As humans we must practice God’s perfect judgement to the best of our ability. For example, if a person commits a crime, then their punishment should fit the crime they have committed. We are told in Exodus 21:24, “Eye for eye, tooth for tooth”. This means that the damage done by the offender should be completely restored by them. We are also told that Judges should be completely unbiased, in Deuteronomy 1:17, “When you judge, be fair to everyone; don’t act as if one person is more important than another, and don’t be afraid of anyone, because your decision comes from God.” In the book of Romans, we are told that God has given the government the power to do justice. Romans 13:1-2 states, “All of you must yield to the government rulers. No one rules unless God has given him the power to rule, and no one rules without that power from God. So those who are against the government are really against God.” We are told in the book of Exodus that justice must be clearly established with witnesses. Exodus 19:15 states, “A case must be proved by two or three witnesses.” In Mark 14:57-59, that law is broken during the trial of Jesus in which no two witnesses agreed.
God sending His son to die on the cross allowed Him to demonstrate His forgiveness to anyone who asks. Luke 15:11-32 tells the parable of the forgiving father. It explains that no sin is too big to be forgiven by God. Jesus also explains in Matthew 5:38-48, that if a person is forgiven then they should demonstrate a forgiving attitude. We are told in Matthew 7 that we should not be so quick to judge others before we see what is wrong in our own lives. Jesus tells us in Matthew 18:23-35 that to understand forgiveness, a person must be forgiven and forgiving. Christians should practice forgiveness to show others God’s faithfulness and generosity. Luke 23:32-43 tells the only occurrence in which someone is promised a place in Heaven. It tells of the thief on the cross who asks Jesus for forgiveness, and it is granted to him. This explains that it is never too late ask God to forgive your sins. However, God does not forget those who do not ask for forgiveness. John 8:1-11 relates the account of the woman caught in adultery. She does not ask for forgiveness, but Jesus tells her, “Leave your life of sin.”
God reconciles sinners to Himself through Jesus and his death. We are told this in Luke 19:1-10, which tell the story of Zaccheaus. It says, “The Son of Man came to find lost people and save them.” We are also informed that God no longer holds people accountable for their own sins. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 explains, “In Christ, God did not hold the world guilty of its sins.”
