God will not make an exception for you. He is the righteous Judge who rules impartially and will ensure that everyone receives what is due. In Genesis 18, the Lord demonstrated His righteousness by blessing Abraham and bringing punishment upon Sodom and Gomorrah. We also get a glimpse into God’s mercy when Abraham interceded for Sodom and Gomorrah; asking God to have mercy on them. As we study this chapter, we will take time to discuss Injustice, Justice, Recompense, Mercy, and Grace. As a result, may our love for God grow and may sinners turn from their ways and repent. Let us then consider:
- God is Incapable of Injustice. God is always fair because God is neither dishonest nor fraudulent. Every promise God has made, He has kept and will continue to keep. God always does what is morally right. In Genesis 18, God did not overlook the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah and did not ignore the outcry against their very grave sin. This shows us that God will not overlook or ignore our sin either. God will give each person “what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil” (2 Cor 5:10). Jeremiah prophesied: “I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds” (Jer 17:10).
- God is Always Just. God is morally pure and holy. God’s justice means that He will always do what is right. The Lord said in Genesis 18:21, “I will go down to see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that he come to Me. And if not, I will know.” In Revelation 22:12, Jesus said: “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done.” Recompense means to give a wage that is deserved. For those who are not Christ-followers, the “the wages of sin is death” (Rom 6:23) and “if anyone’s name [is] not found written in the book of life, he [is] thrown into the lake of fire” (Rev 20:15). Being lawbreakers and guilty of sin, we all deserve death and if you are not a Christian, you will receive justice at the hands of the Almighty Judge.
- God is Free to Give Grace. One of the most glorious aspects of Christianity is grace. Grace is God blessing us in spite of what we deserve. Grace is extending kindness to those unworthy of it. I know what you may be thinking, “How can God be just and give us something we do not deserve?” It is a great question that is answered through the death of Jesus Christ. Grace is only extended to those who have had their sins forgiven. This brings us to another aspect of grace that we call mercy. Mercy is when God chooses not to punish us as our sins deserve. Mercy is deliverance from judgment. But it is important to note that mercy is not unjust because, like grace, mercy is only granted because the punishment is taken by another: Jesus Christ. Tim Keller helpfully said, “Jesus lived the life we should have lived and died the death we deserved to die because of sin, so that God could accept us.” This is grace.
In conclusion, one day you will stand before the righteous Judge. You will not be treated unjustly and no exceptions will be made for you. You will receive justice or grace depending on what you have done with God’s Son, Jesus Christ. If you are a Christian who has repented of your sin and committed your life to Christ, you will receive grace because your sins have been forgiven. If you are not a Christian, you will be given the punishment you deserve: eternal torment in the lake of fire. Hear this message today, and turn to Jesus.
First Baptist Scott City, MO 
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