The question followed me everywhere.
"If Jesus came to save sinners, how could a sinless Savior die?"
The more I thought about it, the more important it seemed. If death was the penalty for sin, then death belonged to sinners. Yet Jesus had lived a perfect life. He had broken none of God's commandments. How then could death touch Him?
When I met Pastor Lovedale again, I shared my confusion.
Instead of answering immediately, he asked me a question.
"Martin, if God loves people, why doesn't He simply forgive everyone and overlook their sins?"
At first, the answer seemed obvious.
"Because sin is wrong," I replied.
"True," he said. "But let's think a little deeper."
He paused for a moment.
"Suppose a judge is sitting in court. A criminal is brought before him. The evidence is overwhelming. The man is clearly guilty. But the judge says, 'I am a loving man, so I will let you go free.' Would that be justice?"
"No," I replied.
"Why not?"
"Because the crime has not been dealt with."
"Exactly."
Then he looked directly at me.
"Now apply that principle to God."
Suddenly, I understood.
For years, I had thought mostly about God's love. I knew He was merciful and compassionate. But I had not fully considered His justice.
God is not only loving.
He is also righteous.
He is not only merciful.
He is also just.
If God simply ignored sin, He would cease to be a just Judge.
Pastor Lovedale opened his Bible.
"Do you remember the verse that troubled you throughout your childhood?"
I nodded.
How could I forget?
"The wages of sin is death."
"Who declared that sentence?" he asked.
"God."
"And does God ever lie?"
"No."
"Then if God has declared that the wages of sin is death, the sentence must stand."
His words settled heavily upon me.
The penalty for sin was not an empty threat.
It was a declaration of divine justice.
Not church attendance.
Not religious devotion.
Not promises to do better.
Death.
That was the penalty sin deserved.
For a moment, the old fear returned. I knew I was guilty. I knew I had sinned countless times. If God's justice demanded death, where did that leave me?
Perhaps Pastor Lovedale sensed my concern.
He smiled and said, "Martin, do not stop at the sentence. Keep listening."
I leaned forward.
"The same God who declared the penalty is the same God who provided the solution."
His words filled me with hope.
And for the first time, I realized that the answer to my problem would not be found in myself, but in the cross of Jesus Christ.