"We find the Defendant... guilty."

Standing in the dock, you are hand-cuffed and awaiting your sentence. You declared yourself guilty and admitted to your crimes. Now, already having been found guilty of the list of your crimes that have been brought to light in hideous detail and measured against the statutes of the Law, the Judge will decide what happens to you for the rest of your life.

JUSTICE dictates that a penalty must be paid and the Judge has every right to send you down for life or award the death penalty.
MERCY is the domain of the Judge who can choose to give you a reduced prison term or even suspend your sentence, sending you back out into the Community to do good works to make reparation for the pain you caused and encouraging others away from a life of crime like you had lived. But you still have a criminal record and all the life-long implications of that.
GRACE is shown when the Judge sentences you to death and then orders the hand cuffs to be removed from your wrists. Stepping away from his chair the Judge submits himself to die in your place, taking on your punishment, telling you, "Because I love you so very much, I will carry out your sentence for you. Your criminal record is now wiped clean and the justice system will remember your crimes no longer. You are henceforth released to live your life as a free man with no blemish against you in the eyes of the Law - go and commit crime no more, live a life in keeping with the mercy you've been shown."

The Lord Jesus Christ sits at the right hand of the Father, all authority in heaven and on Earth has been given to Him and He is the Judge of every person; the one given the jailer's keys to death and hell, the one with the power to release us from our isolated prison cells following his own death and resurrection. He is the one who is just, merciful and gracious, slow to anger and full of abounding love for you & me. He paid the price for our sins as a gift of love that we didn't deserve or earn. Acting as our Advocate, He always goes above & beyond mercy following His just judgement of our sins so we can be free to live a full life and sin no more, legitimately released from the fear, guilt & shame we felt when we knew we deserved punishment. That is what Christianity is about - forgiven, we get a second chance at life because of God's grace.