Proverbs 17:15: He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the LORD.
I mentioned in the message on Sunday that our sense of justice—our impulse to see wicked acts punished—comes from the character of God written on our consciences. This proverb is a clear expression of God’s natural commitment to justice. To justify the wicked is an abomination to Him. That is, the idea of a guilty person being declared righteous is repulsive in His sight. So also is the opposite. God hates the notion of a righteous person being condemned.
Again, this is why we, even as fallen people, are so committed to bringing criminals to justice. We despise the thought of a guilty man walking free. Even more egregious to us is the idea that an innocent man might be convicted of a crime and sentenced for it. We are created in the image of God, therefore we long for justice for ourselves and for others.
In last week’s post, I suggested reading Proverbs with a view toward seeing Christ, either in gospel pictures fulfilled or wisdom principles exemplified. I listed this verse as an example. When we slow down to think about its implications for the gospel, we may at first blush appear to have a conundrum on our hands.
If it is an abomination to God to justify the wicked, how is it possible for the ungodly to be justified? If it is an abomination for the righteous to be condemned, how was it possible for Jesus—the spotless Lamb of God—to be delivered up to death? . It appears that in the gospel God did precisely what Proverbs 17:15 says is an abomination to Him. He committed the unjust acts of setting the guilty free and sentencing the Righteous to wrath.
In a sense, this is true. Romans 4:5 characterizes God as justifying the ungodly. Numerous Scriptures, including Acts 3:14-15 and 4:26-28 show God condemning His Holy Son. However, there is no injustice with God due to a crucial biblical concept: imputation.
God imputed our sin to Christ on the cross. This means that God thought of our sin as belonging to Jesus. To use accounting terms, our sin was charged to Jesus’ account. 2 Cor. 5:21a: “For our sake [God] made him to be sin who knew no sin…” It was on the basis of that imputed sin that God condemned Jesus. Therefore, when God condemned Jesus, He was condemning an intrinsically righteous, but legally guilty man.
Conversely, God imputed Christ’s righteousness to us, or thought of Jesus righteousness as being ours. He credited Jesus’ perfect record to our account. 2 Cor. 5:21b: “…so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” It was on the basis of that imputed righteousness that God justified us. Therefore, when God justified us, He was justifying intrinsically ungodly, but legally righteous people.
So, there is no injustice with God. Imputation is a gracious act of God whereby He upholds justice by transferring the guilt of the wicked to Christ and the righteousness of Christ to the wicked, then punishing the one and freeing the other.
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