The Lie of Separation (Does God Distance Himself When We Sin Part 2)
Last time we discussed the teaching that sin separates us from God. We talked about Jesus becoming sin and how it looked like the Father and Holy Spirit forsook Him on the cross. The fear that comes from this type of thinking is that if Jesus was forsaken by the Father and never sinned, what chance do we have of not being forsaken when we know we have sinned? If you have not read Part 1, you will want to do so first.
Intro:
Fear grips you after sinning. Did God abandon you, just like He seemingly forsook Jesus on the cross? This teaching explores the liberating truth: separation from God is a lie planted by the enemy (the lie of separation). Dive into scripture to discover your true identity – chosen, holy, and eternally loved. Unravel the ancient lie and step into the freedom of knowing God is always near, waiting with open arms.
God Never Abandons You
Let’s go back to a very juicy scripture. Hebrews 13:5b (AMPC) says:
…or He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor [let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]
He says THREE times “I will not, I will not, I will not”
- In any degree
- Leave you helpless
- Forsake you
- Let you down
- Relax my hold on you
- Assuredly not!
The word says that God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world. Ephesians 1:4 (NKJV) says:
4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.
How can our choice to sin be more powerful to separate us than God’s choice to unite ourselves with Him before He sent us to planet earth?
The Ancient Lie of Separation
So, why does it feel like God is so far away when we sin?
Truly, the lie of separation only exists in our minds. And it is an ancient lie that stemmed from the fall of Adam.
Genesis 3:8-10 (AMPC) says after Adam and his wife sinned,
8 And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.
9 But the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, Where are you?
10 He said, I heard the sound of You [walking] in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.
Notice God was walking TOWARD his rebellious kids.
His kids were hiding. God was not hiding from them.
Do you think that God was asking where Adam was because He didn’t know where He was?
I believe He was asking Adam so that Adam would locate himself. This could potentially sound like Adam saying,
“I am now hiding, ashamed, naked, and feeling separate from the God I’ve always known as a loving, safe, and joyous Companion and Provider.
This didn’t happen, but I just love God’s response to Adam in Genesis 3:11 (AMPC):
11 And He said, Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?
Who Told You You Were Naked?
God knew He created Adam and Eve in His image and likeness – perfect just like Himself, clothed in the fullness of His glory.
How did Adam and Eve see themselves – sinful, shameful, and naked?
I believe God asked if they ate the fruit to give them a chance to confess and own their sin. Instead, they blame-shifted.
They were sucked into a delusion of separation from God and acted accordingly. They forgot their original design – in the image and likeness of the One Who created them.
To them, God was to be feared and distrusted. He was now seen as an enemy.
Holy by Original Design
So, back to us.
We were born into the fallen mindsets of the first Adam.
Was that our original design?
Absolutely not!
As descendants of Jesus, we were restored to the image and likeness of God (1 Corinthians 15:49). But to REALLY connect with our original design, we have to go back before Genesis, before the world was created.
Ephesians 1:4 (AMPC) says:
4 Even as [in His love] He chose us [actually picked us out for Himself as His own] in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy (consecrated and set apart for Him) and blameless in His sight, even above reproach, before Him in love.
What does this passage say we were made to be before the foundation of the world?
- Chosen in love
- Chosen in Christ
- Picked out for Himself as His own
- Holy, consecrated, blameless in His sight
- Above reproach
- Before Him in love
Furthermore, 1 John 4:17 (AMPC) says:
17 In this [union and communion with Him] love is brought to completion and attains perfection with us, that we may have confidence for the day of judgment [with assurance and boldness to face Him], because as He is, so are we in this world.
You are JUST LIKE CHRIST right now IN this world!
Is God an Enemy of Sinners?
The word says that we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).
We are aware of our sin – we are sin conscious, just as Adam was.
The sin issue is a fallen identity issue that needed to be taken care of via the cross. One of the very real objectives of the cross is to reconcile humanity back to a Father, Who never set Himself as an enemy to humanity.
Christ died to change mankind’s mind about the Father, not to change the Father’s mind about mankind.
Check out this loaded scripture:
Colossians 1:20-22 (TPT) says:
20 And by the blood of his cross, everything in heaven and earth is brought back to himself—back to its original intent, restored to innocence again!
21–22 Even though you were once distant from him, living in the shadows of your evil thoughts and actions, he reconnected you back to himself. He released his supernatural peace to you through the sacrifice of his own body as the sin-payment on your behalf so that you would dwell in his presence. And now there is nothing between you and Father God, for he sees you as holy, flawless, and restored,
Notice the language:
- You were once distant FROM Him – He was NOT distant from you
- He reconnected YOU back to HIM. He did not reconnect Himself back to you
- YOUR evil thoughts and actions distanced YOU from HIM; your evil thoughts and actions didn’t distance HIM from YOU
- God sees you innocent, holy, flawless and restored
- There is nothing between you and Father God
Other translations bring out the nuance that we made God our enemy, and that in our fallen identity and mindsets because we loved wickedness.
People who sin have forgotten their original design as holy, flawless, innocent and whole.
God is not the enemy of “sinners”. Those who sin have made God out to be their enemy in their minds. God moves toward people in their sin, not away.
Even the angels declared at Christ’s birth, “Peace on earth goodwill TOWARDS men!” (Luke 2:14).
This is good news. This is the gospel!
But there’s more to savor on this topic, and we will do so in the next installment.
Key Takeaways:
- God never abandons you, regardless of your sin.
- The feeling of separation is based on a false belief, stemming from Adam and Eve’s fall.
- You were originally created holy and blameless, chosen by God before time began.
- Christ’s sacrifice reconciled us to God, who never saw us as enemies.
- We, not God, create the distance through our fallen mindsets.
- God is always moving towards you, offering love and forgiveness.
XO,
Catherine
