Proverbs 18:3-5
When wickedness comes, contempt comes also, and with dishonor comes disgrace.
The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
It is not good to be partial to the wicked or to deprive the righteous of justice.

No one who cheats ever thinks they are going to get caught.

Athletes who use performance-enhancing drugs to win medals or set records never think they will be found out. Corporate CEOs who embezzle millions of dollars believe themselves to be invincible. Yet, when they inevitably are, their dishonor brings disgrace. Their sins are made public knowledge, their winnings are revoked and their earnings seized. They are often arrested, tried, convicted, and sent to prison.

Is it wrong for a CEO to be locked-up for stealing? Or for an athlete to have their reputation tarnished? After all, aren’t we supposed to be forgiving? Yes, we are. But we must not confuse forgiveness with injustice.

God forgives us, but that does not mean he ignores our sin. Quite the opposite. The only way that God can forgive our sins is by the sacrifice of his own Son, Jesus Christ. Only because Christ has shed his blood on our behalf can God extend forgiveness to us. This is because God is a just God – in other words, God’s nature means that his justice must always be done. The wages (earnings) of sin is death, therefore death is the only just payment for sin. Christ paid that penalty so that we would not have to.

Think of it this way: imagine going to a restaurant with a friend. At the end of the meal, your friend tells you that he is paying for your dinner. On the way out of the restaurant, the waiter comes rushing up to you and demands that you pay for the meal you ate. Your friend steps in and says even though you ordered that meal and even though you ate it, he has paid for it. You no longer owe the restaurant anything. Your debt has been paid.

Now imagine going home and telling another friend that you got a free meal! But you’re not being totally honest, are you? The meal didn’t cost you anything, but it wasn’t free. Your friend took the cost. If he hadn’t paid for you, you would still be in the debt of the restaurant.  

Let us each praise God for his perfect justice and even more for Jesus Christ who took the cost of that justice for us.