As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.
John 9:1-3For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Colossians 1:13-14
On December 8th, I shared an update with some very powerful verses related to the matter of generational sin and its consequences.
Now, as Paul Harvey would say, here is the “rest of the story” ….
The thread of continuity throughout scripture speaks emphatically that Jesus the Son of God, bore ALL of our sins on the cross.
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
2 Corinthians 5:21
Why did Jesus become sin ….?
The answer is so that we would become the righteousness of God in Christ.
Now, follow this logic and series of verses ….
Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
John 19:28-30
It is prophesied that Jesus would drink vinegar or sour wine:
They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.
Psalm 69:21
What is the significance of the sour wine? Why is this detail given in all four gospel accounts? The detail is there to show us that because of Jesus’ redemptive work on the cross, no more shall our sons pay for the sins of their fathers.
In those days people will no longer say, ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge. Instead, everyone will die for his own sin; whoever eats sour grapes — his own teeth will be set on edge.
Jeremiah 31:29-30
There was a time when children would pay for the sins of their fathers. This is no longer the case. Jesus took those curses upon Himself. What a Savior! He left nothing unaccounted for. He took it all …. for us …. on the cross …. and is that not Good News?
We look to the cross. We look to Jesus. As followers of Christ we are under the new covenant of grace. We are individually accountable to Him.
Fathers shall not be put to death because of their children, nor shall children be put to death for their fathers. Each one shall be put to death for their own sin.
Deuteronomy 24:16Behold the days are coming declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah …. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
Jeremiah 31:31-34
Why have I shared in this way ….?
Is the season that we’re spending in prayer, fasting and confession of no avail ….?
John McArthur has written powerful commentary on the topic of generational sin:
“Moses made it clear that children were not punished for the sins of their parents (Deuteronomy 24:16), but children would feel the impact of breaches of God’s law by their parent’s generation as a natural consequence of its disobedience, its hatred of God. Children reared in such an environment would imbibe and then practice similar idolatry, thus themselves expressing hateful disobedience. The difference in consequence served as both a warning and a motivation. The effect of a disobedient generation was to plant wickedness so deeply that it took several generations to reverse.”
I am a pretty simple guy and this is how I rationalize all of this. Heartfelt prayer and supplication before a Holy God are a matter of sanctification and consecration …. not salvation.
We long for Him; we long for His intervention in every aspect of our lives.
As a deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O Lord.
Psalm 42:1
I encourage you to muse and meditate on the words SANCTIFICATION and CONSECRATION …. In other words, how are they defined, what do they mean, and how are they applied to my life?
If our life purpose is a growing desire to be conformed to His image, becoming like Him, even unto death, then all of the spiritual disciplines we practice help us deepen and broaden our intimacy with Christ.
For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Colossians 1:13-14
Caminando con Fé
Dave
