Psalm 85:10 — “Mercy and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed.”
Romans 3:25–26 — “God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement… so as to be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”
Micah 6:8 — “What does the Lord require? To act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.”
Exodus 34:6–7 — “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious… yet by no means clearing the guilty.”
Isaiah 53:5 — “He was pierced for our transgressions… the punishment that brought us peace was on Him.”
Hebrews 9:22 — “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”
Justice is God’s holiness in action—He cannot ignore sin. Mercy is His love in motion—He cannot abandon the sinner. The world sees these as contradictory. But at the cross, they embrace. God did not lower His standard of justice to show mercy—He met it fully in Christ. That’s why the gospel isn’t cheap grace—it’s costly love. We stand forgiven not because sin doesn’t matter, but because it mattered so much that Jesus died for it. This balance frees us: we don’t fear God’s justice (it’s satisfied), and we don’t presume on His mercy (it’s sacrificial). Instead, we walk in awe—loving justice, clinging to mercy, and living humbly before the One who holds both perfectly.
lyrics by Zeb of Virginia Beach Church and theholygospel.net
from his song “Broken”
am broken I’m shattered
ripped torn and tattered
ya i dont wanna sin no more x2
I’m broken I’m ruined
most of the time
don’t know what am doin
but that’s no excuse
i dont wanna sin no more x2
all my misery all my pain
it’s self inflicted Noone else to blame
but me. set me free
ya I’m asking. because I’m knowing
its dark where I been but hell is where I am goin
without you Jesus ĝrace is yours to give
and I don’t wanna die i wanna live
in your love in your freedom
I know I’m not deserving but I’m asking
because I’m broken
if Savin is what you’re still doing
then save me because I’m broken
aint got no shiny token
I just got dirty rags because I’m broken
take me Jesus I’m believing you can be relieving all my earthly pain
make me right again in you
it’s all I wanna do stop my sinning
be on the side that’s forever winning
with you Jesus with you
Lord, thank You that You are both holy and kind. Help me never minimize sin, and never doubt Your love. Keep me in the tension where truth and grace meet—in Jesus. Amen.
Painterly vertical image: anonymous figure standing between two paths—one shadowed (justice), one lit (mercy)—but both converging at a distant cross on the horizon; dawn light breaking through clouds.
