Truth About The Crucifixion — Page 21
The concept of Justice also involves the concept of law. It is. Divine law that establishes rights between people. He who contravenes Divine law departs from justice and becomes guilty of sin in Divine estimation. . The punishment of an offender by God Almighty in the hereafter is not a right the enforcement of which can be demanded by the wronged person. If God Almighty should forgive one who has committed a wrong against his brother and should compensate the wronged one richly in contrast with earthly values, it cannot be reasonably said that the demands of justice cannot be met unless the offender is cast into hell. . The truth is that God Almighty, out of His limitless mercy, bestowed His law and guidance upon nations without any right on their side, in order to provide for their welfare. Out of such mercy, divine law regulated their relationship with each other on the basis of justice. Thus justice is in effect a consequence of Divine mercy, and this fountain of human welfare flows out of that source. Had there been no mercy, no guidance, no revealed law and no rights had been established between men, there would have been no concept of trespass or of justice. . Thus the doctrine that Divine justice cannot be fulfilled without atonement is meaningless, and it is a fallacy that justice and mercy cannot be combined in the Divine Being, inasmuch as justice demands punishment and mercy demands forgiveness and forbearance. As we have just indicated, Divine justice is also an aspect of. Divine mercy, for it has been instituted for the benefit of man. The. Divine law which gives rise to the concept of justice establishes reciprocal rights between people, and all these rights have been instituted by God Almighty so that order may be maintained and one group should not create disorder by trespassing against another group. All the rights and penalties that relate to life, property and honour are a manifestation of mercy for mankind. The Gospels do not affirm that theft, embezzlement, robbery, murder and false witness become permissible in consequence of the atonement of. Jesus, and that the penalties prescribed therefore are remitted. . Every offence carries its own penalty, which is still enforced by the Christian courts. . The belief that God, of His infinite mercy, can bestow unlimited reward upon man in respect of his limited righteous action, negates altogether the notion of any one becoming accursed for the purpose of securing man's salvation. 23