Being justified by faith, we have peace with God. Our conscience no longer accuses us. Judgment now sides with the sinner instead of condemning him. We look back on our past sins with deep sorrow, but without fear of penalty. Christ has paid our debt in full and received the divine receipt. Unless God is unjust enough to demand double payment, no soul for whom Jesus died can ever face hell.

We instinctively believe God is just. At first, this frightens us, but then this same belief becomes our source of confidence and peace. If God is just, then as a sinner without a substitute, I would face punishment. But Jesus stands in my place and takes that punishment. So now, if God remains just, I, who stand in Christ, cannot be punished. God's nature would have to change for anyone Jesus died for to suffer the law's punishment. Jesus stood in for believers and satisfied divine wrath, enabling us to proclaim triumphantly, "Who shall bring any charge against God's elect?" Not God, for He justifies us; not Christ, for He died and rose again. My hope lives not because I'm sinless, but because I'm a sinner for whom Christ died. My trust isn't in my holiness but in the righteousness of Jesus. My faith rests not in what I am or will be, but in what Christ is, what He has done, and what He is doing for me. On the lion of justice, hope confidently rides like a queen.