IdentitySample

Main Idea: Broken & Restored Legally

Remember that speeding ticket story? That’s what our standing with God is like without Jesus.

The Bible is clear that we are in legal trouble with God because sin is, above all else, breaking the law of God. And sin isn’t just a little mistake we can fix with a big bank account.

It’s serious, and the consequences are real.

We said that creation was given to man the way a king might give a royal estate to a subject to steward it, but if the subject decided to reject the king and try to start his own nation there, that would be an act of treason. And that is what sin is, a rejection of God as King, a declaration that we are our own gods, and therefore ultimately an act of treason against the King of kings. The penalty for such a crime against an infinite God is death.

God cannot merely pretend that this is ok. He is a just Judge, and a just Judge is one who keeps the law, even if it breaks His heart to do so. If He fails to keep that law, He would no longer be God.

Also, our own good works can’t outweigh our bad, because that’s not how legal systems work.

If a murderer goes to court, the fact that he may have given some money to charity or helped an old lady cross the road doesn’t mean he didn’t commit the murder or should avoid punishment.

What can God do? Well, He can do two things. He can punish a representative of mankind in the same way that a CEO might be punished for the actions of his employees. And second,

He can volunteer to be that representative.

That’s what happened on the cross. Jesus, who is God, chose to take our place. He died to pay the penalty of death for us all. Now God can look at those who chose to accept His death in their place as legally forgiven of the punishment of sin.

Reflection Questions:

• How does thinking about sin as treason against God change the way you understand its seriousness?
• Why do you think it’s important that God is both loving and just, and how do you see both of those attributes at the cross?
• What does it mean to you personally that Jesus chose to take your place and pay the penalty you deserved?