Daily Archive

Isaiah 26:21 NLT Look! The Lord is coming from heaven to punish the people of the earth for their sins. The earth will no longer hide those who have been killed. They will be brought out for all to see.

If this scripture is taken out of context, believers will think God will punish us for our sins. This leads people into thinking they must be flawless or else God will punish them with sickness, early death, car crashes, etc. They’ll try to be righteous through their works instead of relying on the righteousness we receive through Christ.

This scripture above is Isaiah prophetically speaking about unsaved individuals. Unsaved people have chosen to reject the payment of sins. By them rejecting the payment for sin (Jesus’ sacrifice), punishment is still owed to them.

Isaiah 53:6 says, all of us were like sheep that had wandered off. We had each gone our own way, but the Lord gave Him the punishment we deserved. Those who are saved (made Jesus Lord and Savior) have accepted the payment for sin. They believe (or should believe) that our punishment was put on Jesus.

That’s why in the next chapter, God boldly states through Isaiah, “Just as I swore in the time of Noah that I would never again let a flood cover the earth, so now I swear that I will never again be angry and punish you (Isaiah 54:9).

For believers, the punishment has already been paid. For unbelievers, punishment is still owed to them. So, stop thinking God is about to punish a believer for sin. The payment for sin has been dealt with. Unbelievers, receive the payment for sin and the righteousness through Jesus (Rom. 3:21-31).