Justice and Forgiveness

READ: ROMANS 8:1, 31-39; 1 JOHN 1:8–2:2

Have you ever felt like your sin could never be forgiven? Like what you did is surely too much for God to handle? Or, even if God could forgive you, it seems like it wouldn’t be fair or right, so you think you should sit in your guilt and shame a little longer to even the scales? I think we’ve all been there. Satan loves to push us into our sin and away from God, insisting that we are too bad for Him, too gross, or too broken. But all of these are lies from the pits of hell.

The next time Satan is trying to keep you stuck in your guilt and shame, ask yourself this question: Is God just? It might seem odd, but it’s a vital question in these moments. Because, friend, if you know Jesus, it would actually be unjust for God to not forgive you.

The first time I heard my Bible professor talk about this, it blew my mind. We might think that, because God is just and He can’t tolerate sin, it would be more just for Him to leave us unforgiven. But that’s not the whole story. God loves us and wants to be with us, so He sent Jesus, whose death and resurrection paid for all of our sin. If we’ve put our trust in Him, our debt has been covered. Our punishment has been taken. So would it be just for God to make us pay a debt that’s already been paid? Would it be just for us to take a punishment that’s already been taken? We don’t deserve forgiveness. But because of what Jesus has done, if God didn’t forgive the sins of believers, He wouldn’t be just. And it’s impossible for God not to be just because He is the very definition of justice.

That’s why 1 John 1:9 says, “But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.” God’s forgiveness of our sins is part of His justice. It can’t be removed from Him. Jesus’s sacrifice cannot be undone or forgotten. God’s forgiveness is not dependent on you or what you have done or how guilty you feel. It’s dependent on Him—His unchanging love and perfect justice, which was satisfied on the cross.

So, when you feel stuck in guilt and shame, when you feel unforgivable, don’t stare at yourself and your sin. Look up at God and His justice. Look up at Jesus and His sacrifice. God will be just and forgive. You are not the exception. You are freely forgiven and fully loved. • Taylor Eising

• Do you ever feel unforgivable? Consider spending some time talking with Jesus in prayer, confessing any sins that come to mind and resting in His sure forgiveness. In addition to talking to Jesus, who are trusted Christians in your life who can remind you that God has forgiven you?

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1 (NLT)