Convicted of Complicity

Bulletin

Dan Peters
12/25/22 - Sin

“A former secretary who worked for the commander of a Nazi concentration camp has been convicted of complicity in the murders of more than 10,500 people. Irmgard Furchner, 97, was taken on as a teenaged shorthand typist at Stutthof and worked there from 1943 to 1945”, as reported by the BBC last week. After reading several news outlets of this story, I began asking myself, “what is the meaning” of this German court’s decision? A part of the meaning is at least this, at the age of 18 & 19, this teenage girl, is guilty, culpable of murder. The court expected her, as a teenager, to sacrifice her job, and leave, for the sake of her conscience.
The apostle Peter is not a German court, but God through Peter had a similar ruling against his own nation. They too were complicit, “whom you crucified”, he says (Acts 2:36). Peter is talking to thousands of Jews, some of them were mere bystanders to the crucifixion of Jesus. I guess this teenage girl, Irmgard, was a bystander too. She could look out her office window and see thousands of prisoners being brought in. Later there was a smell of death for miles around the camp. The judge said, it was "simply beyond all imagination" that she was not aware of the murders going on at the camp.
So too, says Peter of the crucifixion of Jesus. How can you, dear reader, not be aware of your sins, being the cause of the death of Jesus? The Bible makes it clear, "simply beyond all imagination”, that Jesus died, paying the price for our sin. “He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities” (Isaiah. 53:5). All have sinned (Rom. 3:23). But if you are guilty of sin, then woe unto you because you have not sought God's forgiveness. The wrath of God is on you, “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” (John 3:36). Are you willing to “obey the Son” now? Jesus said that you must change your whole life, that is repent. You must start over, be born again. “Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”(John 3:5). After being baptized for the forgiveness of your sins (Acts 2:38), then remain faithful to what Jesus taught his people to do (Mat. 28:20). Jesus taught about the rules of the church you are to be apart of (Matthew 18:12-18). Jesus loves you enough to die for you, will you love him enough to keep his commandments? Dealing with sin is a hard thing to do, just ask Irmgard. After her short life is over, she still must stand before God, and his court, his verdict. So please don’t wait, deal with it now, properly, so you will not have to deal with it later. God is so merciful, if, you seek him in truth and all your heart. Dan Peters