“Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” (Romans 3:24-26)
There is a righteousness in justice. God Himself calls us to give to Him and others their due. He will reward every man according to their works. But God has made known His righteousness in mercy as well as justice. God’s righteousness in mercy is displayed in His kindness, compassion, forgiveness, and forbearance.
When God in Christ does not reward us according to our deeds it appears He has set aside His justice. No, Christ bore our sins in His own body. “We owed a debt we could not pay. He paid a debt He did not owe.” And now, through our faith in Christ, and the mercy of our God, we who were guilty and deserving of death are freely justified and granted eternal life.
Our God is an awesome God. He is not one-dimensional. Let us give thanks to Him for being righteous in all His ways. Let us behold His beauty and learn from HIm what it means to be just. It will certainly lead us to be more merciful.
“Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face.” (Psalm 89:14)
“The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.” (Psalm 145:17)