Love doesn’t cancel justice …

The famous American actress, dancer, and singer of last century, Ginger Rogers, once said, “I don’t care what the critics say. My fabulous mom will give me a good review if nobody else does.”

Moms do that.

Regardless of how we may mess things up, or the trouble we may get ourselves into, moms will come through for us.

We often try to attach that kind of behavior to God.

He loves us no matter what, so He’ll give us a good review, no matter what. Right?

Not quite.

True, God loves us. Period. But give us a good review just because He loves us? No.

God’s character is not comprised of love alone. There are different facets to His character, including the fact that He is a just God:

“And God will provide rest for you who are being persecuted and also for us when the Lord Jesus appears from heaven. He will come with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, bringing judgment on those who don’t know God and on those who refuse to obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with eternal destruction, forever separated from the Lord and from his glorious power,” 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9.

God does not cancel His justice simply because He loves us. Because He loves us, He has given His only Son as a ransom for our sin. Now, all those who call on the name of Jesus Christ are justified by Christ’s sacrifice.

“Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory,” Romans 5:1-2.

By faith, we receive the good review God gives His Son.

Have you been justified by faith in Jesus Christ? Or are you hoping that just because God loves you He’ll forget your sins against Him?

Scotty