It is well known that we will be judged by the “law that sets us free”.
“So whatever you say or whatever you do, remember that you will be judged by the law that sets you free.”
James 2:12 NLT
The mission of the Ten Commandments, as well as the One Commandment given us in Eden, was to unmistakably set out God’s terms: Obey this – and live! Ignore this – and die! There is no middle ground. There is no mercy in the law. There is no forgiveness. Law is the same for everyone. Obey the law and live. Break the law and die. Is that the law that sets us free?
From what we have seen so far, there are four distinctive laws spoken of in the Scriptures: The One Commandment, the Ten Commandments, the Enlarged Law at the time of Jesus and apostles, and the Grand Law of God governing the universe. Even though these laws are distinct from each other, and have been revealed to us at different times of our human history, even so, they are in perfect harmony with each other. It is so, because they are given to us by God. Each of them reveals a small part of God’s character and His righteousness – as much as God chose to reveal at those times.
We have seen how our amazing God have found a way to save the faithful who lived prior to God’s solution to the sin problem on Calvary. Even though, the law knows no mercy nor forgiveness, we see that God has generously used both of them on those who call upon His name. When the right time came, God revealed why He did that. He revealed it in His Solution.
“For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he makes sinners right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.”
Romans 3:25-26 NLT
God was “including them in what he would do in this present time”.
“God did this to demonstrate his righteousness”.
This is another period in our human history, when God chose to reveal another part of Himself – of His character. Another part of His righteousness. It is the cross of Christ that revealed it.
“Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.”
Psalm 85:10 KJV
Jesus has come. His self sacrifice speaks loud and clear of what God is like. It was God who gave his Son to be that sacrifice, so that all who believe in Him will not perish but have eternal life. “God did this to demonstrate his righteousness”. Therefore what God has done in Jesus Christ – reveals what we didn’t see in God’s law before. That means that mercy and forgiveness are also a part of this Grand Law of God which governs the universe.
This should not be a surprise. I will quote a part of a conversation between God and Moses which took place not long after we received the Ten Commandments from God.
“The Lord passed in front of Moses, calling out, “Yahweh! The Lord! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations. I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin. But I do not excuse the guilty. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children and grandchildren; the entire family is affected— even children in the third and fourth generations.””
Exodus 34:6-7 NLT
This was spoken by God Himself – to Moses – in response to Moses’ desire to better know His glory.
“The Lord replied to Moses, “I will indeed do what you have asked, for I look favorably on you, and I know you by name.” Moses responded, “Then show me your glorious presence.” The Lord replied, “I will make all my goodness pass before you, and I will call out my name, Yahweh, before you. For I will show mercy to anyone I choose, and I will show compassion to anyone I choose.”
Exodus 33:17-19 NLT
I have quoted these two passages from the time of Moses to show that mercy and compassion and forgiveness and slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness – are all a part of God’s character, of what He is like – since forever. These virtues are not a part of God’s character newly acquired around the time when Jesus came. Oh no. God does not change. But to see this development right now as we are approaching the Judgment Day, is a wonderfull good news. It brings us a great comfort to see mercy and forgiveness and compassion, and the accomplishments of Jesus – paid for by that colossal price of His anguish – all of this included in the Grand Law of God as God’s character – is exceedingly powerful expression of God’s grace. It is yet another manifestation of God’s love.
Having seen all this I come back to what I said in the beginning.
The mission of the Ten Commandments, as well as the One Commandment given us in Eden, was to unmistakably set out God’s terms: Obey this – and live! Ignore this – and die! There is no middle ground. There is no mercy in the law. There is no forgiveness. Law is the same for everyone. Obey the law and live. Break the law and die.
I believe that every word in this paragraph is the truth. But what is not readily apparent is: Gods has dealt so comprehensively with the problem of sin, that, when Jesus Christ died in our stead – He has died the death penalty demanded by the law against the sinner who broke its just requirements. That law is God’s justice. That is God’s character. God does not change. The law is and remains uncompromising in justly condemning the law-breaker to death. The wages of sin is death. It is Jesus who volunteered to die in sinner’s stead so that we may be set free.
God’s character is also mercy and forgiveness. In His love for the sinner, through Christ, God has forgiven him, washed him, set him free from condemnation, and clothed him in Christ’s righteousness. This work is so successful, so complete and so thorough – that now, as that uncompromising law of the Ten Commandments looks at this former sinner as he stands at the judgement bar of God – the law declares – This former sinner is now pure and clean. I see nothing in him which I can condemn. There is no record here of his wrongdoing. Therefore, I set him free.
What is actually happening, is that God has substituted the clean and pure life of Jesus Christ to stand in place of that former sinner’s record. That is like the Old Testament’s sacrificial system. Substitution. Only, this is the real thing. God can justly do that now, because Jesus has absorbed the sinners condemnation into Himself, and died on sinners behalf. The life of Jesus is perfectly clean. He is the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. What the law sees is what God has achieved through Jesus. The law sees the perfection of Christ’s righteousness. The sinner has accepted by faith Jesus Christ as his Saviour, and the law declares him clean. Because of the grace of God, by the virtue of the blood and merits of Jesus – the uncompromising law of truth and justice, the law of the Ten Commandments – sets this former sinner free. This is so amazing. And so surprising. This is the amazing grace of God at its best.
Thank You oh our wonderful God. Thank You dear Jesus for setting us free.
The sinner is Saved by the grace of God. Jesus Christ is honoured and exalted. The law remains unaffected. It’s justice and it’s uncompromising truth continue as ever. God the Father is vindicated and glorified. The devil is exposed as the instigator and originator of all sin and evil, and is justly condemned to extinction in the lake of fire. Together with unrepentant sinners he burns until only the ashes remain. That is the second death.
“Then the devil, who had deceived them, was thrown into the fiery lake of burning sulfur, joining the beast and the false prophet.… And I saw a great white throne and the one sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from his presence, but they found no place to hide. I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books. The sea gave up its dead, and death and the grave gave up their dead. And all were judged according to their deeds. Then death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death. And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.”
Revelation 20:10-15 NLT
““For behold, the day is coming, Burning like an oven, And all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up,” Says the Lord of hosts, “That will leave them neither root nor branch. But to you who fear My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise With healing in His wings; And you shall go out And grow fat like stall-fed calves. You shall trample the wicked, For they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet On the day that I do this,” Says the Lord of hosts.”
Malachi 4:1-3 NKJV