God is Guiltless

We live in a day of relativism.  Yet even with the relative state of morality in the various societies in the world, there are crimes so heinous they deserve prosecution to the fullest extent of the law.  Even in prisons there is a code of ethics, where felons punish violators for the crimes committed outside prison, as well as breaking the code within.  In each of us there is a morality based upon our beliefs.  A drug dealer may have no problem with dealing illegal narcotics to adults, but believes it would be wrong to sell bad dope to kids.  Everyone has within them a conscience that causes us to experience guilt or shame when we know we've done something wrong.  There's a lot of people in prison who believe they have been hard done by and don't deserve the punishment they have received.  In some cases there is injustice, but it doesn't mean that concept of prison is one of them.

Can you imagine a serial child rapist and murderer complaining to the judge of the injustice of being sent to prison?  There are many who would say, "Prison is too good for that murderer."  Prison serves as a deterrent to those who consider committing a crime, to protect the innocent by removing criminals from society, for restitution, and personal reformation.  Now I do not want to imply that all prisons are fair or injustice hasn't occurred in some cases.  In our justice system people are involved (witnesses, jurors, solicitors, judges, wardens, guards, etc.), there will be mistakes, errors in judgment, and weakness common to men.  My point is to say the concept of a judicial system and imprisonment after a fair trial is understood in itself not to be the problem, but is among the most acceptable ways to uphold justice and mete it out to lawbreakers.  Jail is not a bad thing in itself, but a place built for people who have done bad things to go.

Some people struggle with the idea that God created hell, a place of eternal incarceration and torment in outer darkness.  It is truly a place more horrible than any can imagine.  It is commonly said, "The punishment should fit the crime."  Hell is the punishment for a single sin committed against the righteous Laws of God.  Sin is really a terrible thing, so awful and wretched, that God created hell as a place of torment for the devil and his demons.  Years ago in some of the United States the punishment for the worst crimes was the electric chair, hanging until dead, or the firing squad.  The severity of the punishment was matched to the most severe crimes.  This severity of hell shows us the greatness of sins from God's perspective which appear so small in our eyes today.  A single lie, stealing, committing adultery, even coveting something is sin!  When we serve gods other than the One True God who reveals Himself through the Bible, have idols in our lives, or even use God's name to swear, we commit the most serious of offenses before the Just Judge of the Universe.

God is loving.  He knew that man in his current condition is doomed to eternal damnation, because all have sinned.  So God in His grace provided a way for men to be forgiven and saved from death and hell.  God took human form in the person of Jesus Christ and did many signs to show His divine nature.  He was falsely accused and condemned unjustly and murdered on the cross.  But three days later, He rose from the dead to prove His victory over sin and death in accordance with scripture.  John 3:16 says, "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." God has made a provision for all our sins to be expunged by the blood of His Son.  When we repent and trust in Him as King and LORD, we are born again by God's grace.  After our debt of sin against God has been paid, we avoid hell fire and are promised a place in heaven forever.

In the current system of justice, for someone to be "bailed" they must meet certain conditions.  It is the same way with divine justice.  We do not pay with money, but it is the blood of Jesus applied to our lives through faith which sets us free.  There are many examples of this in the Bible.  One instance was when the two men of Israel were spying out the city of Jericho and were harboured and protected by a harlot named Rahab.  She asked them to repay her for the kindness she had showed them when they eventually sacked the city.  The men agreed they would spare her and her family but held forth specific conditions.  Joshua 2:17-21 reads, "So the men said to her: "We will be blameless of this oath of yours which you have made us swear, ¹⁸ unless, when we come into the land, you bind this line of scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you bring your father, your mother, your brothers, and all your father's household to your own home. ¹⁹ So it shall be that whoever goes outside the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his own head, and we will be guiltless. And whoever is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head if a hand is laid on him. ²⁰ And if you tell this business of ours, then we will be free from your oath which you made us swear." ²¹ Then she said, "According to your words, so be it." And she sent them away, and they departed. And she bound the scarlet cord in the window."  The men would not be held accountable for their promise to Rahab or her family members if they did not meet the prescribed conditions.  Rahab was required to hang a scarlet rope from her window, and her family could leave her home at the risk of their lives.  She was to remain quiet about their agreement.  Should Rahab hang up the red rope but choose to go out for a walk, she did not meet the conditions.  They would be guiltless should harm come to her because she had not heeded their warning.  If she decided to betray them, the promise of safety for her would no longer apply.

God has done the same thing for all people.  It is not His will that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.  He does not desire that any man or woman be doomed to hell for eternity.  He has graciously set forth conditions for our release and forgiveness.  We first must plead guilty and repent for our sins.  Then Romans 10:9 explains God's conditions for salvation succinctly: "...that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."  One thing is for certain:  if you choose to be judged according to your works, you will receive justice.  You will receive a fair trial when the books are opened and your life is measured according to God's perfect standard.  Every word, deed, thought, and attitude of your heart during your entire life will be brought under divine judgment.  Psalm 130:3 says, "If You, LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?"  The implication?  Absolutely no one.  Another condition is we must choose to repent and trust in Christ during our short time on earth.  If we wait until our bodies die and we face God's judgment, it will be too late.  Psalm 130:4 tells us, "But there is forgiveness with You, that You may be feared."

Hell isn't the problem:  sin is.  God is guiltless; man is guilty.  While there is a little time left, choose to meet God's conditions for salvation and new life in Him.  He has paid the price at great cost.  Don't appeal to justice when God has already given grace and great promises.  1 John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."