For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence. Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. (Hebrews 9:24-28 NIV)
Our Governor Stitt has a big decision to make. Have you heard about it? He needs to make the final decision about a man on death row. I don’t want to get into the politics of it. As you might guess, there are two sides. Polar opposites! The family and friends of the man are pleading for love. For mercy. “He’s suffered enough. There’s doubt about his guilt. Let him to go free. Show love!” But the family of the victim is pleading for justice. “We can’t bring our loved one back. Justice must be served!” So which is it? Love or justice? Can you imagine being the governor? I don’t envy him. He’s going to disappoint somebody. Should he choose love or justice?
What’s ironic is that God faces that choice every day. Love or justice? Can you imagine being God? Should God treat people with love or justice? That’s a big debate today. Is God a God of love or justice? One side says: “God is love. He’s full of compassion and mercy. Love is love. Jesus doesn’t judge, and you shouldn’t either.” Maybe that’s how you feel. So you stand at the courthouse with the sign: “God is love. Love conquers all.” Those are real Bible verses.
But there’s another side. You’ve heard it. Maybe you prefer it. “God is just. There is right and wrong. God decides, and if you’re on the wrong side, there’s hell to pay. Sin needs to be punished. The guilty can’t go free!” Maybe that’s how you feel. You stand at a street corner with a megaphone: “Hell is real. God hates sin. Repent or be punished!” Those thoughts come from the Bible too. So which is it? Can you see the confusion today? Is God full of love or justice?
First, please realize how foolish we are. We think we can make God into whatever we want him to be. We think God should be whatever we think he should be. Instead of bowing to the Lord of the universe, we make God into a tool to accomplish our own personal desires. I do it. You do it. Except, if God is whoever I want God to be, who’s really God. I am! Isn’t that foolish? Don’t come to God with your agenda. God will not be used. Come to God for who he really is.
So who is he? Is he a God of love or justice? Our lesson takes us back to the Old Testament. If you want to know if God is loving or just, start with this: sheep. Lots of sheep and goats. Know what I’m talking about? Sacrifices. In the Old Testament, God commanded animal sacrifices. Do you know how often? Every day. Again and again. The Israelites were to sacrifice a lamb in the morning and a lamb in the evening and bulls and goats and sheep during the day too. Why? Because God is just. God hates sin. Sin deserves death. Sin deserves blood. Sin demands justice. Every day, animals were sacrificed for the people’s sin.
One special sacrifice is mentioned in our lesson: “The high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own.” Do you know what day that’s talking about? The Day of Atonement. Have you heard of it? It’s like the Old Testament version of Good Friday. Once a year, the High Priest went into the Most Holy Place of the temple and sprinkled blood on the Ark of the Covenant for the people’s sins. Year after year. Again and again. Blood. More blood. What do you think God was teaching his people? God is just. There was no doubt! Sin is bad. Sin deserves punishment. Sin deserves death. Sacrifice after sacrifice. Over and over again.
Can I tell you something that’s going to sound harsh? You have no idea how sinful you are. It doesn’t matter who you are. It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been going to this church. You have no idea how sinful you are. As I was reading the Bible this week, I came across a story in Leviticus. A man did the unthinkable: He used God’s name in vain. Oh my! Can you tell I’m being sarcastic? We do that all the time today: “Oh my God. OMG.” No big deal, right? Do you know what happened to that man who used God’s name to curse? God commanded that he be stoned to death. Ponder that. A man used God’s name in vain one time, and he deserved death.
Doesn’t that shock you? We need to wake up. Some of us today are content to live in sin. Some of us right now have decided to live a sinful lifestyle, and we think it’s going to be okay. That God is too loving to hold people accountable for what they say and do. If that’s what you think, you’re wrong. Some of us have bought into the lie that sin is really okay. That Jesus doesn’t judge. If that’s what you think, you’re wrong. Just one sin deserves death, at least according to God! We have no idea how sinful we really are. Do you see what I mean? God is just.
In fact, the very next chapter of Hebrews gives this warning: “If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God” (Hebrews 10:26-27). Jesus is coming to judge the living and the dead. If you reject Jesus, if you deliberately keep on sinning and refuse to repent, expect judgment and raging fire—hell! Because Jesus is coming with perfect justice, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags.
