I was talking with someone recently. It was brief, but the conversation held a question that lingered in my mind:
“I just don’t understand why God would care about sin. Why does it matter to Him?”
Most people would agree that justice matters. That goodness matters. That mercy matters. That relationship matters. And that is exactly what God says in Jeremiah 9:23–24 (NASB):
“This is what the Lord says: ‘Let no wise man boast of his wisdom, nor let the mighty man boast of his might, nor a rich man boast of his riches; but let the one who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises mercy, justice, and righteousness on the earth; for I delight in these things,’ declares the Lord.”
It’s easy for us to look at sin with a limited view, as if it’s simply breaking rules from a rulebook. But when we begin to understand God’s character—His deep love for people and His longing for justice—we see that sin is far more than a mistake or a broken rule. Sin is a violation of what is good, just, and right. It is directly against the One who is holy, innocent, and righteous. Sin makes it impossible to have a relationship with God.
When God speaks in Jeremiah 9:23–24, He reveals that justice is a core aspect of His nature. He doesn’t tolerate wrongdoing; He abhors it. Why? Because sin corrupts and destroys what He created to be good. And if you love what is good, you must hate what is not. Sin breaks relationships, brings harm, and distorts the truth. God cares about sin because He is a God of perfect justice. Just as a judge in a courtroom cannot simply overlook a crime without undermining justice, God cannot ignore sin without allowing injustice to reign.
But God’s justice is not cold and detached. It’s rooted in steadfast love, mercy, and righteousness. His love isn’t passive—it’s active, and it’s for you. He desires to bring people back to Himself, to heal the brokenness caused by sin. He longs to show mercy and forgiveness. When God speaks about His righteousness, He’s not just describing a legal standard; He’s revealing the perfect goodness of His character—the foundation upon which the world was made to thrive. The foundation upon which you were made to thrive.
You were made for Him. You were made to know Him. You were made to be fulfilled by Him.
But this is where the problem lies: if God’s justice requires that sin be dealt with, how can He also show mercy?
The Cross: Where Justice and Mercy Embrace
“Turn your eyes to the hillside
where justice and mercy embrace
there the Son of God gave His life for us
and our measureless debt was erased.”
— Turn Your Eyes, by Sovereign Grace Music
The ultimate answer to this tension is the cross of Jesus Christ. Romans 3:23–26 explains that all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory, but God provided Jesus as a sacrifice to satisfy His justice while extending His mercy. Jesus took the penalty of sin upon Himself. He bore our sins and suffered the wrath of God on our behalf. Sin is not ignored—it is fully paid for by the suffering and death of Christ (Colossians 2:13–14). Because Jesus took the punishment for sin, God can justly forgive those who trust in Him (Ephesians 2:1–10). Through Jesus, God remains both “just and the justifier” (Romans 3:26). He upholds His righteousness while making a way for sinners to be saved.
Now God offers forgiveness freely to all who repent and trust in His work on the cross. He has made a way back into relationship with Him. Because of the great love with which He loves us, we can know the living God.
And, oh, what a boast to be had.
“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
— Romans 5:8
Amen.
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