A Criminal Case or a Civil Case

January 17, 2011 [Monday],

Dear Fellow Travelers,

          The ancient Jews, like ourselves, think of God’s judgment in terms of an earthly court of justice. The difference is that the Christian pictures the case to be tried as a criminal case with himself in the dock; the Jew pictures it as a civil case with himself as the plaintiff. The one hopes for acquittal, or rather for pardon; the other hopes for a resounding triumph with heavy damages [In case you did not recognize them, those are the words of C.S. Lewis, from his “Reflections on the Psalms,” p. 137].

          A criminal case or a civil case? Pardon or triumph with heavy damages? Obviously, the answers to these questions depends upon how one views himself in the presence of the thrice Holy God—a sinner who has offended Him and, thus, in desperate need of mercy and grace, or a relatively righteous person who has been offended and mistreated and desiring justice. A perpetrator or a victim?

          The truth is many Christians see themselves as victims (not just the Jews)  and, thus, view God’s judgment as being unfair. They do so because they see the seriousness of sin as somehow being relative, and theirs is relatively not-so-serious, e.g., gossip vs. murder. Somehow, many fail to understand that it is the “root,” not the “fruit,” that is at issue. We inherited the sin nature from Adam’s fall in the Garden of Eden, and it is that root, that nature, that incites not only the sinful actions we so often exhibit, but also the wrath and judgment of God. When, however, that root is removed through the finished work of Jesus, and we become new creations in Him, creations with the nature of Christ, our sins are forgiven and taken away, never to be remembered again, and we are judged as righteous as He is righteous—eternally.

          This is for sure: None of us want God to be fair (even if we think we do), as we would all find ourselves before His judgment seat—guilty and sentenced to eternal death.  Just for the record: I prefer mercy and grace!

"This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent" (John 6:29 NASB).