The Cross and Hell
Are both crucial for justice and grace
For the wages of sin is death, but the gracious gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23
Christianity is different from any other religion. All religions speaks about that you will be judged for your works. If your works are bad you will be punished, if your works are good you will be rewarded. Christianity speaks of a gift in Christ Jesus.
Christianity declares that we are all sinners and we are slaves to sin.
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23
Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin.” John 8:34
An African preacher said; I have not seen a father beating his son in order to be bad, to be selfish and disobedient, or to be a liar and a dishonest person, or to be hateful and hostile. He does not encourage him to quarrel with his brother, or to steal mangos from a neighbour house. Just the opposite, he disciplines him to be a good person. The problem children have the tendency to do the wrong thing.
The same in the schools and Universities, they do not teach students to be corrupt and dishonest citizens or to be violent and hostile. They teach them the opposite. The whole education system is to make pupils good citizens.
The police in the streets do not encourage the citizens to steal or kill one another but we see crime is on the increase.
Everyone says we want love and peace but what is happening is hate and conflicts. Not only between countries but even in families and between races.
Sadly in all these cases we see the human being has more tendency to become bad than good. As Jesus said we are enslaved to sin.
So if the Son sets you free, you really will be free.
John 8:36
The Cross Fulfills Justice and Love
Here is where the cross comes for redemption and grace. The cross is where the penalty of sin is paid. Sin was not swept under the carpet but exposed and judged. The cross is where justice is performed. This why the thief on the cross next to Jesus was promised to be in paradise as he admitted his sin and accepted the gracious gift in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Certainly His salvation is near to those who fear Him,
That glory may dwell in our land.
Graciousness and truth have met together;
Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
Psalm 85:9–10
Without Hell there is no justice
Without wages for sin there is no justice this why without Hell there is no justice.The existence of Hell does not mean that God does not love us. Hell fullfils the justice of God. It shows the guilty can not go unpunished.
The cross shows the grace, love and justice of God by paying the penalty of our sin. We have the choice of receiving the gracious gift or paying the penalty ourself in hell.
For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block, and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
1 Corinthians 1:22–24
