Legal transaction

I may equate repentance to a criminal who becomes law-abiding and shows his sincerity by returning stolen goods. I perhaps will explain saving faith by differentiating it from an intellectual belief, and likening it to trusting a pilot or a parachute. I speak of the cross by explaining that it’s like a civil judge paying a criminal’s fine, thus satisfying the law and at the same time extending mercy. All these things are aimed at (with the help of God) bringing understanding to the sinner. If he doesn’t understand the gospel, he won’t value it and seek the Savior.

I then explain, “It was a legal transaction. You broke God’s Law (the Ten Commandments), and Jesus paid your fine in His life’s blood. That means that God can legally dismiss your case. You can leave the courtroom on the Day of Judgment because your fine has been paid. Does that make sense?”

Jeremiah 40:7 All who found them have devoured them; And their adversaries said, We have not offended, Because they have sinned against the Lord, the habitation of justice, The Lord, the hope of their fathers.

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