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Lord's Day Liturgy

He Knows

Jesus knows everything. Nothing escapes Him. His knowledge penetrates the hearts of men, all their attitudes, intentions, and imaginations. He also foresees the future, every decision and event yet to come. Because He knows, He cannot be snowed. The Gospels repeatedly report His divine knowledge. He knows more and more truly than all the Internet pages stitched together.

The apostles also preached Jesus’ divine judgment. Speaking to Cornelius in Acts 10, Peter explained that Christ (who is Lord of all, verse 36), “commanded [the apostles] to preach to the people and to testify that [Jesus] is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead” (verse 42). Jesus writes the final sentence for every person.

His divine knowledge and judgment should provide us with at least a couple encouragements. First, we who believe in Christ depend on His omniscient judgment to right every wrong in someway (by fixing or punishing) someday. He knows all the sins we see and stacks of those we don’t. His judgment isn’t an obstacle that prevents our faith, it is an object of our faith. We trust that He will take care of all sin.

Second, Peter refers to the preaching of good news of peace through Jesus (verse 36). The omniscient judge is also the obedient sacrifice. Peter, as the prophets before him, bore witness “that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name” (verse 43). Christian, if you’re forgiven, it’s not because He didn’t know all the sin in your heart or in your future. Don’t fear that He might find something you think He didn’t know about. We confess our sins not because He’s ignorant, but because it helps us to remember that He knows them all and forgives them all.

Categories
Lord's Day Liturgy

The Omniscient Forgiver

Last week we learned of new ways that our government has been collecting data on us. Through web visits and wireless communication they gather and sift our locations, our contacts, our interests. They’ve stuck their collective nose where they shouldn’t, though we’ve given them tacit permission by voting for officials who would make us “safe.” Many Americans are surprised, outraged, and probably nervous about being exposed.

Remember, though, that our God knows not only the words we type and text, but the thoughts and intentions of our hearts. We can’t get off His grid. Wherever we go, He is there, attentive and writing it all down. He misses nothing from no one, Americans included.

What does He do with all that? He judges us. He holds us to account. We cannot vote Him out of office nor can we change His policies.

But, for those who are in Christ, there is no condemnation. Have you gossiped, lusted, lied, been lazy, clicked into bad areas of the Internet? God knows. God sent His Son to die for that. We are naked and exposed in heart before His word but we are also clothed and covered in Jesus.

No one will find out anything about you that Jesus didn’t already know when He went to the cross. He’s your defense now, more informed than any Big Brother. He is God, the Omniscient Forgiver. As a prism separates white light into a spectrum of colors, so the cross refracts our punishment onto Christ.