What do you think? Can they back up that statement with scripture?
OK, here we go.
over•look
1 : to look over : INSPECT
2 a : to look down upon from above b : to rise above or afford a view of
3 a : to look past : MISS b : IGNORE 1 c : EXCUSE 2
Which definition do we think this church is using? If it is one of the first two, then I would say the sign is correct. But in the context of the sentence it is used in I would have to guess they meant the third one. If that is the case then I would say the sign is not only wrong but dangerously misleading. To say that God overlooks our faults is practically a license to sin for a world looking for a loophole in God’s law. God does not “overlook” our faults, He sees them:
“The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time.” Genesis 6:5 (NIV)
God is patient (thankfully) with our sin but his patience in not indefinite:
“Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance? But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. God "will give to each person according to what he has done." To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.” Romans 2:4-8 (NIV)
When God does not look at us it is a bad thing:
“But your iniquities have separated you from your God;
your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear. Isaiah 59:2 (NIV)
We should hope God still sees us so that He will still help us. What God did for us because of our sin could hardly be called overlooking it (see John 3:16). A better phrase may be “God looks at our faults and sees our need” And what is our need? To be rescued from the wrath of God because of our sin:
“For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit.” 1 Peter 3:18 (NIV)
Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. “Hebrews 9:27-28 (NIV)”
Looking back at definition #2 I guess we could say that Jesus did overlook our faults, hanging from a cross.
