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

The cross of Christ is the legal justification for the existence of life on this earth in the face of sin. It adequately explains how God can maintain the temporal existence of sinners in view of the accusations of Satan that He must execute the punishment due sinners which is eternal death.

The story is told of a prisoner who sat in his death cell awaiting execution. One day a clergyman bearing a message from the governor came to see the prisoner. As the clergyman entered the prisoner’s cell, the prisoner shouted, “I don’t want to see you. I need none of your prayers.”

“But,” the minister insisted, “I have a message for you from the governor.”

When he handed the prisoner an envelope, the convict shouted, “Take it away! I don’t want to hear anything from him, either.”

Greatly disappointed, the minister left with the message still in his pocket. Later the warden told the prisoner, “The message you refused from the governor contained your pardon!”

It is said that when he was executed, the prisoner’s last words were: “I’m dying not because I murdered a man, but because I refused a pardon.”

No one will be eternally lost because he is a sinner; he will be lost because he refused the pardon given him from heaven. And anyone who is saved will be saved because of the initiative of God in giving the gift of righteousness in Christ who died for the sins of the whole world. The cross legally justifies the existence of all temporal life on the earth. Those who appreciate this gift of life believe God’s promise,—the everlasting covenant,—and thus experience the forgiveness of sins and deliverance from its bondage.