The challenge of growing through justice and mercy

If we stop to think for a moment that by faith in Jesus Christ, God has declared us righteous before his eyes, it seems unlikely that God's love can be so extraordinary. How is it possible - the unbelievers wonder - that this God is able to forgive all the evil practiced and committed prior to the encounter with his Son, through faith? Is our faith in Christ really enough to be justified - that is, declared not guilty of our transgressions - despite our often criminal and sinful attitude, even trying to practice a sincere and consecrated Christianity? We have many reasons to praise God, but declaring ourselves righteous and not being condemned for our sins and rebellions deserves special praise. The revelation of this truth gives our Christian life an additional breath of hope in the one whom God held responsible for all the sins of humanity - including our own. How has man for centuries been able to ignore this extraordinary manifestation of God's love?

The fact that God has forgiven our sins in His mercy does not give us life credit to enjoy His favors, ignoring that He also manifests His love for us by applying just disciplinary recipes to make us better and thus remind us that He is Lord. and not us of ourselves.

We deserved death for our sins, but God was just and by the faith that we demonstrated in Jesus, He justified us before the Father. The merit is Christ's, not us, or our good works and attitudes in response to faith. The answer to justification is obedience; We must not neglect and appreciate with fear and trembling the immense salvation that Jesus gave us at the cost of his death. It is the justice of Jesus Christ that makes us righteous before the Father, it was his mercy for having believed in the Savior of the world. It was his grace.

In his letter to the Romans, Paul tells us: “… those who receive grace and the gift of righteousness in abundance will reign in life through one man, Jesus Christ” (Ro 5:17). And he completes this incredible doctrinal reflection with a sentence by which we could jump for joy: “… by the obedience of one alone - Christ - many will be constituted righteous” (Ro 5:19, emphasis of the author).

Now, to what should this justification move us in relation to our neighbor? Well, to the practice of justice, to the commission of mercy, to seek more of the Lord. “Sow justice for yourselves! Reap the fruit of love, and set out to work the fallow! It is time to seek the Lord! Until he comes and sends you rains of justice ”(Hose 10.12)

The works and actions of justice that we can do are not essentially merits that take advantage of to present ourselves before God as doers of his Word, but the recognition that Jesus is just and that being in Christ, his justice belongs to us by the grace of God. Only then does He move our hearts to mercy towards others. The practice of justice and mercy founded on Christ, doubly becomes a blessing that enriches our spiritual life and makes us grow. The apostle John tells us in divine words: "If you recognize that Jesus Christ is just, recognize also that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him" (1 Jn 2.29). This is a sharp word.

The justice that we inherit from Christ as a special gift, must move us to mercy. It is a fruit that is sown and that produces joy. The Gospel in full encourages us to practice justice and mercy as an attitude of the heart and beyond; The result of the grace that we receive and that we must also share. In this sense we can also grow spiritually. James exhorts us: “Finally, the fruit of justice is sown in peace for those who make peace” (James 3.18). Almost 800 years before, the prophet Isaías already held a profile that was very similar to the words of Santiago: “The product of justice will be peace; perpetual tranquility and security will be its fruit ”(Is 32:17). Double edged word.

Mercy has to do with love. It is the feeling that springs from the heart of God and bursts forth, clothed in justice and compassion, until entering human misery, restoring it with the balm of his passion. David praised the Lord: “Justice and judgment are the foundation of your throne; Mercy and truth go before your face ”(Ps 89.14). Are not justice and mercy signs of the eternal faithfulness of God?

We were justified by faith in Jesus. And the blessing of having made ourselves righteous before God challenges us to grow in justice and mercy towards others. It is, for the joy of the Christian, a response in gratitude to the Salvation that we obtained by grace and to live since then in the Spirit. "Because the kingdom of God ... is justice, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit" (Ro 14.17)

God bless you!