ROMANS 3:26 JUST AND THE JUSTIFIER
Something has happened that initiated the day of grace, "this time," that has, and will, affect mankind for all time - the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. The cross and the shed blood of the innocent sacrifice has not just passed over or overlooked sin as it did in the atoning sacrifices of the past, but has dealt with it root and branch. God not only demonstrated His righteousness there, but He demonstrated that He always takes sin seriously.
In 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 like God was not so 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 the death of Christ, the righteousness of God 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 them.
God has exacted from the death of Christ the full payment of sin that He might be just, and that justice has been fully done once and for all. No more sacrifices for sin can be made that would add anything at all to the sacrifice of Christ. But there is more - God can now righteously and legally in every way, justify sinners 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 with our hearts we believe, we appropriate the work of Christ 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 has not overlooked anything when He "laid on Him the iniquity of us all." His hatred of sin has been able to be turned away and He is able to keep His promise to bless "all the nations of the earth." Our faith is a "most holy faith."
When statements are made in a public forum, Those declarations are taken to be true. How much more when it is God who makes them, That we give them the attention that is due. God declares His righteousness that demands, Full and uncompromising punishment for sin. The righteous justice that should fall on every man, Fell on Christ when God laid our sins on Him.
God is just, of that fact there is no doubt. He is uncompromising in every word and deed. But by His grace He has made to come about, A way, sinners from the consequences can be freed. It was not easy, to God the cost was high. Justice had to be done to satisfy His claims. It was for our sins the Lord Jesus Christ did die, Now we are accepted in Jesus' name.
God now is able to righteously welcome, Everyone who put all their faith in Jesus. Not convicted now because we have become, The children of the One who has freed us. Our faith is in Jesus, in Him alone, Is our life, our hope and future. Not only are we at liberty by what He has done, But He has given to us a new nature.
"O Gracious, Just and Holy God: I know I cannot conceive nor understand the full value of being justified by Thee. Bit what I do know and understand makes this fact very precious to me, and I appreciate more than I can find words to say. I guess the best I can really do is to thank Thee from my heart, and pray Thee to help me live this day in a way that will not dishonor Thee or put any negative charge on Thy grace to me. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen."