The last chapter of Stott’s ‘Cross of Christ’ concluded that the gravity of sin and the character of God make it impossible for God simply to forgive sins. Instead, he must in some way satisfy every aspect of his holy character and the punishment due to his sinful people. What struck me as this chapter unfolded was not that God had to satisfy his perfect law, his honour, his justice and the moral order of the world, but that he must achieve this without compromise to his very being. .
Our Holy God must maintain the integrity of every aspect of his being. The duality of his love and justice, law and grace, righteousness and peace, wrath and mercy, faithfulness and justice, compassion and grace, holiness and love, a righteous saviour. .
Such a concept proves difficult to understand in the midst of our inconsistencies. It is not that this duality of God is irreconcilable, but that we must struggle to hold these ideas simultaneously in our futile minds. We cannot imagine a God who upholds justice by sparing the guilty, because we ourselves are incapable of such goodness, such perfection, such character. It is the stark contrast between the nature of the Holy God and the nature of fallen man. .
I eagerly anticipate the next few chapters, which discuss the reconciliation of these to natures and the total satisfaction of God’s character. .
photo credit: Nina Matthews Photography