Love without justice is mockery.

Have you ever seen a spoiled brat who thinks he deserves the best? To love him and to give him more would be mockery. He wouldn’t even recognize it as love. But have you ever treated nicely those who knew they didn’t deserve to be treated as such? They see love right away.

God is perfectly just and perfectly loving. His love actually comes from His justice. Without His justice, we would never recognize His love. And this is where God is more like a father than a grandfather. Grandfathers are usually not concerned about justice – disciplining, correcting, rebuking – but rather giving whether it is good for the child or not. But fathers are concerned about both love and justice because they care truly. They hold up a standard of right and wrong and will strive to steer the child toward the right. That is who God is. He’s a heavenly Father and not a heavenly Grandfather.

C.S. Lewis: “Love is more sensitive than hatred itself to every blemish in the beloved… Of all powers he forgives most, but he condones least.”

How can this be love? Because love is based on justice. God is the source of love and He is both love and just.

“God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement… He did this to demonstrate his justice.” Rom 3:25
“God demonstrated his own love for us in this that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Rom 5:8

So, why did Jesus go to the cross? To demonstrate both justice and love. You cannot have one without the other.

Tolerating, condoning, being open-minded about certain lifestyles is NOT love. It’s hatred.

PH