"A Just God And A Savior"           

Isaiah 45:20

 

     Here are two facts regarding the character of God that must be recognized, if we are to understand anything revealed in Holy Scripture. You do not know God, you do not understand his works, and you do not know the message of Holy Scripture, until these things have been established in your heart. GOD IS JUST! He is holy and righteous. "God is light; in him is no darkness at all!" Because he is righteous, just and good, because he cannot compromise his character, he must punish sin. THIS JUST GOD IS ALSO A SAVIOR! God is love. God is mercy. God is grace. He will be gracious. He will be merciful. He will save sinners. He must do so, because he cannot compromise his character.

     When Adam sinned he was cast out of the garden because God is just; but he went out with the promise of a Redeemer, wearing the garments of an innocent victim who was slain in his stead, because our God is a Savior. The world was once destroyed by a flood because God is just; but "Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord," and was saved in an ark God had provided, because God is a Savior. The Lord destroyed Sodom in the fires of his wrath, because he is just; but Lot was snatched out of the city of destruction because he is a Savior. The law was given on Mt. Sinai in thunderings, lightenings, and thick darkness, bringing with it condemnation and death, because God is just; but there was given, in the holy of holies, the mercy-seat, covered with sin-atoning blood, where God promised to meet with sinners, because he is a Savior! This is the message of the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. When Christ was made to be sin for us, the wrath of God fell upon the Son of his love because God is just! Yet, by that very act, we are saved, because he is a Savior!

     Here is the answer to the question of the ages - HOW CAN GOD BE JUST AND YET JUSTIFY THE SINNER? It all happened at Calvary! Christ died "that God might be just and the Justifier of all who believe on Jesus Christ" (Rom. 3:24-26). Mercy and truth have met together! Righteousness and peace have kissed each other! "By mercy and truth iniquity is purged!" That mercy, that truth, that purging of iniquity is found only in the death of Christ as the sinners' Substitute. There was no other way for a holy God to save fallen man!

 

 

Don Fortner