In recent months I have heard the challenge “why can’t God just forgive sin? Why does a blood-thirsty God demand a sacrifice?” Admittedly, this is somewhat compelling. How wonderful would it be if a person did something terribly wrong, and the slate was wiped clean, completely clean? Total forgiveness, debt completely wiped without penalty to anyone. I imagine this being the hope of most everyone in a relationship when one is caught or about to be caught cheating on the other and in their mind are hopes and prayers for forgiveness and reconciliation without consequence. At odds here are the concepts of justice and forgiveness which we will look at with some depth. To understand these ideas in proper context, it is vital to understand them and their applications from the source (Bible) rather than a secular, modern recontextualization and redefinition.
First let us take a moment to understand what a biblical understanding of justice entails. “JUSTICE Order that God seeks to reestablish in His creation where all people receive the benefits of life with Him. As love is for the NT, so justice is the central ethical idea of the OT. The prevalence of the concept is sometimes missed by the reader due to a failure to realize the wide range of meaning in the Hebrew word (מִשְׁפָּט) mishpat, particularly in passages that deal with the material and social necessities of life…Justice has two major aspects. First, it is the standard by which penalties are assigned for breaking the obligations of the society. Second, justice is the standard by which the advantages of social life are handed out, including material goods, rights of participation, opportunities, and liberties. It is the standard for both punishment and benefits and thus can be spoken of as a plumb line.[1]”
The biblical concept of justice includes the aspect of penalty / punishment for not following one’s obligations. As it pertains to God, He established the moral laws to which His image bearing creations (mankind) is to adhere. Violating in the most minute way is cause for one to be indebted for their shortcoming. This is plainly and simply expressed in Psalm 14 and Romans 3 where it is declared that “there are none righteous, no not one!”
Two major events in Scripture demonstrate God’s character of justice. First, sometime before time, Lucifer led a rebellion against God (Is 14:12-17, Ezek 28:13-19) and he was cast out of heaven for eternity, along with 1/3 of the angels. Lucifer’s blasphemy and rebellion against God was met with justice from God; this was not something God could just wipe away and forgive. What would have stopped further attempts at uprising against Him if there was no consequence. If you have children, and you tell them to or not to do something and they defy your wishes. Do you make empty threats when it comes to discipline? If so, does the behavior change? In my house, not following through on the consequences of misbehavior leads to more misbehavior because there is no penalty on the other end of it. The second major event takes place after creation, when Satan tempts Eve into breaking the one rule God set in the Garden of Eden. After Eve sins, Adam follows suit, and God (due to his holy and just nature) covers their sin by slaying an animal (which had done no wrong) and cast Adam and Eve out of the Garden.
Now let us look at the biblical concept of forgiveness. “FORGIVENESS Term used to indicate pardon for a fault or offense; to excuse from payment for a debt owed…The two main terms for forgiveness in Hebrew are (נָשָׂא) nasaʾ, “to take away (sin)” and (סָלַח) salach, “to pardon.” God is always the subject of the latter…Old Testament God is characterized early in the life of Israel as a God who both forgives and holds the guilty accountable (Exod. 34:7; cp. Neh. 9:17).[2]” So, forgiveness boils down to a pardon from a debt owed. We see this frequently in the New Testament, with those who have surrendered to Jesus as Lord and Savior, receiving forgiveness from their sins, and being restored to God. Forgiveness can be given, however there may still be consequences for the one who has betrayed the law / regulation / rule / trust. Think again to the illustration above about the cheating partner. He / She may be forgiven by the other person in the relationship, however there is a change in the dynamic regarding trust, which will never fully be restored. It is like one’s integrity; once that has been violated, it can never be fully regained.
These two concepts (justice and forgiveness) are intricately tied together and held in a state of tension. If justice is meted out without forgiveness, then one would never experience relief from their burden of guilt after having made restitution (completed prison sentence or applicable obligation). Justice without forgiveness does not lead to reconciliation or restoration. On the flip side, forgiveness without justice is empty and pointless. There is no incentive to cease whatever behavior led to seeking forgiveness, nor is there any reason to believe a person is sincere in asking to be forgiven.
It is where these two concepts meet, historically, that we find the greatest expressions of both. Through the sin of Adam and Eve, mankind has been spiritually separated from God. This sin condition plagues each and every person in each and every generation since that first sin was committed. God was under no obligation whatsoever to try to set things right; He could have eliminated creation and started again, but He didn’t. Instead, He chose to exercise His justice (punishing Adam and Eve) and set the plan that would provide true forgiveness for sin. Enter Jesus! Jesus’ perfectly lived life, without ever falling into sin, though He was tempted in every way we are as humans, allowed Him to be that unblemished, innocent sacrifice that would bring forgiveness to those who ask for it at the same time satisfying the just nature of God which requires payment for the penalty of being wronged. That is the heart of the Gospel message.
Think of it in these terms. Although it may be cliché to use Hitler as an example, he makes for a strong illustration. If God could forgive without requiring justice, then Hitler’s evils go unpunished. The numerous atrocities he brought against the Jews, the disabled, the undesirables as he labeled them would be as if they never happened. The millions of lives that were executed, many after suffering torture on multiple levels, would at most result in the shrugging of a shoulder (‘meh’). The victims and families would have no reason to expect a just resolution. Their grief, anguish, anger, etc. would lack justification if there was no consequence for what Hitler perpetrated against people. Hitler (and the rest of us) could live absolutely wicked lives if there was forgiveness and no accountability. That is what justice brings to life…accountability. Honestly assess yourself: if there were no consequences for your behavior, you would live life completely selfish, with no regard for anyone else.
That is why I described the dynamic linking justice and forgiveness as being in a state of tension. There is a balance between the two concepts, as God applies them. They are in sync and symbiotic in how they are applied and how they work together for God’s intended purposes. Those who reject Jesus (and the gift of forgiveness), commit horrible acts against someone or multiple people, and die without ever having faced justice for their actions in this life WILL face God’s perfect, eternal justice. No one “gets away with murder;” all will be held accountable. The question is, will you face the Judge and answer for each of your crimes OR has Jesus (also the Judge) taken that penalty upon Himself and satisfied the requirement for breaking God’s law(s) because you accepted His forgiveness?
~In Christ!
[1] Brand, C., Draper, C., England, A., Bond, S., Clendenen, E. R., & Butler, T. C. (Eds.). (2003). Justice. In Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (p. 968). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[2] Brand, C., Draper, C., England, A., Bond, S., Clendenen, E. R., & Butler, T. C. (Eds.). (2003). Forgiveness. In Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (p. 596). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
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