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Monday, December 31, 2012

The Judge Who Was a Father - Reconciling the Love and Justice of God



Many people have trouble understanding how God can be so loving and yet so seemingly harsh. Christians too sometimes have these questions and certain passages of the Bible can seem confusing, even contradictory when speaking about the character of God.

In regards to this, I was always taught a certain Biblical principle that shed much light on the topic for me and really clarified things. It is the principle of the Judge and the Father, and the difference between the two.

It is clear from Scripture that mankind, although created innocent, soon chose to rebel against their Creator. They chose the “knowledge of good and evil” over their innocence and their trust and obedience to God. The problem with the knowledge of good and evil is that they did not find in themselves the capacity to do only good or the ability to always resist evil.

So their relationship with their Creator was severed ,  this nature of sin was born in them and they passed down this nature throughout their descendants like spiritual DNA.  To this day, the Bible teaches, each human is born with a sin nature and also (as is quite observable) chooses to sin, to rebel and to do evil (however small it may seem to us)  and we are incapable of restoring that former relationship with God on our own. 

“…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23

So God made a way to restore it Himself. And just like when man chose to rebel, we must now choose to believe and accept this gift of restoration.

Behold the perfect justice and perfect love of God.

How then does God reconcile His perfect justice and His perfect love? By offering Himself as a sacrifice to bear the punishment, a ransom to pay the debt.  This is what we know as the Gospel – Jesus’ birth, His life, His redeeming death and resurrection.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”  John 3:16-17

Now perhaps we see more clearly the principle of the Judge and the Father. If we have not accepted (or even believed in the need of ) His offer of redemption and restoration then our relationship with Him is still severed, and though we are still made in His image, we are stained and tainted with sin. And , true to His perfect justice, He must judge that sin.

However, if we do believe and accept His offer, this “pardon”, then we are redeemed and justified. Innocent again – though not in deed (the redeemed, of course,  still have the capability of sinning), but in the eyes of God and by His blood-bought forgiveness. The Bible refers to this as being “born again” (John 3:7) into the family of God. The relationship has been restored, He is once again our Father.

“But as many as received Him (Jesus), to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:12-13


Prodigal, a wooden vase created by artist Charles Smalligan 

Again, how can God be both just and loving?  A judge and a father ? The same way any human can hold the office of a judge in the courtroom and also be a parent to their own children at home.

In the courtroom the human judge hands out punishment – for the worst sins it may be  life in prison or even the death penalty.

But when that same person goes home to find out that their child has misbehaved he doesn't throw them in prison. He will, however,  discipline the child. He does so in love and for the betterment of the youth and the youth in turn will flourish under proper discipline ( although they may not like it at the time).

In the courtroom there is no personal relationship between the judge and the criminal but in the home the same judge’s relationship with the “criminal” is no less than father and child. And, although this family relationship can be soured, it can never be changed or taken away. The child is his flesh and blood and its that simple.

In the courtroom scenario there is a once and for all “pardon” given by God (the Judge) to the guilty who will receive it. In the home scenario there is ongoing discipline and forgiveness from God ( the Parent ) and  confession of “relapses” (“I’m sorry daddy”)  and growing by the child.

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.” 1 John 1:9-10

So Christians, when you come upon a difficult verse, remember to look at the context and see if it is speaking of God as a Judge or as a Father.

And to all  -remember the principle of the Judge and the Father and the choice you have to make.

We all need a father.


Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" Abraham, Genesis 18:25b

"As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.” Jesus,  John 15:9

"And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.” Parable of the Prodigal Son,  Luke 15:20

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