Some Thoughts On Love And Justice

We understand that true justice is properly rendered when the offender receives due punishment for a crime committed. However, love is far more comprehensive than mere justice alone. Love not only demands justice, but also demands the well-being of all concerned.

Love does not mean doing away with justice or by-passing punishment. Love neither ignores the offense nor rejects the offender. Rather, love stands by and seeks to heal and restore a right relationship between ourselves and God.

The Bible calls this restoring process, “reconciliation” (see article).

Christ is the epitome of God’s love for us for “while we were still sinners (deserving justice and due punishment), Christ died for us” (Romans 5:6-8).

Not only did Christ take our place in receiving the punishment that we should have received (Isaiah 53:4-6), but through the shedding of His blood and subsequent death, we were reconciled (brought back into a right relationship) to God (Romans 5:10; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Ephesians 2:13-16; Colossians 1:20-23).

Let’s think about it! And then in thankfulness for what Jesus did for us because God loved us (Romans 5:8), present ourselves to God in humble obedience to His will (Matthew 7:21; Romans 6:16-18).

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets

Related Audio Sermon:

• Be Ye Reconciled!