundamental idea that God’s forgiveness removes eternal consequences for sin (1 John 1:9, 1 Peter 2:24, 3:18, Romans 6:23), there are many examples in the Bible when people still had to face the physical ramifications of their misdeeds. In particular, notice David’s consequences in 2 Samuel 12:10-14:
“Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife…I will raise up evil against you from your own household…Indeed you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, and under the sun…”
This all came true, as David’s family life was characterized by violence during his last years on earth. Several sons died violent deaths, Absalom started a rebellion (2 Samuel 15) and profaned his father’s concubines (16:20-21), another son raped his half-sister (2 Samuel 13:1-14) and was subsequently murdered (13:28-29). Just as David had committed a violent deed, violence would be done to him – not because these were indications of God withholding forgiveness, but because they were the natural, logical consequences of a series of very poor decisions by David. One would have a hard time arguing that David did not believe he was forgiven spiritually, for he claims such blessings in Psalm 51 and approaches the rest of his life with the calm resolution of one who is confident in God’s mercy.
Sin’s inevitable consequences invariably come to fruition, even in the lives of believers. “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap” (Galatians 6:7). Some sins carry a reproach that may never be fully blotted out (Proverbs 6:32-33), and there is never a promise in scripture that God’s forgiveness will somehow invalidate legal penalties, bodily harm, or damage done to our relationships as a result of our sins.
The Benefits of Consequences
We need to be careful not to assume that physical punishments are always a sign of God’s continuing displeasure with us. After all, while it is true that God wields the sword of providence in this world for the execution of justice (Romans 13:5), he is also a loving and forgiving Savior who “will remember our sins no more” (Jeremiah 31:34). The forgiven Christian should not fear condemnation when he resides in the grace of Jesus Christ, even in a state of enduring ramifications for sin. While they might seem hard to bear, especially as they are administered by the government or the laws of nature, there are many hidden benefits and treasures to be found in accepting the results of what we have done. Never pass up an opportunity to grow and learn, and try to see the eternal side of things when you must live through the earthly penalty of your sin.
Consequences serve as a warning to others
“Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful of sinning” (1 Timothy 5:20). “And great fear came over the whole church, and over all who heard of these things” (Acts 5:11). In David’s case, the consequences he experienced after being forgiven by God served as a warning to the entire nation that even the king was not above the price of sin in the flesh. Thus, consequences serve as a powerful deterrent in a society, church, or family.
Consequences may serve as justice for someone who cannot speak
Who speaks for Uriah in the entire story of 2 Samuel 11-12? Sometimes our sins quiet the innocent, and the penalties serve not only ourselves and those who observe, but also the silent victims. David was not to be enriched through his sin, and every future consequence would serve as a memorial to the innocent, betrayed Uriah.
Consequences can help break the hold sin has on us
“In my book Say Goodbye to Regret, I tell about a man named Jack who came to me for counseling. He had been involved in an emotional affair with a coworker for several years but had finally broken it off. Although the affair was over, Jack was still suffering the effects of a failed business and a broken trust with his wife. ‘If God has truly forgiven me’, he wanted to know, ‘why do I keep suffering the consequences of my sin?’ I suggested that Jack view these consequences in a different light. ‘Jack, how likely are you to get involved with another woman?’ ‘Every time I see another woman I want to run in the opposite direction. I never want to go through that pain again’. ‘Do you think you would feel that way if you had not had this affair and suffered the consequences?’ ‘No, I’ve always been kind of a flirt and had trouble in my moral life’. ‘So, in a way, this whole experience with your coworker has inoculated you against any future affair?’” (Jeffress p. 100). While this might not always work, what we need to realize is that experiencing consequences might be the best chance to finally break a sinful cycle. If they had never come upon us, we might never have been shocked and realized our tremendous need for change. “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Thy word” (Psalm 119:67).
Similarly, Paul writes, “I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus” (1 Corinthians 5:5). The man in question had become a cancer to the church in Corinth. Not only was his sin (morally unacceptable marriage) a detriment to himself, but it was beginning to infect the rest of the church (5:2, 6-8). Withdrawal is simply a formal declaration by the visible community of what has already taken place invisibly: that this man has abandoned God for Satan. A keyword here is “may”. It is no guarantee that his soul would be saved by such a drastic action, but it is a hoped-for result. While many see ostracizing as a harsh or unfair treatment of a sinning Christian, it may be the only step left for a person engrossed in sin (Matthew 18:17).
Remember What You Have Escaped
Instead of being upset or discouraged over lingering consequences, we should be grateful that we are even alive to suffer them. There have been times that God has not given such gracious time for self-reflection and correction (Acts 5:1ff, 2 Samuel 6:6-7). The penalty for many sins in the Old Testament was immediate execution by either stoning or hanging (Exodus 22:18, Leviticus 24:15-16, Exodus 22:20, Leviticus 20:27, Leviticus 18:19, etc.). “Grace means that God, in forgiving you, does not kill you (Romans 1:32). Grace means that God, in forgiving you, gives you the strength to endure the consequences. Grace frees us so that we can obey our Lord. View those consequences as a gift designed to keep you close to the Father who loves you” (Jeffress pp. 104, 105).
While frustration with consequences might be natural, look back on the direction your sin was taking you and seriously consider whether things have turned out better or worse. Would you have lived longer had you stayed on that path? Would your relationships be better if the lies and cover-ups had gone on normally? Would you really be in a better place emotionally or psychologically if your sinful actions had continued without interruption? In our stubbornness and ignorance we make ourselves slaves of the devil, “held captive by him to do his will” (2 Timothy 2:24-26). And even as we suffer through the consequences of our sins, the refining fire of that experience actually leaves us feeling stronger, cleaner, healthier, and more mature.
Do Not Abuse Grace
There is a tendency, even as we are dealing with our consequences, to blame others and minimize our sins. We do this by bringing up other people’s real or imagined shortcomings. “The confession that begins, ‘You know, both of us share some blame for this problem, and I’m willing to accept my share if you will’, is doomed from the beginning” (Jeffress, p. 162). I recall more than once witnessing Christians coming forward to confess a sin before the congregation, only to word the confession so carefully that it almost becomes an anti-confession. We say things like “If I’ve offended anybody, it was not intended” or “We all have struggles and ways we need to improve.” These are not confessions or apologies, they are deflections. It is important to recognize how imperative it is to “own up” to what we have done, or else forgiveness will be withheld by God. “If we say we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves…If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness…” (1 John 1:8-10).
It is also important to identify the wrong that has been done. Do not hide behind vague generalizations such as “I haven’t been the kind of Christian/parent/husband that I should be.” Acknowledge what you have done and get to work dealing with it. Unless we are willing and able to own up to it by name, we are not really ready to root it out. Stare your sin in the face and confront it, because eventually it will come out. I am reminded of the way the prophet Nathan spoke to David in 2 Samuel 12:10-14. He was specific and uncensored. In Genesis 18:15, God refused to let Sarah deflect the reality of her lack of faith. Do not be scared of confession and the physical consequences that follow, for there is a more terrifying consequence for the unrepentant (Revelation 21:8).
