What is the point of God's justice if all our sins are forgiven?

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Bahman said:
One should deserve what s/he receive as a gift which means that the giver should be just.
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In the story the the resentment of the early workers comes from their envy.

The workers were paid the amount agreed upon. That is their reward. The word gift is more general than the word reward and does not have to be deserved or merited.
 
Bahman said:
I understand that there are condition on forgiveness. The problem is that there is no room for justice once a sin is forgiven.
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Yes, there is. Those who are forgiven much, love much (Luke 7:47). And, to sum up Catholic teaching in some concise terms, love is what God is after in us. Because love excludes further sin by its nature, and goes on to produce good fruit for the same reason. And this is only what is expected of us. “For those who’ve been given much, much more will be demanded.” (Luke 12:48).

If, OTOH, we were to go and squander our gifts, or bury them as the wicked servant in the Parable of the Talents did, by not continuing to follow God, by failing to love, by not “investing” our gifts or cooperate with grace, by returning to sin, then we’re judged accordingly, even more harshly, in fact, than those who’ve never “tasted the heavenly gift”, to throw Heb 6:14 into the mix.
 
Vico said:
In the story the the resentment of the early workers comes from their envy.

The workers were paid the amount agreed upon. That is their reward. The word gift is more general than the word reward and does not have to be deserved or merited.
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I don’t think that story has any relation with our discussion. So lets drop it. To start, do you agree that there is a tension between forgiveness and justice?
 
fhansen said:
Yes, there is. Those who are forgiven much, love much (Luke 7:47). And, to sum up Catholic teaching in some concise terms, love is what God is after in us. Because love excludes further sin by its nature, and goes on to produce good fruit for the same reason. And this is only what is expected of us. “For those who’ve been given much, much more will be demanded.” (Luke 12:48).

If, OTOH, we were to go and squander our gifts, or bury them as the wicked servant in the Parable of the Talents did, by not continuing to follow God, by failing to love, by not “investing” our gifts or cooperate with grace, by returning to sin, then we’re judged accordingly, even more harshly, in fact, than those who’ve never “tasted the heavenly gift”, to throw Heb 6:14 into the mix.
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Let focus on the original idea presented in OP as I can see that we are deviated from OP. Do you agree that there is a tension between forgiveness and justice?
 
Bahman said:
Why no?
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St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica, elaborates:

Question 21. The justice and mercy of God
Article 3. Whether mercy can be attributed to God?

**Objection 2. **Further, mercy is a relaxation of justice. But God cannot remit what appertains to His justice. For it is said (2 Timothy 2:13): “If we believe not, He continueth faithful: He cannot deny Himself.” But He would deny Himself, as a gloss says, if He should deny His words. Therefore mercy is not becoming to God.

**Reply to Objection 2. **God acts mercifully, not indeed by going against His justice, but by doing something more than justice; thus a man who pays another two hundred pieces of money, though owing him only one hundred, does nothing against justice, but acts liberally or mercifully. The case is the same with one who pardons an offence committed against him, for in remitting it he may be said to bestow a gift. Hence the Apostle calls remission a forgiving: “Forgive one another, as Christ has forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32). Hence it is clear that mercy does not destroy justice, but in a sense is the fulness thereof. And thus it is said: “Mercy exalteth itself above judgment” (James 2:13).

newadvent.org/summa/1021.htm#article3
 
Bahman said:
I don’t think that story has any relation with our discussion. So lets drop it. To start, do you agree that there is a tension between forgiveness and justice?
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Yes, that might be said. God is showing mercy. But I’m also saying that the free gift of forgiveness does not come without the condition that it is not abused. James is speaking to believers here:

"Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment." James 2:12-13

So, going back to the OP, as I said before, change is the reason for forgiveness, the restoration/formation of justice.
 
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