Friday, 21 February, 2003

We continue with selections from The Justification Reader by Thomas C. Oden.



It is divine mercy that pardons. It is divine justice that justifies. To pardon is to waive the execution of the penalties of the law. To justify is to declare that the demands of the law are truly and justly satisfied, not ignored or waived.

When a pardon is granted to one who is guilty, it is not strictly speaking according to the law, but in a way that transcends the law through grace. Grace mercifully covers the demands of the law without ceasing to be just.

Only mercy and justice together with a single voice can justify. Justification is that key moment in the history of salvation in which the righteousness of God is declared in relation to the history of sin, yet without offence to the justice of God. One who is justified is declared just on the basis of the pardon through which guilt is mercifully and justly remitted.



In some ways, I wanted to extend this quote over two days because it can have the feel of nit picking...and yet it is not. It is so hard for people to hear the Good News and to walk into the day trusting that before God they are whole and beloved - no matter what has happened...good or bad. Once and for all, God declares sin null and void...God pardons us completely...and it is within God's power and authority to do that as the judge. This merciful judge has done and is doing something contrary to how we would hold court and judge the world. That is where we could go back to John 3:16 (without the football game & goal posts) "God so love the world"....that the judge has taken action on the side of the beloved that fits within the realm of the task of judge but also frees you and I from the burden of guilt and despair that is often carried around and limits the vitality of our lives.



Connection: Today is the beginning of the history that is handed to us by our God whose love commands the day. Let us be glad and rejoice in it.



Merciful God, inspire us to trust what you bring into our lives by grace alone. For in your actions in Christ, Jesus, you have given us a vision of what can unfold within this day for we know what will unfold at the end of time as our Lord sit as victorious Lord of all, merciful, graceful and longing to have us at peace. Amen.