Faithful and Just
Added 4/21/2010
Posted by Doug Seletzky at 5:39:11 PM

 1 John 1:8-10

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

 

“Just” - this word has always bothered me reading or quoting this part of the Bible.  How is God just when he forgives our sins?  I was always taught that:

Justice is when you get what you deserve.

Mercy is when you don’t get what you deserve. And

Grace is when you get what you don’t deserve.

 

Justice:  Do the crime = do the time.

Mercy: Do the crime = you don’t do the time.

Grace: Do the crime = you don’t do the time and your given 12 million dollars, a new housed with no taxes for life and lifetime free meals at your favorite restaurants for you and your friends.

So why the word just? Because the word “just” makes this passage on forgiveness even richer.  Now I hope you can track with me on this.   In our judicial system if you do a crime and are punished you cannot be tried for the same crime again.  It would be un-just to punish someone twice for the same crime.  So Jesus took the punishment you and I deserved on the cross and it would be unjust to punish Jesus and you.  Here is how it goes Jesus our advocate speaks on our behalf, “father I was punished for his/her sin.  so it would be unjust for someone to be punished again.”  (1 Peter 3:18)

 

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! – Doug ><>

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