The question isn’t whether we deserve God’s justice. The Bible says we do. The astonishing question is whether God offers us another way. Do you know God’s Grace?
Justice or Grace, What Do We Really Deserve?
What if, when you stand before God, you receive exactly what you deserve?
God is perfectly just. He cannot ignore sin, excuse wrongdoing, or simply pretend that our failures never happened. Because we have all sinned, we all deserve His justice.
But God offers us something we could never earn.
Grace.
Grace does not mean that God ignores our sin. It means that Jesus took the punishment we deserved so that God could offer us forgiveness and righteousness instead.
That raises the most important question any of us will ever face:
When I stand before God, will I receive His justice—or His grace?
Grace is the means by which God reconciles sinners to Himself and empowers them to live righteous lives.
We all deserve God's Justice
Heaven is not a place for “good” people. It’s a place for “perfectly righteous” people! Truthfully, we are all sinners who fall short of God’s glorious standard. Romans 3:23; Romans 3:10
If we want to receive God’s grace when we die, we must choose to trust in Jesus for our salvation in this life.
But why do we need God’s grace in the first place? Why can’t we simply depend on our good works and try our best to live a good life?
The answer is found in God’s law.
The Laws of God reveal our sinful nature
God gave His law for several reasons. It’s important to point out one of those very important reasons: that God gave us the law to make us conscious of our sin. Romans 3:20
How’s that?
Because the law requires perfect obedience, justice, mercy, and love and no honest person would ever claim fulfilling those expectations.
The bar is perfection, no one can possibly attain it. Matthew 5:48 tells us to “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
So who has ever lived a perfectly righteous life? That leaves me out – I am absolutely sure !! Romans 3:10
And that leaves all of us out of Heaven- on our own merit that is. The law points us to God’s grace, His plan for our salvation.
Charlie Kirk's Death Raises a Difficult Question.
Did Charlie deserve to die? No.
Charlie did not deserve to be murdered. But his tragic death raises a much bigger question: What do we deserve when we stand before God?
God’s Justice for the Unsaved
Standing before God while depending upon our own merit, we deserve God’s ultimate justice. God knows and judges all our hidden motives, knows our sinful thoughts and actions. In all of this, He will judge with absolute moral truth.
God’s Grace for the Saved
In contrast, standing before God, as a believer, child of God, who has put their trust in the blood of Christ, all sin is covered under the blood of Christ, there is no judgement for a true, born again, child of God.
Human Justice is flawed.
Though it aims to keep public order, punish law-breakers, deter crime and uphold societal laws, it is often slow and sometimes guilty people go free or the innocent gets punished.
On September 10th, 2025, Charlie Kirk was assassinated at age 31. The young man who is alleged to have killed him felt he was delivering justice. He believed that Charlie deserved to be killed.
Why did he do it? He did not like what Charlie said and believed so he decided that Charlie needed to be silenced. Sadly, many people agreed with this young man and celebrated what he did.
Did Charlie deserve what the killer thought was justice?
No, absolutely NOT!
It’s important to realize though that according to the Bible, we all deserve justice (fair punishment for wrongdoing) as the Bible clearly tells us that no one is without sin. Romans 3:23 No one is righteous in God’s sight in their own merit. Romans 3:20
But according to the Christian Gospel, Charlie’s hope of being in God’s presence was not based on his own righteousness. Because he trusted in Christ, God counted Christ’s righteousness as his own. Philippians 3:9
Why Doesn't God Simply Give Us What We Deserve?
At Charlie Kirk’s memorial, Dr. Frank Turek spoke about God’s remedy for our hopeless situation. Dr.Turek presented the gospel of Jesus Christ. These were his words:
“There’s only two things you can get in the afterlife. You can get justice or you can get grace.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Does anybody in here, does anybody out there watching around the world want justice from an infinitely just being?
I don’t want justice, I want grace.
Well the only way to get grace from an infinitely just being is for him to punish an innocent substitute in our place.
Where can He find an innocent substitute among us?
He can’t, we’re all fallen.
So what does this infinitely just and infinitely Loving God do?
He adds humanity to His deity; He comes to earth; He allows the creatures that rebelled against Him to torture and kill Him so He could place their punishment upon himself.
And then by trusting in Him, every one of us can be forgiven and then given His righteousness.
Ladies and Gentlemen, this is the greatest story ever told and it happens to be true!”
Dr. Turek made it very clear that humans have a heart problem and that’s where we need to start – with repenting of sin and trusting Christ for salvation.
The Gospel: Jesus Took the Justice we Deserved
This grace is not just a theological concept; grace transforms how we live.
We clearly see grace in the life of Charlie Kirk, who lived his days in the light of this Gospel.
God gave Charlie an exceptional love, deep concern and compassion for the youth. He could see how they are lost and struggling to make sense out of life. He went to many college campuses to engage young people and debate thoughts about life. He did this in a kind, thoughtful and very intelligent way.
Charlie believed that through honest debate and exchange of thoughts people can begin to understand one another.
Charlie encouraged young people to live for Jesus Christ.
He encouraged young people to work hard, to get married, love your wife, have children and take care of your family. Most importantly to love the Lord Jesus Christ and to live for him. His faith and love for Christ was the reason for loving and caring for others so deeply.
When Charlie Kirk was asked recently what he wanted to be remembered for, he said,
“I want to be remembered for courage, for my faith … that would be the most important thing. most important thing is my faith.”
