The Unfairness of the Gospel

"Today you will be with me in paradise is what Jesus whispers to every dying saint." ~ a quote a read years ago in some devotional

Jesus' undeserved death was exchanged for undeserved life for me.

"God put the wrong on him who never did anything wrong, so we could be put right with God." ~ 2 Cor. 5:21

The Gospel is beautifully unfair.

The criminal who was hanging on the cross next to Jesus understood fairness. "We are punished justly for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man [Jesus] has done nothing wrong. Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom." ~ Luke 23:43

The moment he understood his wrong, his sin, and the punishment of death he deserved for it, that was the moment that Jesus extended the most unfair invitation. He invited a man who was about to encounter hell and life apart from God, into paradise and life with him.

"Jesus answered him, 'I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." What a beautifully unfair exchange.

The moment we realize that our sin deserves the punishment of death and life apart from God is the moment we can receive this most unfair invitation. The gift of paradise in living life with God and life in Christ. Unmerited, undeserved, unfair grace.

I think true paradise is knowing Christ intimately. I think we know him intimately through suffering and dying to self. When we go through suffering we get to know him in his suffering for us. When we die to ourselves and give ourselves away we are getting a taste of what Jesus did for us. The thing about dying to self is that it's essentially for others. It's serving others, giving to others, sacrificing for others, loving others, showing Christ to others.

So in essence we get to participate in the beautiful unfairness of the Gospel. When I die to myself it has the potential to give life to someone else.

"For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal bodies. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you." 2 Cor. 4:11-12

What happened on the cross is bigger and deeper and more amazing than we can ever fathom. That Jesus got what we deserved and we get what he deserved. He took the punishment for everything we did wrong so that we get the reward for everything he did right. 

This unfair grace, this unfair exchange, this unfair paradise with him. The word "thankful" doesn't even do my gratitude justice. I'm beyond thankful for the unfairness of the Gospel.