The perfections, also known as the attributes, of God are often abused today. Not that people mess up on the definitions of these beautiful perfections of God, but that it can be rather easy to overemphasize one perfection/attribute over others. Such it is with the love of God. Yes, God is loving, but we must never say that His love outweighs God’s holiness, righteousness, justice, and so on. Yet, it is common to say that God’s love is the only attribute contributing to the salvation of man is dangerously wrong. As Oswald Chambers explains in today’s devotional, God does not forgive us for our sin only because He loves us. Love is an attribute included in the process of forgiveness, but true forgiveness of sins comes only through the death of His Son. This supreme act to forgive man for their sin includes all the attributes of God, not just love. At the cross, we see God’s holiness, righteousness, justice, mercy, grace, love, power, and sovereignty.
It is Finished!
"I have finished the work which You have given Me to do."
(John 17:4)
"The death of Jesus Christ is the fulfillment in history of the very mind and intent of God. There is no place for seeing Jesus Christ as a martyr. His death was not something that happened to Him— something that might have been prevented. His death was the very reason He came.
"Never build your case for forgiveness on the idea that God is our Father and He will forgive us because He loves us. That contradicts the revealed truth of God in Jesus Christ. It makes the Cross unnecessary, and the redemption “much ado about nothing.” God forgives sin only because of the death of Christ. God could forgive people in no other way than by the death of His Son, and Jesus is exalted as Savior because of His death. “We see Jesus…for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor…” (Hebrews 2:9). The greatest note of triumph ever sounded in the ears of a startled universe was that sounded on the Cross of Christ— “It is finished!” (John 19:30). That is the final word in the redemption of humankind.
"Anything that lessens or completely obliterates the holiness of God, through a false view of His love, contradicts the truth of God as revealed by Jesus Christ. Never allow yourself to believe that Jesus Christ stands with us, and against God, out of pity and compassion, or that He became a curse for us out of sympathy for us. Jesus Christ became a curse for us by divine decree. Our part in realizing the tremendous meaning of His curse is the conviction of sin. Conviction is given to us as a gift of shame and repentance; it is the great mercy of God. Jesus Christ hates the sin in people, and Calvary is the measure of His hatred."
--Oswald Chambers
Contrary to Common Sense
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