Solving the Paradox
Published on: February 9, 2025
Introduction
The central paradox of the gospel is how God can be both perfectly just and infinitely loving. His justice demands that sin be punished (Ezekiel 18:4, Romans 6:23), yet His love desires to save sinners (John 3:16). The cross is where these two attributes meet in perfect harmony.
The Demand of Justice
God’s righteousness requires that sin be judged. He cannot overlook evil without violating His own holy nature.
| Principle | Scripture |
|---|---|
| Sin’s Consequence | "The soul who sins shall die." (Ezekiel 18:4) |
| The Wages of Sin | "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23) |
| The Law’s Verdict | "For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin." (Romans 3:20) |
If God were only just, humanity would be without hope, for no one can meet His perfect standard (Romans 3:23). But God is also love.
The Depth of God’s Love
In His mercy, God provided a way of salvation through Jesus Christ.
| Expression of Love | Scripture |
|---|---|
| Christ’s Sacrifice | "But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8) |
| God’s Gift of Salvation | "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16) |
| Jesus, the Substitute | "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." (2 Corinthians 5:21) |
The Cross: Where Love and Justice Meet
God’s justice was fully satisfied at the cross. Jesus bore the penalty of sin, demonstrating both His holiness and His mercy.
| Aspect | Scripture |
|---|---|
| Justice Satisfied | "Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief." (Isaiah 53:10) |
| Atonement for Sin | "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us." (Galatians 3:13) |
| Just and Justifier | "So that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus." (Romans 3:26) |
Faith: The Key to Reconciliation
Salvation is not earned by works but received by faith.
| Means of Salvation | Scripture |
|---|---|
| Justification by Faith | "Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 5:1) |
| Grace, Not Works | "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9) |
| No Condemnation | "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." (Romans 8:1) |
Consider Wisely
Through Christ and Christ alone, God remains just while offering salvation to all who believe. The paradox of love and justice is solved at the cross, where Jesus bore sin’s penalty and opened the way to eternal life.
John 14:6
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 10:9 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.
If the cross alone was the way that God solved the need for justice and love, then by what other method can you get to God?
In the next section you will see how God chose people to deliver his message of salvation beforehand. God uses prophecy to appeal to our intellect. He uses the Law to appeal to our conscience.