Special Victim Unit

One of the many crime tv shows, Law and Order, devoted one of its spin-offs to the Special Victims Unit. These are the cases that are considered special because of the person(s) who was hurt. This is the thing we need to consider when we talk about the penalty for sin. In the throne room of heaven guilt has already been declared: Rom 3:10-18 as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one; (11) no one understands; no one seeks for God. (12) All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one." (13) "Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive." "The venom of asps is under their lips." (14) "Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness." (15) "Their feet are swift to shed blood; (16) in their paths are ruin and misery, (17) and the way of peace they have not known." (18) "There is no fear of God before their eyes."

We already read that God will not excuse or dismiss this guilt. His wrath is justly revealed: Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.

We will look at the great news of the gospel in my next post but let us first consider the sentence looming over our guilty and condemned heads. Another mental exercise: If I were to become angry and lash out at the annoying fly that has been buzzing around? Probably none, the fly is insignificant. What if i were to hit my neighbors dog what would be the penalty? Maybe a fine. What if I didn't hit my neighbors dog but I struck my neighbor? Things are becoming more serious now; I am looking at assault. What if instead of hitting my neighbor I hit the police officer who showed up to settle our dispute? What if the governor? What if I hit the President? The penalty deserved has gone from nothing to federal crime.

Of course a sentencing judge considers the crime that was committed. You don't face the same penalty for shoplifting as you do murder. But the victim is also considered in the equation. This is where our sin against God brings us to an eternal punishment. We have rebelled not against a government official but the eternal God of the universe, who is worthy of all our worship and praise. Justice demands an eternal payment. Either you must pay it...or it must be payed by another. (more on that tomorrow).

I have heard many question the goodness of God at this point. Many people love themselves so much they can't imagine a God who would love them less. They think their own goodness is of highest value, so a God who would require them to humble themselves and seek Him or face eternal punishment is an evil God. This is the complaint of the person who does not understand either the exceeding goodness of God nor the exceeding sinfulness of man.

2Co 4:3-6 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing. (4) In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (5) For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. (6) For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

May God shine his light for you now, that you might see the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.