Joel
Revelation 5
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23
What are two things in the character of God that makes the cross of Christ necessary? From the title of this devotion, we may have guessed them—justice and mercy. Justice is giving people what they deserve, whereas mercy is not giving people what they deserve. If God is both just and merciful, how could He give people what they deserve and not give people what they deserve? Justice and mercy are actually incompatible with each other.
Suppose we were driving our car at 100km/hr on a road with a 60km/hr limit. We get caught by the police and have to appear at court. In the courtroom, we are asked, “Did you drive your car at 100km/hr in an area restricted to 60km/hr?” We honestly reply, “Yes, your Honour. I am guilty of it.” Now, the judge has a decision to make: he could either act justly and give us a fine or he could act mercifully and release us. No matter what the judge decides, he could not do both. In other words, if he were to fine us, he could not be merciful and let us go freely; if he did let us go freely, he could not do justice by giving us a fine.
There is only one way for justice and mercy to be brought together and that is by the introduction of a third party. Returning to our example, suppose the judge fines us $1,000, but we say, “I don’t have the money.” A friend then walks into the courtroom and asks us what the verdict is, we answer, “I am guilty, so I am fined $1,000 for what I did.” The friend then walks over to the clerk of the court and hands him $1,000 cash to pay for our fine. As we leave the courtroom, the court record says we are guilty of breaking the speeding limit, but the fine has been paid. As far as the court is concerned, justice has been done. Yet, we walk out of the court as a recipient of mercy. Why? Because a third party has been introduced into the scenario that satisfied the Justice of the Court on our behalf so that we, as a guilty person, could walk out as a recipient of mercy.
Returning to the opening question, God, in His justice, determines that the fine for our sins is death. Yet, we do not have to pay the price because the death of Jesus Christ on the cross was enough to satisfy the justice of God. It is because of Christ that we are recipients of mercy and are forgiven of our sins.
Dear Jesus, thank You for satisfying the justice of God by dying on the cross on my behalf. I do not deserve Your mercy. May I never treat Your gift of salvation lightly. Amen!
Revelation 5
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23
What are two things in the character of God that makes the cross of Christ necessary? From the title of this devotion, we may have guessed them—justice and mercy. Justice is giving people what they deserve, whereas mercy is not giving people what they deserve. If God is both just and merciful, how could He give people what they deserve and not give people what they deserve? Justice and mercy are actually incompatible with each other.
Suppose we were driving our car at 100km/hr on a road with a 60km/hr limit. We get caught by the police and have to appear at court. In the courtroom, we are asked, “Did you drive your car at 100km/hr in an area restricted to 60km/hr?” We honestly reply, “Yes, your Honour. I am guilty of it.” Now, the judge has a decision to make: he could either act justly and give us a fine or he could act mercifully and release us. No matter what the judge decides, he could not do both. In other words, if he were to fine us, he could not be merciful and let us go freely; if he did let us go freely, he could not do justice by giving us a fine.
There is only one way for justice and mercy to be brought together and that is by the introduction of a third party. Returning to our example, suppose the judge fines us $1,000, but we say, “I don’t have the money.” A friend then walks into the courtroom and asks us what the verdict is, we answer, “I am guilty, so I am fined $1,000 for what I did.” The friend then walks over to the clerk of the court and hands him $1,000 cash to pay for our fine. As we leave the courtroom, the court record says we are guilty of breaking the speeding limit, but the fine has been paid. As far as the court is concerned, justice has been done. Yet, we walk out of the court as a recipient of mercy. Why? Because a third party has been introduced into the scenario that satisfied the Justice of the Court on our behalf so that we, as a guilty person, could walk out as a recipient of mercy.
Returning to the opening question, God, in His justice, determines that the fine for our sins is death. Yet, we do not have to pay the price because the death of Jesus Christ on the cross was enough to satisfy the justice of God. It is because of Christ that we are recipients of mercy and are forgiven of our sins.
Dear Jesus, thank You for satisfying the justice of God by dying on the cross on my behalf. I do not deserve Your mercy. May I never treat Your gift of salvation lightly. Amen!
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