The Painful and Ugly Truth About Sin

Then David confessed to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” Nathan replied, “Yes, but the LORD has forgiven you, and you won’t die for this sin. Nevertheless, because you have shown utter contempt for the word of the LORD by doing this, your child will die.” [2 Samuel 12.13-14]

The implications of this passage of Scripture are huge.

It is noteworthy the God forgave David but the child still died. David was forgiven but the baby died. That sure seems unfair by today's cultural and social standards. The painful and ugly truth about sin is revealed here.

While we usually think of spiritual fruit in a positive light, Jesus gave some insight about the fruit of our lives: 

I tell you, the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation that will produce the proper fruit. [Matthew 21.43]

If there is proper fruit, then there must necessarily be improper fruit.

Nothing speaks more of the fruit of human life than a baby. For this reason, marriage and sexual purity are important to God. The Bible is not vague regarding God's opinion on these subjects. Therefore David's sin with Bathsheba yielded improper fruit.

While David was indeed forgiven, as attested to by Nathan in 2 Samuel 12.14 (Psalm 51 reveals David's repentance), the fruit David produced by his sin carried on. The stronghold created through David's sexual sin passed to the child's life thus allowing the destroyer, Satan, to kill him (independently of David's sin and forgiveness). Otherwise, David's repentance and subsequent forgiveness would have saved the child.

I have never given much credibility to "generational sin" until today. And, in regard to this story of David's transgression, it is, all at once, a humbling and devastating thought.

In addition the the immediate death of David's illegitimate child, the improper fruit of David's actions manifested in his other children as well. Yes, David was forgiven, but the proverbial "Pandora's Box" of improper fruit was flung open.

Our first account of this spiritual generational principle was witnessed in the Garden of Eden. The sin of Adam and Eve brought judgment upon the entire human race in their seed. Forgiveness became necessary on a universal scale.

The truth of the Gospel is indeed as Jesus said it was:

It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’ [Luke 24.47]

Here is a deep thought relative to why we are told to forgive: We are all accountable for our own sin. However, the curse of sin and death upon mankind that begun with Adam and Eve is also ours to be accountable for. Therefore, our need for 'personal' forgiveness is only satisfied when we forgive those who initiated and carried on that sin (in other words, everyone).

But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins. [Matthew 6.15]

I didn't see this post becoming about us forgiving others, ...but there it is.

Father, help me to see the devastating effect of sin that literally works like a virus in mankind. May I be found repentant, but may I also be found forgiving. Just like Jesus said...