JUSTICE AND MERCY

There is a great problem that every man and woman must face. And that is, how can a guilty sinner be blessed by a Holy God? Simply put the problem can be stated this way: God is inflexibly holy and just and must eternally punish every sin ever committed while at the same time God inclines toward mercy and yearns to show compassion to guilty sinners. James doesn’t make the problem any easier when he declares ‘‘for whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point he is guilt of all.’ One sin makes us all guilty of every sin. The strictness of this law leaves God’s justice little room to maneuver. Have you sinned, reader? Even the littlest sin will condemn you before the bar of God. If you have told a white lie, God considers you a thief, and adulterer and a liar. If you try to hide from this truth things will only get worse for you. It is best to come forward and face the dilemma head on. How can God show me mercy when I am guilty before Him? No amount of excuse or extenuation or eloquence will quench His sword of justice. God is not like man who routinely perverts justice or lowers the standards of law. In the divine court, if here is sin, any sin, there MUST be divine punishment. Yet the Bible speaks frequently of God’s mercy. Even those who don’t attend church or read their bibles find comfort in this truth. So is there a way that the Holy God who hates sin can show mercy? Psalm 85:10 predicts there will be a place, a place where ‘mercy and truth have met, righteousness and peace have kissed.’ And where is that place? It stands on a hill outside the walls of Jerusalem. It is the most important place in all of human history. Even angels try to understand it better. Yes, this place is the cross where Jesus died. He satisfied justice by paying the price that mankind owed to God the their infinite sins. That price was death. But here was an innocent man dying, a man who deserved not to die for He never sinned. Yet He died. Why? Because on that cross sin was being punished. But it wasn’t Jesus’ sin. He had none. No, he died for the sins of the world; for you and me. And the bible teaches that those who trust that Jesus paid the price for their sins they will immediately experience peace in their souls for God’s justice against them has been satisfied. And when this happens, mercy who has been standing at the door yearning to bless, is free to come in and shower upon men forgiveness and blessing. So it is at the cross, and only at the cross, where the ruthless demands of God’s justice and the tender yearning of God’s mercy have come together and are satisfied. So this is your only hope, reader. I urge you now to trust the One who was beaten and slaughtered on your behalf. For there alone can you find your sins justly punished while also experiencing the great mercy of God. Fall down at this cross and you shall be ever blessed.

A poem I wrote years ago to express the apparent enmity that exists between justice and mercy and how they are reconciled in Jesus Christ.

Mercy and Justice met one day

To claim the sinner who dying lay 

‘He’s mine’ chimed Mercy, his pain’s so great

I yearn to relieve his woeful state

‘No, mine!’ Growled Justice with furrowed eye

‘His crimes demand that he must die.’

So one leftward pulled, while other pulled right

The gargantuan battle endured through the night.

What peace could be found, for such contrary foes

While sinner lay mired in myriad woes?

But then, on a sudden peace filled the land

Mercy and Justice now danced hand in hand

‘I can now extend mercy’ said Justice now blind

‘For the law has been honored and I can be kind.’

‘And I’ declared mercy ‘Can gracious now be

For justice no longer has issue with me.’

So Justice and Mercy laid down the cruel sword

But what, may I ask, could produce such accord?

Did Mercy sway Justice to soon play the fool?

Or lower his standards or alter the rule?

All who knew Justice said ‘never can be’

For his law is inflexible without amnesty.

Yet mercy seemed glad while justice looked spry,

In gazing together at a cross lifted high.

There Justice had punished the sin-laden Son

And Mercy now yearning to bless everyone.

Oh sinner please know there’s no Mercy today

Lest Justice first slay you on a hill far away. (rgh)