The Cross Justifies the Existence of All Life
by Paul E. Penno

Again, Paul emphasizes that “God, . . . is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.” 1 Timothy 4:10. The first portion of the sentence indicates God is Saviour of all men. This is temporary universal legal justification of the human race. The last portion of the sentence indicates that those who believe, indeed, appreciate the gift which God has given to them. They, indeed, come to know God as their personal Saviour from sin.

When Jesus promised living water to the Samaritan woman at the well, He represented Himself as a river of righteousness that would flow into her; forever forgiving her sins as a Gentile, and cleansing her from sin. And she was willing to carry the water of life for Jesus back to her village. She bore witness of Him to her people. And they came out to see for themselves; and readily recognized in Him “the Saviour of the world” (John 4:47). They saw in Him the Divine Messiah who forgives the sins not only of Samaritans, but of the world of Gentiles.

Though she did not ask Him for it, the woman who anointed Jesus’ feet with oil received from Him the forgiveness of sins. “Thy sins are forgiven” (Luke 7:48). He identified this forgiveness of sins as “peace” with the words: “Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace” (Luke 7:50). Peace is reconciliation with God through the forgiveness of sins. Thus He gave her objective, legal justification, and she believed His word and experienced the practical outworking of God’s gift.

Likewise, the woman who touched the hem of His garment believed that she would receive from Him what she needed, and that was life which was slowly draining from her body over the course of twelve years’ time. Her immediate conscious need was physical healing; however, Jesus gave to her justification,—the forgiveness of her sins,—by saying, “Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace” (Luke 8:48). The word “peace,” as we have seen, is another word for justification or the forgiveness of sins. The point is she didn’t ask for the forgiveness of her sins. She sought healing for her hemorrhage, but Jesus gave her the whole package of salvation.11

It remains to give brief evidence from the Old Testament that justification of life is taught there. In the everlasting covenant which the Lord gave Abraham the promise is “in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed” (Gen. 12:3). The blessing of Abraham is his “seed” which is Christ. Christ has been given to everyone in the world. “In Him was life; and the life was the light of men. . . . That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” John 1:4, 9. The blessing of Abraham to “all families” is Jesus, the Saviour from sin.

In the servant passages of Isaiah is found the broadest vision of God’s gift of righteousness to the world. “It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant. . . I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth” (Isa. 49:6). Of this light to the Gentiles we read, “the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isa. 53:6). Again, “He shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied: by His knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for He shall bear their iniquities” (Isa. 53:11). All the iniquities which He has borne as the Representative servant, in turn justifies the many;12 “because He hath poured out His soul unto death: and He was numbered with the transgressors; and He bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” Isa. 53:12. The “many” must be all the world of both Jews and Gentiles.