31st January

God is righteous and a Saviour

This godly attribute brings forth justified fear in the heart of man, because he well knows that one day he will have to meet God and as being a sinner he will have to give account to God.

In fact, every sin is a trespass towards God who himself has to punish sin. If he would not punish sin he would neither be perfectly holy nor perfectly righteous. If we would stop here then we could only cry out like the young prophet Isaiah: "Woe to me! I am ruined!" (Isaiah 6, 5)

However, God reveals himself to us in another way: in staying righteous, he became Saviour. It is his glory which united these two features which seemed irreconcilable. He saves us and at the same time his requirements of righteousness are satisfied. Our sins deserved condemnation. Somebody, who did not sin, carried our sins and suffered the judgment which we would have deserved. This happened at the cross during the hours when Jesus was abandonned by God and suffered God's anger. Jesus atoned for the sins of them who believe.

However, for those who refuse the salvation which God offers free of charge today, tomorrow God's justice will be practiced in all it's severity.

"I tell you, now is the time of God's favour, now is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6, 2).