Living In The Light

January 8, Love And Justice

He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
—Psalms 33:5 LL 14.1

God is love. He has shown that love in the gift of His only begotten Son. Yet the love of God does not excuse sin. God did not excuse sin in Satan, in Adam, or in Cain, nor will He excuse sin in any of the children of human beings. The perverted nature of human beings may distort the love of God into an attribute of weakness; but light is shining from the cross of Calvary, that humankind may have correct views, and hold theories that are not perverted. LL 14.2

God has given His law for the regulation of the conduct of nations, of families, and of individuals. There is not one worker of wickedness, though their sin is the least and the most secret, that escapes the denunciation of that law. The whole work of the father of lies is recorded in the statute-books of heaven; and those who lend themselves to the service of Satan, to present to human beings his lies by precept and practice, will receive according to their deeds. Every offense against God, however minute, is set down in the reckoning. . . . LL 14.3

The truth as it is in Jesus will teach most important lessons. It will show that the love of God is broad and deep; that it is infinite; and that in awarding the penalty to the disobedient, those who have made void God’s law, it will be uncompromising. This is the love and the justice of God combined. It reaches to the very depth of human woe and degradation, to lift up the fallen and oppressed who lay hold of the truth by repentance and faith in Jesus. And God works for the good of the universe, for the good of the rebellious sinner, by causing the sinner to suffer the penalty of his sin. LL 14.4

The plan of salvation is but dimly comprehended by the Christian world. Humanity, as now taught by those who claim to have a knowledge of the Scriptures, can never know the extent of their fallen, degraded condition; but the mission of Christ will reveal the truth as it is in Jesus. Human beings can know the depths to which they have sunk only by beholding the wondrous chain of redemption employed to draw them up. The extent of our ruin can be discerned only in the light of the law of God exhibited in the cross of Calvary. The wonderful plan of redemption must be discerned in the death of Christ.— Review and Herald, February 8, 1898. LL 14.5

Further Reflection: How can you behold the cross of Calvary each day? How might beholding Christ’s sacrifice affect how you view the issue of justice? LL 14.6