First, I want to make it crystal clear: sin is evil and its wages is death.
No question about it.
Now, let us also bear in mind that God hates sin, so much so that He sent His Son Jesus to die for the sin and sins of man.
Yes, there needs to be a clear distinction about this.
Sin is a noun, a status forced upon all mankind because of the First Adam.
Yet the Second Adam died for us and died as us!
All our sins are paid for, and sin in the flesh is fully and forever condemned.
In fact, to this day, Jesus serves as the High Priest Forever, the propitiation/mercy seat for all the sins of the all the world.
The fact is, that all the sins of the world have been fully and forever paid for.
Yet for man to be saved, he needs to recognize that all his sins are paid for, a recognition of the eternal grace of God manifested in Christ.
Man needs life, and the life of Christ cannot live in us if we do not believe that all our sins are forgiven.
Consider what Jesus told Nicodemus:
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3: 16)
Man is dead in his trespasses, and needs life! Jesus came to deal with sin (which causes death) and grant us His life!
So, the world is full of people who are dead in sin. Jesus has taken care of the sin, and every man who believes on Jesus receives His life!
Now, consider also what Jesus said afterwards:
"17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. " (John 3: 17-18)
Jesus came to save the whole world. Notice however that those who do not believe on Jesus are already condemned.
Let's state the facts: the whole world is under condemnation because of sin. The way out? Jesus!
Now, because Jesus has died, has risen again, and sits in glory at the right hand of God the Father, He is the mercy seat, the propitiation for all the sins of the world:
"1My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world." (1 John 2: 1-2)
Jesus has already paid for all the sins of the world.
So, the argument from many preachers today, that God will judge America, or is judging Asia for its sins -- all of that is wrong. That kind of talk makes light of what the blood of Jesus has accomplished - and is accomplishing still.
Consider Abraham, when he prayed for Sodom and Gomorrah:
"22And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD. 23And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?" (Genesis 18: 22-23)
There was one righteous person in Sodom: Lot. If Abraham had plead for "one righteous", then the city would have been spared.
Today, let us recognize that there are still in every country men and women made righteous by the blood of Jesus. Notice also that John writes about "Jesus Christ the righteous" who is our propitiation.
How about that?
Let us also consider what the New Covenant would bring to those who believe on Jesus:
"8In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer.
9For this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee.
10For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee." (Isaiah 54: 8-10)
God has already condemned sin. He is not judging America, even if American Courts are sanctioning the perversion of marriage, or other policies outside of the truth of God's Word.
Now, that does not mean that men and women who reject the grace of God are going to get away with.
As Jesus said, those who do not believe are condemned already. Those who do not believe on Jesus as their Savior, and accept His full, final, and forever payment for all their sins - will die forever.
But let me state this clearly - God is not going to judge America. Americans and all other human beings who do not believe in Jesus, will absorb the terrible consequences of sin because the wages of sin is death.
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