GOD’S WORD FOR JANUARY 31 ~ ~ Galatians 2:16 ~ ~ “nevertheless, knowing that a person is not justified by works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the Law; since by works of the Law no flesh will be justified.”
We’re reading in Dr. John MacArthur’s book, “Parables”…..
A LESSON ABOUT JUSTICE AND GRACE – in the parables
Continued from yesterday….comparing the thief on the cross with Judas Iscariot……The thief was repentant and went straight to heaven after a life of crime. Judas led an exemplary life, and even was one of Jesus’s Apostles, but he betrayed Jesus and went to hell.
John MacArthur:
Those who think heaven is a reward for doing good might protest that this (above) was throwing justice out the window. The thief had done nothing whatsoever to merit heaven. If it’s possible to forgive such a man so completely in the dying moments of a wretched lifetime filled with gross sin, wouldn’t it also be proper for Judas’s one act of treachery to be canceled – or mitigated – on the basis of whatever good works he had done while following Christ for three years? People do occasionally raise questions like that. The internet is dotted with comments and articles suggesting Judas was dealt with unfairly or judged too harshly.
Judas himself seemed to be the type of person who kept score on such matters. He protested, for example, when Mary anointed the feet of Jesus with a costly fragrance. He knew the precise value of the ointment – equal to a year’s wages – and he complained, “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” (John 12:5). He no doubt would have also thought the grace Jesus showed to the thief was too extravagant.
People who have devoted their lives to religion do sometimes seem to resent it when God reaches out and graciously redeems someone whom they deem unworthy of divine favor.
What we have to bear in mind is that all people are totally unworthy. No one “deserves” God’s favor. We are all guilty sinners who deserve nothing more than damnation. No one who has sinned has any rightful claim on the kindness of God.
God, on the other hand, has every right to show mercy and compassion to whomever He chooses (Exodus 33:19). Furthermore, when He shows mercy it is always in lavish abundance. As he told Moses, He is abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.” (Exodus 34:6-7).
People who protest that God is unfair or unjust when He shows grace to the least deserving people simply do no understand the principle of grace. Undiluted justice would mean immediate death for every sinner, because “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). The truth is, we don’t really want what is “fair.” (that would mean hell for every one of us). We all desperately need grace and mercy.
On the other hand, grace is not unjust, because Christ made full atonement for the sins of those who trust Him – and thereby turned justice in their favor.
“if we confess our sins, he is faithful AND JUST to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
Because Christ took the penalty of sin on Himself, God can justify believing sinners (even notorious sinners like the thief on the cross) without compromising His own righteousness.
“He is both just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” (Romans 3:26).
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Ephesians 2:8-9
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Galatians 3:10
For all who are of works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all the things written in the book of the Law, to do them.”
(in other words, if you think you can be “good enough” to get to heaven by your own works, then you MUST obey every little command perfectly all your life. Remember, Jesus said that murder means hating someone, and adultery is looking at someone with lust. Stealing is wanting what another has. No one can stand by themselves without Christ. No one can stand by themselves without Christ. In Him alone is salvation.)