Daily Devotional from the hand of A. W. Tozer
July 15, 2021
BELIEVE IT: CHRIST, THE JUST, DIED FOR THE UNJUST
“To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus” (ROMANS 3:26)
The present state of the human race before God is probationary. The world is on trial. The voice of God sounds over the earth, “Behold I set before you the way of life and the way of death. Choose you this day!”

The whole question of right and wrong, of moral responsibility, of justice and judgment and reward and punishment, is sharply accented for us by the fact that we are members of a fallen race, occupying a position halfway between heaven and hell, with the knowledge of good and evil inherent within our intricate natures, along with ability to turn toward good and an inborn propensity to turn toward evil.

The cross of Christ has altered somewhat the position of certain persons before the judgment of God. Toward those who embrace the provisions of mercy that center around the death and resurrection of Christ one phase of judgment is no longer operative. Our Lord stated this truth in this way: “He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” (John 5:24).

When Christ died in the darkness for us men, He made it possible for God to remit the penalty of the broken law, reestablish repentant sinners in His favor exactly as if they had never sinned, and do the whole thing without relaxing the severity of the law or compromising the high demands of justice (Rom. 3:24–26). The Just died for the unjust. Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift!

A. W. Tozer