Introduction
In software engineering, one of the hardest problems is dealing with
broken systems. When a system produces incorrect results, we do not simply
ignore the errors. We investigate the root cause, identify what went wrong,
and restore the system back to the way it was designed to function.
The gospel tells us something similar about humanity. We were created
beautifully in the image of God, designed to know Him, love Him, and live
according to His will. But sin corrupted what God created.
In Lord’s Day 3, we see the tragedy of the fall and the hope of regeneration.
The Holy Spirit begins His work of restoring us into the image of God.
God is not only saving us from something; He is saving us for
something.
He is restoring His people.
But Lord’s Day 4 begins with a difficult question:
“Does God then do man an injustice by requiring in His law what man cannot
do?”
This question reveals another side of salvation. If Lord’s Day 3 shows
what we are saved for, Lord’s Day 4 shows what we are saved
from:
God’s just judgment.
The Question of Injustice
The first objection is this:
“Is it fair for God to judge us for failing to keep His law when we are
unable to perfectly obey it?”
It seems like an understandable question. If someone asks us to complete
a task that is impossible, would it be fair to hold us responsible when we
fail?
But the answer is that God did not create humanity unable to obey Him.
Humanity was created with the ability to love God and follow His commands.
But through deliberate rebellion, humanity lost what God had originally
given.
Imagine receiving a valuable inheritance from your father and throwing it
away. Later, when you have nothing left, you ask your father to restore
everything. Would it be unjust for him to say that your choices had
consequences?
The problem is not that God gave something impossible. The problem is that
humanity rejected something precious.
Adam and Jesus: Two Representatives of Humanity
Romans 5 explains something fundamental about humanity:
“Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death
through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned...”
— Romans 5:12
Adam was not merely acting as an individual. God appointed him as the
representative of humanity.
His obedience would have brought blessing. His rebellion brought ruin.
This is why the Bible speaks about original sin. Adam’s failure affected
the entire human family.
But the story does not end with Adam.
Romans 5 introduces another representative:
“For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by
the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.”
— Romans 5:19
Jesus Christ is the second Adam.
Where Adam failed, Jesus obeyed.
Where Adam brought death, Jesus brought life.
Where Adam brought condemnation, Jesus brought righteousness.
This is the amazing mystery of the gospel:
God counts Christ’s obedience as ours.
The same question appears again:
“Is that fair?”
Yes. Because God Himself provided the solution. Justice and mercy meet
perfectly in Jesus Christ.
God’s Justice Is Not Injustice
The second question of Lord’s Day 4 asks:
“Will God allow such disobedience and rebellion to go unpunished?”
The answer is no.
God’s anger against sin is not uncontrolled emotion. It is righteous
judgment.
A good judge does not ignore evil. If a judge saw injustice and simply
walked away, we would not call that kindness. We would call it corruption.
God’s holiness means He cannot treat evil as if it does not matter.
His wrath is not like a wildfire destroying everything around it.
It is more like a refining fire that removes impurities and reveals what
is pure.
God’s justice is not a weakness of His character.
It is evidence of His goodness.
When Jesus Looks with Anger
Mark 3 gives us a remarkable picture of Jesus.
Jesus enters the synagogue and sees a man with a withered hand. The
religious leaders are also there, but their hearts are not filled with
compassion.
They are not hoping Jesus will heal this man.
They are waiting for an opportunity to accuse Him.
“He looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart.”
— Mark 3:5
This is one of the few places where Scripture explicitly tells us that
Jesus was angry.
But notice what exists together:
Anger and grief.
Jesus is angry because sin destroys what God loves. But He is grieved
because He sees people choosing darkness instead of light.
His anger is not hatred toward people. His anger is the response of holy
love toward the destruction caused by sin.
Like a parent who is both angry and heartbroken when a child chooses a
harmful path, God’s justice and compassion exist together.
The Ultimate Meeting Point: The Cross
One day every person will stand before God's judgment.
And before His perfect justice, every excuse will disappear.
We will recognize that His judgment is right.
But the wonderful hope of the gospel is this:
The Judge we stand before is also the Lamb who gave Himself for us.
“The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”
Jesus did not ignore justice.
He satisfied it.
At the cross, God’s holiness and God’s love met perfectly.
The hymn captures this truth beautifully:
Because the sinless Savior died,
My sinful soul is counted free,
For God the Just is satisfied,
To look on Him and pardon me.
Final Reflection
Every broken system needs restoration. Humanity’s greatest problem is not
simply that we need improvement. We need redemption.
Jesus saves us from God's just judgment by taking our place and giving us
His righteousness.
He is the second Adam who restores what was lost.
He is the Lamb who satisfies justice.
He is the Savior who brings us home.
The question is not whether God’s judgment is just.
The question is:
Have we trusted in Jesus, the One who saves us from that judgment?
May our hearts respond with faith:
Jesus Christ is my righteousness.
Jesus Christ is my salvation.
Amen.
Comments
Post a Comment