Justice and Grace, what do these words mean?
Justice brings about fair deserved punishment for wrongdoing. The Bible portrays God as the ultimate judge who administers justice with perfect wisdom and fairness. In contrast, Grace is an unmerited, undeserved gift from our gracious God. Grace gives us what we do not deserve. Grace is the means by which God reconciles sinners to Himself and empowers them to live righteous lives.
Did Charlie Kirk deserve to die?
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, thankfully, Charlie is now in God’s presence because God sees him as a perfectly righteous man. How is that possible?
Dr Frank Turek, Christian apologist, author, public speaker, radio host and personal friend of Charlie, spoke these words at his memorial which very clearly answer that question.
“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?
The Gospel of Jesus Christ - It's all about grace!
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.
Heaven; so do all "good" people get to go there?
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 Heaven is An Awesome Place: How to Get There will show you God’s plan for your salvation.
The Laws of God reveal our sinful nature
God’s law was given for several reasons. It’s important to point out one of those very important reasons: that through the laws of God, we become 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.
Charlie's testimony of coming to Christ in faith
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.
Charlie said "yes" to God.
Salvation is not a one and done.
Salvation is the occasion of your spiritual birth.
In John 3: 1-21 Jesus described it as being “born again.” Just as an infant child needs nutrition to grow healthy and strong, Jesus calls us into a relationship that grows. That happens through spending time reading and studying the Bible and through prayer. Jesus calls us into obedience and to take up our cross and follow Him.
In fact, that is the life that Charlie Kirk was living- a life of obedience to His Savior.
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.
He believed that through honest debate and exchange of thoughts people can begin to understand one another.
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.
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.
The afterlife brings either Justice or Grace
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.?
Is Charlie like the grain of wheat as in the Bible verse John 12:24. Significantly, the time was 12:24 when Charlie was killed!
I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives. John 12:24
Millions of people around the world have heard the gospel of Jesus Christ on the day of his memorial. They also heard Charlie’s wife Erica say unbelievable difficult words … “my husband loved these young men and Charlie’s killer was one of them, and….. I forgive him.”
Forgiveness is what Jesus offers 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?
Which side will you be standing on? Are you depending on your own good character, your good works, or are you trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior?
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. Though we often can not see how your promise that “all things work out for good for those who love you,” 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