Those who knew Charlie Kirk well describe him as an exceptional, intelligent and loving human being with a huge heart for people and God.
Charlie’s confidence in God’s Grace
Dr. Frank Turek, Christian apologist, author, public speaker, radio host and personal friend of Charlie, spoke these words at his memorial:
“Now I want you to know that Charlie right now is in heaven. Not because he was a great husband and father, not because he saved million of kids out of darkness on college campuses, not because he changed minds and chased voters to save the country, not because he sacrificed himself for his Savior. Charlie Kirk is in heaven because his Savior sacrificed himself for Charlie Kirk”
When Charlie repented of his sin and trusted Christ as his Savior, he received a righteousness that was not of himself but of God. Philippians 3:9 This is God’s amazing grace!
This article explains this Biblical truth: Why does Christ’s righteousness need to be imputed to us?
Charlie Kirk Understood His Need for Grace
At Charlie’s memorial, there was a clip shown of Charlie Kirk telling his story of understanding of his salvation when he was in fifth grade. These were his words:
I realized the stakes in fifth grade;
I was like, Oh my goodness;
I’m a sinner;
I’m selfish;
I’m broken.
And only thanks to Jesus’ perfect sacrifice, coming and living a perfect life that I get something I do not earn, but has been given to me, this free gift of eternal life.”
That’s God’s wonderful Grace! That was the beginning of Charlie’s walk with his Lord and Savior.
Salvation is the Beginning of a New Life
Salvation is the occasion of your spiritual birth. It is the beginning of a new life – it’s not the end of the story.
In John 3: 1-21 Jesus described a spiritual birth as being “born again.” Just as an infant child needs nutrition to grow healthy and strong, Jesus calls us into a relationship that grows.
Spiritual growth happens through spending time reading and studying the Bible; through prayer; service, obedience and to taking up our cross to follow Him.
What does a new life in Christ look like?
A new life in Christ is committed to living in God’s grace every day.
Why?
Ephesians 2: 8-10 is the reason!
God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
What Will You Receive on Judgement Day?
Charlie did not deserve to die. However, he was completely dedicated to do whatever it was that God wanted him to do.
Is God going to use this tragedy to bring many people to commit and submit their lives to Christ because of Charlie’s outstanding life and testimony.?
Jesus used the image of a grain of wheat to explain how His death would bring forth new life (John 12:24). Charlie’s death has already caused millions of people to hear the Gospel, and we can pray that God will use this tragedy to draw many people to Christ. Millions of people around the world have heard the gospel of Jesus Christ on the day of his memorial.
By God’s grace, Jesus offers forgiveness to us.
Not one of us can claim righteousness. But, because of Jesus’ sacrificial death and importantly, His resurrection, those who believe in Lord Jesus Christ and take up their cross and follow him will be standing in front of Christ on judgement day, only by God’s grace.
That is the side that I want to be standing on, the side of Grace, because that is the only side that allows me to be seen as righteous in God‘s eyes.
So the question is – what will you receive on judgement day? God’s Justice or God’s Grace?
Charlie Kirk’s story ultimately points beyond Charlie.
It points to the question every one of us must answer.
When you stand before God, what will you be depending on?
Your good character; good works; regular religious activities; attempts to live a good life?
Or will you be trusting in Jesus Christ, who lived the perfect life you could never live, died the death you deserved, and rose again so that you could receive forgiveness and His righteousness?
None of us can earn God’s grace.
That is why it is grace.
Jesus offers you what you could never earn for yourself.
So which will you receive—God’s justice or God’s grace?
The choice is not about becoming a better person first. It begins with recognizing your sin, turning to Christ, and trusting Him as your Savior.
Don’t wait until Judgment Day to discover which side you are on.
Prayer
Father God, You are sovereign above all, the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe. You make the sun rise and set, you give the moon for a night light, you keep all the planets in perfect order so that the earth, hanging in space has everything it needs to sustain our life.
You know all things and your plans are perfect. You promise that “all things work out for good for those who love you,” Though we often can not see how – we know they do.
We pray that through this terrible tragedy, that you will bring many people into a saving, grace-filled relationship with you that fills their lives with purpose and hope for an eternity with Jesus.
Praying this in the strong and powerful name of Jesus, AMEN
Further Reading:
Heaven is not a place for “good” people. It’s a place for “perfectly righteous” people!
On Judgement Day, we will all receive either God’s amazing grace or God’s perfect justice.
If we want to receive God’s grace when we die, we must choose to trust in Jesus for our salvation in this life. The article will show you God’s plan for your salvation.
But why do we need God’s grace in the first place? Why can’t we simply depend on our good works and try our best to live a good life?
The answer is found in God’s law.
The Laws of God reveal our sinful nature
God gave His law for several reasons. It’s important to point out one of those very important reasons: that God gave us the law to make us conscious of our sin. Romans 3:20
How’s that?
Because the law requires perfect obedience, justice, mercy, and love and no honest person would ever claim fulfilling those expectations.
The bar is perfection, no one can possibly attain it. Matthew 5:48 tells us to “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
So, back to – who has ever lived a perfectly righteous life? That leaves me out – I am absolutely sure !! Romans 3:10
And that leaves all of us out of Heaven- on our own merit that is. The law points us to God’s grace, His plan for our salvation.
