It seems that America’s motto should be “no fair!” When faced with a difficult situation, people from age 2 to 92 can be heard uttering the phrase “that’s not fair!” When we hear something on the news, we immediately want justice because something wasn’t fair. I can’t count the times I’ve said the words ‘no fair’,  and I’m sure you can’t either. But honestly, we know nothing about something being unfair. Jesus, on the other hand, knows everything.

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).

How many times have we read or heard sermons about Romans 3:23. We are all sinners. We all deserve death. We can all relate to one another because we are all the same. No one is any better or worse than anyone because we’re all on an equal, sinful playing field. Unfortunately, we often stop after Romans 3:23. It’s unfortunate, because some of the most beautiful verses of scripture are found just after that verse.

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus (Romans 3:23-26).

All of us are sinners. But verse 24 picks up by saying we are pardoned freely by the blood of Jesus that was spilled on that dark day atop Mount Calvary. Jesus, who had done nothing wrong, became the substitute for your sin and for mine. Jesus, who was completely guiltless, took on the wrath of God for us so that we would be spared. But not just that! All of that was done freely. We did nothing to deserve the blood of Jesus. We have done nothing to reconcile ourselves to God, nothing to forgive our own sins or be excused from His wrath. Nothing we have ever done or could ever do would allow us to be forgiven. That’s why Jesus stepped in. He took on the sin of the world and was brutally murdered in our stead. You should have been crucified. I should have been crucified. Instead, the only One who didn’t deserve it was the One who hung there.

So the next time you or I are tempted to utter the phrase “that’s not fair!”, maybe we should stop and remember what Jesus did for us. Yes, we will go through heartache. Yes, we will go through things that we didn’t bring on ourselves. But even on our best day, we are still sinful. Jesus wasn’t. He did nothing wrong, yet still chose to bear the sins of those who would do wrong. That’s not fair. But it was necessary, and aren’t we all so grateful for His sacrifices of leaving heaven and choosing to be murdered.

I am so thankful for my Savior. I am so ashamed of the sins I find myself committing, but I am beyond grateful for the free gift of God’s grace that pardons me and reconciles me.