The Paradox of God's Justice: Justifying the Ungodly

God's Justice and Justification: The Greatest News in the World

Have you ever considered the incredible paradox of God's justice? He is wholly just, yet he justifies the ungodly. How can a just judge acquit the guilty? This is the greatest news in the world, and it is revealed to us in Romans 3:25-26.

In these verses, we learn that God put Jesus forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This act of propitiation demonstrates God's righteousness. But why was it necessary? It was necessary because of God's divine forbearance. In his mercy, God had passed over the sins of humanity in the past. But in order to show his righteousness, he needed to address those sins. And so, he sent Jesus as the ultimate sacrifice.

Jesus, who knew no sin, was made to be sin for us. He took our sin upon himself, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21). This is the heart of the gospel message. God, in his love and mercy, condemned sin in the flesh of Jesus, who bore our sins on the cross (Romans 8:3, 1 Peter 2:24).

But why did Jesus have to suffer and die? Why did the righteous have to suffer for the unrighteous? The answer lies in God's desire to bring us back to himself. Through Christ's sacrifice, he made a way for us to be reconciled to him. As we are united with Christ in his death, we are also united with him in his resurrection (Romans 6:5). This is the hope and promise of the gospel.

The gospel is the good news that God has decreed and enacted a way of salvation that upholds the worth of his glory, the honor of his Son, and the eternal salvation of his elect. It is the news that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners (1 Timothy 1:15).

Think about the implications of this news. We, as sinners, have fallen under the condemnation of our Creator. We deserve his righteous wrath. But God, in his mercy, has provided a way for us to be justified, to be declared righteous in his sight. This is the incredible truth of justification by faith in Jesus Christ.

When we place our faith in Jesus, when we trust in his sacrifice on the cross, God declares us righteous. He looks at us and sees the righteousness of Christ. And not only does he justify us, but he also justifies himself in doing so. He remains wholly just, even as he acquits the guilty.

This is a profound mystery, but it is a mystery that brings hope and joy to those who believe. It is a mystery that reveals the depths of God's love and mercy. It is a mystery that invites us to come to God with confidence, knowing that we are forgiven and accepted.

So, what does all of this mean for us? It means that we can have assurance of salvation. We can know that our sins are forgiven and that we have been reconciled to God. It means that we can approach God with boldness, knowing that we have been justified by faith in Jesus Christ.

But it also means that we have a responsibility. As those who have been justified, we are called to live lives that reflect the righteousness of Christ. We are called to walk in obedience to God's commands, not as a means of earning our salvation, but as a response to the grace that has been lavished upon us.

In conclusion, the gospel is the greatest news in the world. It is the news that God, in his justice and mercy, has provided a way for us to be justified, to be declared righteous in his sight. It is the news that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. It is the news that brings hope, joy, and assurance. May we never cease to marvel at the incredible truth of God's justice and justification.