According to the bible, all of us are called sinners who received the death penalty because of the sin we committed.
Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned.
Nobody is free from sin and everyone is a sinner. Again, David said:
Psalms 14:1 Only fools think there is no God.
People like that are evil and do terrible things.
They never do what is right.
2 The Lord looks down from heaven
to see if there is anyone who is wise,
anyone who looks to him for help.
3 But everyone has gone the wrong way.
Everyone has turned bad.
No one does anything good.
No, not one person!
Again and again God teaches us through the bible that everyone committed sins and no one is free from sins.
The Weight of the Sin
Then where did we sin and how big or grave the sin was? It is the sin we committed on this earth or the sins we committed in heaven? We can find the answer through the punishment we must receive for the sins. According to the bible, the sin we committed is not small or minor, but a big and grievous one. The true weight of our sins can be scaled by the punishment sentenced to us.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Then sentence given to us for the sin is the death penalty. If the sin is the one we committed on this earth, it does not seems to make any sense at all because a baby or young child who did not committed any crimes or sins also dies. So we can see that the sins we committed must be the ones we had done in the spiritual world, not in this physical world. And we can feel the sheer weight of the sin through the penalty given to us. Even though we do not remember and we cannot see because we got blinded by the sins, by the punishment or wage of the sin we can know clearly that the sin was not small. Because of the sentence, each one of us can be sure that we will die at one point in the future. For some it is soon, or for others it it late; but sooner or later death comes to everybody.
The Sins We Committed
Then what were the sins we committed in heaven? This can be found in the description of the two exemplary cases of sinners who once lived on this earth: the king of Tyre and Babylon. In the Book of Ezekiel God teaches us that because of the sins he committed the King of Tyre who had been once a beautiful angel in heaven was driven out from heaven to this earth. (Ezekiel 28:12-17) And also in the Book of Isaiah, through the king of Babylon God teaches us the sins the angels committed from heaven.
Isaiah 14:12 How you have fallen from heaven,
morning star, son of the dawn!
You have been cast down to the earth,
you who once laid low the nations!
13 You said in your heart,
“I will ascend to the heavens;
I will raise my throne
above the stars of God;
I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly,
on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon.
14 I will ascend above the tops of the clouds;
I will make myself like the Most High.”
15 But you are brought down to the realm of the dead,
to the depths of the pit.
The bible says that the king of Babylon was once an angel in heaven, but he was cast down to this earth, a spiritual prison for the sinners just like us. And the bible continues to explain about the sins he committed in heaven: that is, rebellion. He tried to put himself in the position of the Most High or God and because of this rebellion he was driven out from heaven and bound on this earth until the death penalty got executed for him in the time of his death. And the bible teaches that this was the sins of everybody who lives on this earth.
Just like the king of Tyre and Babylon, we were once in heaven as beautiful angels, but we rebelled against God and fought against the Most High. Finally, being defeated, we were cast down to this earth and are living the life of prisoners going through many hardships and difficulties. Then how can we define the sins we committed? Rebellion is to deny the previous order and tries to establish a new order by destroying the previous one by force. Simply, we can say that a rebellion is the denial of the law given by the ruler and in this sense a rebellion is a law-breaking. In heaven the king or God gave his laws and regulations to keep the order, but some angels broke the laws of God and rebelled against him. This story is recorded in many places in the bible in the form of parable. We have already seen the stories of the king of Tyre and Babylon.
Also, we can see the original rebellion of the angels against God in the form of parable. In the story of Adam and Eve, the Garden of Eden represents heaven as we can see in the Book of Ezekiel, and Adam and Eve the angels in heaven. To the angels God gave one command and one law: Do not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Because they were deceived by the Devil or Snake, however, the angels broke the law of God and tries to “be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:1-5) Because of this rebellion, they got cast out from the Eden and became a restless wanderers on this earth.
The place where we can find the rebellion of the angels most clearly is from the Book of Revelation.
Revelation 12:7 Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. 8 But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. 9 The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.
In this war in heaven, we can see the Satan and his followers waging a war against God and they got defeated and cast down to this earth, the spiritual prison.
The Payment for a Rebellion
Then what was the payment for the rebellion? The bible teaches us that this earthly system was made to reflect the system in heaven. On this earth when a man rebels against the ruler or king, he could be put to death immediately. Even nowadays the situation is similar not only in a totalitarian system, but also in a democratic system. For example, in the United States which is called the symbol of democracy and freedom, there is still a death penalty. And one of the case in which a criminal can be given the capital punishment is a treason or a rebellion against the government.
Through this law on this earth as copy and shadow, we can understand that in heaven there must be a similar law. Some angel, however, broke the heavenly laws and rebelled against God. Later, they failed and sent to a prison (or the earth). They have to stay in this prison until their sentence is cleared out and executed. This is the destiny given to everybody on this earth. For this reason, the bible defines the sin very clearly.
1 John 3:4 Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. 5 But you know that he (or Christ) appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. 6 No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.
The bible says the sin we committed was breaking the heavenly laws of God; and therefore, sin is lawlessness or law-breaking. Because of this sins, we are given the death-penalty. But the bible says that we can be forgiven of our sins through Christ. Who is the Christ who can give us the forgiveness of sins and how? In this earth, when a man was caught for treason, how is the one who can give the forgiveness? It is only the ruler or the king of the nation whom they rebelled against. Through the mercy and grace of the king, they could be forgiven. It is the same spiritually. Since we committed sins against God, it is only through the grace and mercy of God can we receive the forgiveness of sins. But the bible says that we can be forgiven of our sins through Christ. Then who should be Christ? He must be God himself who can forgiven of our sins.
Luke 5:20 When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.” 21 The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, “Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 22 Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? 23 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 24 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” 25 Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. 26 Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.”
By saying that the Son of Man (Jesus himself) has authority on earth to forgive sins, Jesus was saying that He is God himself. God left heaven and came down to this earth to a spiritual prison for wretched sinners to give us the forgiveness of sins so that we can go back to the kingdom of heaven. Out of ignorance, however, people rejected their God and rebelled against him over again by picking up stones and hurling insults and spitting on him. They lost their chance for salvation.
Christ Ahnsahnghong, God Coming as Man for the Second Time
Now in our time, God came down to this earth again for the second time to give us the forgiveness of sins. Once we broke the laws of God and committed sins. Because of the sins we are given the death penalty. Now God came again in the name of Christ Ahnsahnghong and restored the laws of the new covenant so that we can be forgiven of our sins through his flesh and blood and to receive eternal life through the laws of God.
However, people in this world, out of their complete ignorance to the laws of God, denies Christ Ahnsahnghong and do not keep the laws of God, committing sins by breaking the laws again. Now is the time for us to know the laws of God and should obey the laws. The bible teaches us one truth through which we can be forgiven of our sins and the death penalty can be lifted up from us: the law of the new covenant.
Matthew 26:26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” 27 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
God came down to us and gave us the forgiveness of the sins for the second time. Now let us leave the way of the lawlessness and obey the laws of God. In this way, we can receive eternal life and go back to the kingdom of heaven to the eternal glory.