Just and the Justifier. Romans 3:26 Something has happened that initiated the day of grace, "this time," that has, and will, affect mankind for all time: the redemption in Christ Jesus. The sins of God’s people were symbolically punished in the animal sacrifices of the Old Testament times. The cross and the shed blood of the innocent sacrifice of Christ have not just passed over or overlooked sin as they did in the atoning sacrifices of the past but have dealt with its root and branch. These have been dealt with once-for-all by the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross. God not only demonstrated His righteousness there, but He demonstrated that He always takes sin seriously.
On the public Judgment Day, when Christ died for human sin, God displayed His perfect righteousness. He did not "spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all." In the past, it seemed God was not as serious about sin as He really is. His forbearance was in view of the death of Christ that those of faith could see through the sacrifices they brought. Those of honest heart would see beyond the sinless animal to the fact this foreshadowed a death for sin that would satisfy a holy God. In Christ's death, God's righteousness was openly displayed in His wrath against sin. In His holy eyes, it had to be put away at the highest possible price so no charge could be laid that a holy God had gone soft on sin. In His incomparable love, He made it possible for sinners to be delivered from the wrath of the holy justice that was due to them.
Humanity, in general, has taken the idea that the sacrifice of Christ on behalf of sinners was a perversion of justice and should not be considered representing the love of God. Feeling good about oneself and being tolerant of others has claimed the minds of many who profess to be Christians. The problem they have to face is that, for some reason, the awfulness of sin has not gripped their souls.
The Lord Jesus Christ knew what sin is and the consequences of unforgiven sin and so took our place as a demonstration of real love. His love was far greater than those who volunteer to go to war so their countrymen can live in peace. They hope they can do what is needed and then come home. Jesus knew before He came that He would die for those who hated Him and for all the ungodly people of the world.
God has exacted from the death of Christ the full payment of sin that He might be just (judging righteousness), and that justice has been fully done once and for all. No more sacrifices for sin can be made that would add anything to Christ's sacrifice. But there is more - God can now righteously and legally in every way, justify sinners (saving righteousness) who believe in Jesus! He can do that and still be absolutely just! His righteousness was displayed when Christ "was made sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness (righteous before God) of God in Him."
Now, the outcome is we are justified by faith in Him. When we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ with our hearts, we appropriate Christ's work on our behalf and stand cleared of guilt before God. By virtue of what the Lord Jesus Christ did, and that alone, we can be in the presence of our Holy God and call Him "Father." In the Old Testament, the presence of God and where He dwelt with His people was "most holy." Now, faith in what the Lord Jesus did and faith in Him alone places us in that most holy place - in the presence of God.
God can forgive us and still be just because the Lord Jesus Christ has taken the sinner's place. God did not overlook anything when He "laid on Him the iniquity of us all." His hatred of sin has been turned away, and He can keep His promise to bless "all the nations of the earth." Our faith is a "most holy faith."