Romans 3:25-26, “justice and the death of Jesus” [Listen]

Good Friday

There are many ways to look at the death of Jesus. Scripture is full of different reasons for why Jesus died.

We can say Jesus died:

• To show his love for us (Eph 5:2)
• To purify, for himself, a people that are zealous for doing good (Titus 2:14).
• To give us an example for how husbands should love their wives (Eph 5:25)
• To create a people who would not live for themselves but live for God (2 Cor 5:15)
• So piece could reign between God and humanity (Romans 5:10)

There many other precious and wonderful things we can say about why Jesus would allow himself to be humiliated, tortured, and murdered while completely faultless.

Tonight, however, I’d like to talk about Jesus’ death and a foundational problem that has faced human reality since the beginning. That problem is the problem of justice.

Humans hold tightly to the concept of justice – making right what is wrong. Humanity believes it is morally right and necessary to pursue justice – the pursuit of ‘justice’ is a righteous thing.

Our pursuit of justice is a glaring pointer to our belief that there is such a thing as right and wrong; that there is a standard that transcends culture. And we believe those who violate what is right MUST be held accountable. We expend great effort and resource to make sure we uphold what is right and prosecute what is wrong.

This innate sense of justice that we as humans have – as wrong as we sometimes get it – is a pointer to God. Even if perfect justice doesn’t exist here, we believe there is right and wrong and there will come a day when God will look at all that is wrong and make it right. There will come a day when every sin will be dealt with rightly. Justice is not an optional product of God’s will; justice is an unchangeable principle of his very nature.

This reality also brings us to a problem. What do WE do with a just God who would not be a good God if he wasn’t just? If we had an earthly judge who simply let criminals go because he felt like it or because he could be bribed, we would call that judge corrupt and evil – we would put that judge in jail. Often, however, we want justice when we’ve been wronged and we want an evil judge who can be bribed when we’ve commit wrong. I want a God who will do what’s right in every situation except when he looks at me.

God, however, is not partial – EVERYONE will be judged rightly.

So where does that leave me? Often I worship the creation instead of the creator. My thoughts and desires betray who I am even if I hide it well. I lie and cheat and only put God first enough to appear to be righteous. What do I do when I face God?

This is why Jesus came. Jesus came and lived as we live. He was tempted as we are tempted (only without failure). Jesus came to die the death we deserve and become the object of judgment in place of those who will trust him alone to be their rightness before God.

God would not be good if he ignored sin – every sin will be dealt with. Without Jesus I have no hope because I must then bear the consequence of my own sin.

Romans 3:25-26 (ESV)

…God put [Jesus] forward as a propitiation (sin-bearer) by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness/justice, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness/justice at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

John 3:16 (ESV)

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

There is a way for you to be right before God. Jesus came to be judged, to die in your place. You do not need to be the one to bear the judgment for your sin. Confess your helplessness and embrace Jesus – he will represent you.