Today's readings are Psalm 51.1-9, Joshua 7.1-26, and Acts 10.34-48.
We read today how God pours out the Holy Spirit, but he does it in two different ways in our readings. In Joshua we see the terror of the coming of God. He has identified the person who was tempted and disobeyed the specific command of God to the soldiers who invaded Jericho. This man who turned his back on God is confronted by his sin, is brought to repentance, and yet dies, reaping the fruit of his sin. In Acts we see the liberation of the Holy Spirit. As the people of Cornelius' household are repentant, they receive the Gospel with joy and believe on Jesus, who has died in their place. The Holy Spirit falls upon them, causing them to speak in tongues and praise God. What's the difference between these two events? Jesus has died in our place. He has paid the penalty for sin. While sin still brings death, that death rests on our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Does this mean that Christians who are repentant do not die as a result of their sin? Not at all. In both the Old and New Testament we see that sometimes people who are confronted with sin die, sometimes they do not. What we can have confidence in, though, is that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has paid the penalty for sin. As we are confronted by the Holy Spirit, realize our sin, and repent of it, we also receive the comfort of the Gospel. Our sin has been atoned for by the person and work of Jesus. We do not have to bear our sin any more.
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