‘Just, and the Justifier’

‘Just, and the Justifier’

 Far be it from You to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?”…that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus…and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly; and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)- then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment.…

Genesis 18:25; Romans 3:26b; IIPeter 2:6-9

As we continue to consider our primary text, that Christ is, ‘The Judge of all the earth,’ and that He will, ‘do right,’ we come to consider His actions with regard to Lot, Abraham’s nephew. Christ told Abraham that He was about to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham began to intercede for Lot. Christ heard his prayer of intercession. So, how could Christ be, ‘the Judge of all the earth,’ do that which is right, render judgment against sin and still be merciful? Also, what about Lot? Where did he figure in the larger scheme of things? We find the texts recorded above very helpful. Lot had made some abominably poor choices. He had, ‘pitched his tent toward Sodom.’ He eventually moved into Sodom, much to his own detriment, and that of his family. The conundrum, for us, is that Peter, writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, calls him, ‘just Lot,’ and goes on to elaborate how ‘vexed’ he was with the behavior of those around him. What can we conclude from these things?  Christ, as ‘The Judge of all the earth,’ must judge sin. On the other hand, He will deliver His Own people, for whom His favored servant has interceded. It is important for us to understand the Character of the Christ with Whom we are dealing. As He shows us His dealing with others, so He enables us to understand His Character, and how He will deal with us. This brings to our hearts greater assurance, increases our faith, and engenders our trust in Him. Jesus never fails.

O, Judge of all the Earth,
we rejoice that with all Your justice you are still merciful.
We praise You that Your Character never fails, nor does it ever change,
and that we are the eternal beneficiaries of Your Largesse.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning