Man must one day stand before a Holy God to answer for his sins, but the gospel proclaims what God has done before the day of judgment, that man might not be condemned for his sins.
If my creditor comes to claim a debt, and I have nothing to pay, it is all over with me, but if he comes and pays it, I am clear.
God cannot overlook iniquity; but it is very different to insist upon the payment of a debt and to come and pay it. The gospel tells us of what Christ has done as Saviour, before He comes as judge.
The enmity of the human heart does not always show itself, but at the cross it was fully shown. Man trampled upon the Lord Jesus. Thank God, He was there in grace, but man’s heart was shown for what it was.
Now God says to the world, “What have you done with My Son? What has He done for you? Nothing but good.” Then why spit in His face and crucify Him? If anyone had done so yesterday to my mother, could I go and be “hail fellow, well met” with him today? Man has done this, but when the light of God’s Word enters a soul he can see and confess his sins.
The world is under judgment. The law tells a man what he ought to be, for example; “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart” and “Thou shalt not covet.” I have not loved God, and I have coveted. Having offended in one point I am no longer guiltless, though I may not have committed all the sins of which man is capable.
People talk about mercy, which means they hope God will think as little about their sins as they do. A man has committed, say ten sins; he hopes to go to heaven. If he has committed eleven, he thinks that is not too much. If he has committed a hundred, he still hopes that God will overlook them, having no thought of holiness. One sin shuts out man from God, but the door is not shut to any who now confess their sins to Him.
What is sin? Do you like doing your own will? This is what sin is.
The law claimed the debt. Christ paid it, and that is grace! “God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them” (2 Corinthians 5:19).
I look at the cross of Christ. What was He doing there? Judging the repentant thief? No, but rather bearing “our sins in His own body,” putting them away to be remembered no more (1 Peter 2:24; Hebrews 10:1717And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. (Hebrews 10:17)).
I see that blessed One whom I have been despising all my days, and I see He has taken my sins and borne my burdens. “It is finished” — perfectly finished, nothing can be added to it: and because the work was done, He sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
He has gone back into glory because He has finished the work. He died for our sins, and “was raised again for our justification” (Romans 4:2525Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. (Romans 4:25)). His resurrection is the proof that God has accepted the work and that we too, have been “accepted in the Beloved” (Ephesians 1:66To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. (Ephesians 1:6)).
Thus instead of putting me away, God has put my sin away. He has met me in the day of grace, instead of my meeting Him in the day of judgment.