When grace is mentioned, some invariably admonish not to forget God's justice. I had already reasoned before that justice is contained in grace, and actually was fulfilled by grace (Jesus) on the cross.
Here is a simple illustration of how justice is not separate from grace, but is only part of grace. Imagine a weight scale; on one side is our obedience, and the other God's reward. Under law (God's justice) we are rewarded according to our obedience, so the scale is even between both sides. It is fair and just. What grace does is not only giving the fair amount of reward, it gives us so much more to a point where no amount of our earning can justify the blessing. Grace is unfairly good to us because the righteousness of Jesus has been imparted to us by His blood on the cross.
On the flip side, picture a scale of our sin and God's punishment, on one side our sin, and the other punishment. God's justice sentences us to death because of our sin. It is fair and just. But what grace does is not only taking away (forgiving) the punishment of that one sin, but keeps taking away no matter how much sin we pile up on the other side. Grace is unfairly lenient to us, but not to sin, which exacts justice upon the body of Jesus Christ, stroke by stroke. He fulfilled the law, leaving not one letter or stroke unpunished on His body, nailing every last one of our sins on the cross so that we are made holy by His blood.
A "fair and just" mentality is every other religion, but not of the grace gospel. To continue holding on to that belief and teaching voids the spirit and essence of grace that is patently unfair, and far from just -- unfair to God and injustice to His holiness. But it is completely righteous in His love for us. How can we ever play fair (trying to be equal to His blessing) with the almighty and all loving? To attempt so is not to comprehend the scope of His grace where our part is not in anything else but acceptance and gratitude that comes from true repentance (not just turn from sin, but run to grace).
Grace is not equal to law, it is infinitely greater; grace is the light and truth where law is only shadow and reflection. Justice never imparts righteousness and blessing, and it takes away not one bit of sin. There is no greater knowledge of law and expertise than the pharisees (they are still around), but Christ called them brood of vipers. And truth is not in them (law), for Jesus said to them, " You shall know the truth, and truth shall set you free (from the law)." Therefore to balance law and grace is an unworkable concept: One demands and the other gives; they are incompatible in man, and creates the lukewarm faith Christ warns us about, one engraved on cold stone tablets, the other pours out from the fiery passion of God's heart. Mixing the two produces only confusion, and worse -- fallen from grace. And just from that, we know Paul is saying grace is higher than law, for to be under law is to fall from grace. Therefore the new covenant allows for no possibility for balance in trying to hold on to law. If we have flood light why hold on to a matchstick? It is a useless redundancy. If there is a car, why ride a tricycle? One cannot have both at one time. But it is so hard for man to see this contradiction and let go of the control-- all because of unbelief that God is that good and that just (both met on the cross), and that grace is the power that overcomes sin. What law demands, grace more than paid for and added much greater! What sin law cannot overcome grace swallowed up by the infinite love and unconditional forgiveness of our savior. This is good news few wholeheartedly believes in.
Christ had given His all to us: We don't deserve righteousness but have it fully because of His grace, just as to impart grace he doesn't deserve punishment, but took it all for us. But how are we to receive this grace? Only by truly accepting that law-keeping is no longer our cross to bear, completely trust by faith that He works in us to transform into His image, and walk in the righteousness that is already ours (even in sin), instead of constant condemnation and confession of sin to reach it. Then true fruit of the spirit flow freely outside our will and conscientious effort, which is the Christ-like obedience and only such that pleases God and gives full glory to Him. Jesus wasn't constantly thinking about obeying the law because He had the spirit of it in grace. And now through our faith we also have it; therefore do not reject it by going back to the law of behavior modification. Instead, focus on Jesus to give us the truth of heart transformation.
In righteousness there is no sin (condemnation of), but beware of those who want to bring sin to our remembrance by the constant call for obedience with warning of judgment. These are the messages approved by the Devil to keep believers in bondage and dust so that grace though given is yet unreceived, therefore powerless in our lives for victory. The high priest doesn't represent God to man in reproach, but represents man in appealing to God's mercy. Today's gospel messages shall also refrain from condemnation of believers, but only -- and only -- to point man confidently and unequivocally to that morning star who delivered us from the dark night -- our wonderful saviour Jesus Christ! Amen
James
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