|
Love and Justice
by Lani W. Finley
"Wherefore, as by
one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed
upon all men, for that all have sinned" (Rom 5:12). Yes, we all find
ourselves plagued with this same fatal disease. The wages of sin is death
(Rom 6: 23) and sin is the transgression of God's laws (1 Jn 3: 4). The
scriptures tell us that, "...all have sinned, and come short of the glory
of God" (Rom 3:23). Therefore, every human being owes a debt of sin that
they are unable to pay.
Why can't God just
forgive us, excuse our transgressions and overlook them? After all,
doesn't God understand that we have to fight against invisible wicked
spirits that have great power? "For we wrestle not against flesh and
blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of
the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places"
(Eph 6:12). In addition, doesn't God understand that we possess a natural
tendency to desire things that are forbidden? "Because the mind set on the
flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of
God, for it is not even able {to do so} (Rom 8:7-8 NAS). So, why can't God
just give us forgive us, and give let us have a break?
The answer to this
question lies in the essence of God's character. He is a God of love, but
He is also a God of uncompromising justice. His word cannot be broken! The
scriptures tell us that the "wages of sin is death." Therefore, the sins
of man created a dilemma for God. How could He be known as a God of love,
but still enforce the death penalty of sin?
God's ultimate love
and wisdom prevailed, the solution was found in the cross. The apostle
John reminds us that the cross is the sign of God's love for mankind.
"For God
so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John
3:16).
The apostle Paul
explains how the cross is also God's remedy for maintaining His honor and
promise of justice.
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
24and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that
came by Christ Jesus. 25God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement,
through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice,
because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand
unpunished-- 26he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present
time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith
in Jesus (Rom 3:23-26 NIV).
It was by the
punishment of Jesus Christ that God was able to demonstrate His absolute
love without compromising His justice. Jesus received the full punishment
for our sins, in order to satisfy the demands of the law.
He
was the innocent Lamb of God, who paid a sin-debt He did not owe, because
we owed a sin-debt we could not pay. Jesus paid our debt,
and for that reason, the justice that God's Word demanded was never
compromised.
We should be extremely grateful for God's justice, because it shows us His
trustworthiness. If we cannot have trust in His promise of
justice, how can we have trust in His promises of mercy and grace?
It is important to understand, that my reference to the word cross is not
speaking directly to the apparatus upon which Jesus was crucified. The
device used to bring death to our Savior is not the important issue. It is
the act of Christ's crucifixion, upon the cross, that should be the center
of our attention. We should be careful never to worship the instrument of
His death. In reality, the cross was an instrument of torture, devised by
pagan societies and used by the Roman government to punish criminals. Our
worship should be focused upon our Savior, who was fastened to the wooden
members and suffered the painful consequences of our transgressions. It is
the act of the crucifixion that gives life to the unsaved and makes
payment for our debt of sin. Our salvation rests in Jesus alone, not in
the tool that was used to slay Him. Back to beginning of
booklet
|
