Cortland Trinity Baptist Church

Home

About Us

Our Pastor

Mission Statement

Tenets of Faith

Core Values

Services & Info

Directions

Ministries

Children Ministries

Teens - Youth Group

Outreach Ministries

Small Groups

Discipleship Classes

Sermons & More

Archives

Pastors Pen

Current Series

Extreme Makeover l Cor.

The Battle for Cortland

Who Is This Jesus?

Did Jesus Rise Again?

Prayer Connection

Join Us In Prayer

Trum. Co. Prayer Movement

Spurgeon and Prayer

Events Calender

Visit Us On YouTube

Simply Sharing Jesus

Life's Hard Questions

Contact Us

Online Giving

The Good News Page

Pastor's Pen                                                     April 5, 2014


Justice and Forgiveness

 

      Does God forgive everyone who simply asks?
 
      In Romans 9:15 God says, “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.”  The Common English Bible reads, “I’ll have mercy on whomever I choose to have mercy.” Clearly, God is under no obligation to forgive everyone!  If God shows mercy (grants forgiveness) to some but not all then there must be a basis for His forgiveness. 
 
     According to the Bible the basis of God’s forgiveness is justice. 
 
     This is what the gospel is all about.
 
     Because God is holy He must judge all sin. Think of it this way, if in a court of law someone who is guilty of breaking the law is set free a precedent is set that would call for all future law-breakers to be “let off the hook” of judgment. Everything would disintegrate into lawlessness. No one would be safe.
 God is the holy Law-giver. He is the Judge of the universe. He must enforce His holy law. Evil must be brought into judgment. Justice must be served.
 
     So then, how can any of us sinners be forgiven?
 
     Paul stated that God’s actions at the cross of His Son were, “to demonstrate...His righteousness”, that is, to show forth His holy judgment upon our sin, “that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” (Romans 3:26) God was just in judging our sin upon the cross of Jesus and is free to justify and declare as righteous sinners who put their faith in Jesus.
 
     The only reason a holy God can show mercy to sinners and forgive their sin is because His justice for the punishment of sin was satisfied in the all sufficient sacrifice of His Son. The shed blood of Christ turned God’s throne of judgment into a mercy seat. And we all say, “Hallelujah!”
 So, does God forgive everyone who simply asks?
 
     No, He forgives all who believe in Jesus.
 
 
     Pastor Dan




///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////



Return to Archives 2014

 
  
                                                                    
                                   
Copyright © 2024 Cortland Trinity Baptist Church.  All Rights Reserved.

Let's Grow Together!