So go back to Governor Stitt. If Jesus were sitting in his place, if Jesus were faced with a criminal, would he seek love or justice? Jesus always makes sure justice is done. So that man would be condemned, right? No. Do you know what Jesus would do? You actually don’t have to imagine. Because it’s what Jesus already did. He faced the sinners of our world, and he said, “Guilty!” God is just! But then Jesus got off his throne and said, “But I’ll take your place. I’ll die for your sins. You go free.” I don’t think Governor Stitt is going to decide that. But Jesus did!
You see, God is perfectly just, and God is amazingly loving. He doesn’t choose one or the other. God doesn’t ignore sin. No sin goes unpunished. But God doesn’t condemn sinners. He forgives us. How? Only at the cross of Jesus. “He has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many.” At the cross of Jesus, God showed perfect justice. No one who watched Jesus suffer walked away thinking sin is okay. But at the cross of Jesus, God showed amazing love. Jesus did that for you. To save you. God is “just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus” (Romans 3:26).
We celebrated Veterans Day this past week. It’s amazing to think about the men and women who gave themselves for us. That sacrifice is so rare in a world that always puts ourselves first. Know this: Jesus did even more: He didn’t die for his fellow soldiers. He didn’t give himself for his family back home. He died for his sworn enemy—for sinners! He took the bullets in our place. Who would do that? It sounds foolish! But there’s a word for that kind of love: Grace. Earlier in our service, we heard this verse: “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Who would do that? Just Jesus. That’s love!
I said that some of us don’t believe that God is just. We’re content in our sins. But there are also some of us who struggle to believe that God is loving. You see your sins so clearly. They weigh you down every day. You understand what sinners deserve. So you think, “God can’t love me. I’m too far gone. I have sinned far too much. God’s can’t love me.” You’re wrong. You have no idea how much God loves you. Look at the cross. That was for you. “Jesus appeared once and for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.” If Jesus did away with all sin, he did away with your sin. You are forgiven. You are loved. God loves you!
Here is the truth from the Bible that God wants you to know and believe today: God is more just than you can possibly imagine. You have no idea how sinful you are. Sin is that serious! But, at the very same time, God is more loving than you can possibly imagine. You have no idea how much God loves you. And Jesus proved both when he died on the cross in our place. God never chooses between love and justice. God never picks one side or the other. It’s always both. And it only makes sense at the cross of Jesus: Perfect justice against sin and perfect love for sinners.
When you see that, the cross of Jesus motivates you to do something every day. Know what it is? Repent! To repent means to turn from your sin and turn to Jesus for salvation. When John the Baptist starting preparing the way for Jesus, do you know what he preached? “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is near” (Matthew 3:2). When Jesus started to preach for the first time, do you know what he preached? “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near” (Matthew 4:17). This is what it means to be a Christian: To hate sin, and to cling to Jesus. Whatever sin you’re holding on to today, turn away from it. Whatever doubt still plagues your heart, cling to Jesus. When Jesus says, “Repent!,” he wants every day in our lives to be a day of repentance.
Because what Jesus has done for you changes you. If we have a Savior of perfect justice and perfect love, what will we Christians want to be like too? Full of justice and love. Both! Some of us are good at the love part. Some of you are full of compassion for other people. You love and you care, and that is so good! But sometimes that compassion leads you to turn a blind eye to sin. It makes you slow to discipline or correct. Learn from Jesus that real love cares about the truth. Real love rebukes when someone is wrong. Why? So that person can repent and find forgiveness and salvation in Jesus. If you’re full of compassion, ask for God’s strength to also be just.
Others of us are on the opposite end. I talked with a Christian earlier this year who said, “I don’t have an ounce of compassion in my body.” A real nice guy! Full of truth and justice. Maybe that’s you. It’s good to stand up for the truth, but God isn’t just just. He’s loving. That bitterness in your heart? Let Jesus take it away. That person you refuse to forgive? Jesus already has! That other person’s sin that you’re so concerned about? Remember you’re a sinner too, and Jesus has forgiven you. Jesus was judged for you, so that you can be full of love and grace for others.
Love and justice. That’s our God! Can you see that? Here’s the final result: You can look forward to Judgment Day. “He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him” (Hebrews 9:28). If you love justice, then you are going to love Judgment Day. Because you will see true justice. Every wrong will be righted. If the world seems unjust, just wait! But if you love love, then you are going to love Judgment Day too. Because you’re going to see true love. Jesus is coming back, not to deal with sin, but to bring you home to heaven. What a day! Amen, come Lord Jesus, come! With your justice and love.
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