MERCY AND TRUTH HAVE MET -- Monday:
"Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other." (Psalm 85:10)
The reconciling of the world is a remarkable accomplishment. It is something that could not be achieved by speaking a word. The worlds, for example, were "framed by the Word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear" (Heb 11:3). But when it came to retrieving fallen man, the Lord confronted a challenge of a different order (I speak as a man). His righteousness would not allow Him to receive and fellowship those unlike Himself. Neither, indeed, would the Truth of God allow Him to simply overlook the human condition. On the other hand, His mercy longed for His creation to be at peace with Him. It was a dilemma man was impotent to address.
To confirm the Lord gave men ample opportunity to correct the situation, and to remove all excuses from their mouths, the following is written. "And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me" (Isa 63:5). God's justice had to be satisfied, and thus the reference to His "fury." His mercy also had to be gratified, and thus His "own arm brought salvation" to Him. No part of God's character could be ignored or neglected. The salvation of man had to leave God righteous and above any accusation.
Therefore, in Christ, sin was justly punished "once for all." The sins of the world were all localized, as it were, in Him. Then God punished sin, expending His wrath upon the Son. Because Jesus was a spotless sacrifice, having no sin, justice was satisfied with the atonement, and sin was "put away" (Heb 9:26). Because justice was satisfied, mercy could now work freely, without fear of contradicting any Divine quality. God would be "just" as well as the "Justifier" of the one believing in Jesus (Rom 3:25-26).
Now "mercy and truth met together" in joyful accord. The lovingkindness of God, the reality of human need, and the faithfulness of God could dwell together in perfect unity. Righteousness and peace could "kiss each other," both being fully gratified. When mercy cried out to justify the sinner, righteousness registered no objection. When justice demanded judgment for the sins of humanity, mercy fully acquiesced. Sin was punished to the satisfaction of God, and men were retrieved to His eternal delight.
It is no wonder that no one can make a charge stick against "the elect!" As it is written, "Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us" (Rom 8:33-34).
If the death of Jesus has so satisfied the Father, who is the person that cannot be satisfied with it? What person of sound mind would reject a salvation like this? It brings one out of condemnation into justification, from death to life, and from alienation to reconciliation. And God has remained just and righteous in it all. Praise God!
PRAYER POINT: Father, I thank you in Jesus' name for a salvation that has taken nothing from You, but has taken my sins from me.