John 20:26-29 English Standard Version (ESV)

²⁶ Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” ²⁷ Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” ²⁸ Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” ²⁹ Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

There we are in that last sentence. We have not seen His hand, we have not touched His wounds. We believe and we are blessed to believe. If anyone should ask: “Why do you believe?” Do you have an answer?

I have been asked and I have answered and I have been called a liar. That hurts beyond measure because I was honest, sincere, and kind. When you care about people and they call you a liar, it places you into that category of children of the liar, Satan.

John 8:44 (ESV) You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

There is something rather disturbing about those who accuse us of being in league with Satan. The first is that they believe there is a Satan. The second is that they do not recognize his lies.

Romans 1:25a (ESV) because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie…

2 Corinthians 11:14 (ESV) And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.

How many angelic messengers where believed to be from God but were Satan in disguise?

Hebrews 12:6 (ESV) For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.

Yesterday I left you with the thought that the demands of all is removed from the greatest commandment. Here in this opening verse I would point out again the need for relationship. Jesus disciplines and chastises those He has received unto Himself. That is key to the understanding of how all does not fit into the commandment any longer.

Our understanding of the atoning work of the Cross of Christ is in the forgiveness of sin. Sin regardless of forgiveness has consequences. Those consequences are not unto death and now that we belong to the Lord His judgment is the only one that matters.

Jesus took upon Himself the sins of all mankind for all time at the Cross. It is the only way that He could become the Lord of both the living and the dead.

Romans 14:9 (ESV) For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.

When He took on our sin He also took on the reasons behind those sins. For those who are not His, their sins lay upon them. For those that belong to Jesus Christ His humanity understands why we got caught up in those sins. A just God takes into consideration all the evidence. Discipline and chastisement are based on all the evidence not just the sin. The Cross of Christ allows Him to temper judgment with mercy and grace but as surely as we sin, consequences will follow.

We are encouraged at every turn to avoid sin. We should not look at His atoning work as a get out of jail free card. It is not. Disciple and chastisement will come because He loves us. Then He says once again, “Go and sin no more.” The encouragement comes because we need it.

Luke 7:47 (ESV) Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.”

Another way of looking at this is to love the Lord a little more after each forgiveness of sin. We may never get to the point where our humanity can love with all, but we can all love a little more.