The following student report was submitted by Ambassador League Agent David H. during the 2008-2009 League.
Mission: Research - Justice
God's justice is what He requires of us wicked, corrupt sinners. In ourselves we are unable to anything. It is only by Jesus' blood through justification that we are pardoned and declared righteous before God.
The penalty for sin, the breaking of God's law, is death. To pay the full price for His people's sin, Jesus had to suffer and die on the cross of Calvary. God is perfectly holy and just; He is the perfection of holiness and justice.
In his infinite wisdom God determined right and wrong. In Galatians 3:19-21 it is shown how a righteous God distinguished between the two: "Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law."
Through the Ten Commandments and other requirements like those in Exodus 23, God set before man a perfect and holy law to follow. Because of our fall in paradise we are unable to fulfill the requirements that God has set before us.
In His justice, God must continue to enforce His law. God's justice does not allow our sin to go unpunished. Romans 1:18 reveals "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness."
Romans 6:23 clearly lays out "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." The first part of this powerful verse unveils the penalty for crimes against a holy and majestic God -- which is punishment by eternal hell fire.
Again and again we can see the mercies of God, for Romans 6:23 continues by also declaring that Man is delivered from the destruction of soul and body by the precious gift of Christ blood. Jesus bore the full wrath of God poured out against the sins of all mankind. The believer is then counted righteous in Christ.
By God's free grace, based upon the merits and application of Christ's righteousness, the sinner is saved. This process is known as justification.
On the final judgment day, the last proclamation of God's justice will be declared. Those who have rejected the call to salvation and continued to disobey God's commandments will be thrown with both soul and body into eternal destruction. The contrast could not be greater as those that have felt and answered God's call to salvation will eternally glorify and praise God their judge. In both cases perfect and holy justice will be served.
