Divine Paradoxes: Resolving Seeming Contradictions in Christian Theology
Category 3: Doctrinal Paradoxes in Salvation
1. Introduction
The Bible clearly teaches that God is the righteous Judge who upholds justice (Psalm 9:8; Romans 2:5–6). Yet, paradoxically, the New Testament reveals that this same God was judged in the person of Jesus Christ, bearing the punishment for human sin. This paradox confronts us with the astonishing mystery of divine justice and mercy meeting at the Cross, where the Judge becomes the condemned to justify the guilty.
2. God Is the Righteous Judge
2.1 Scriptural Foundations
- Genesis 18:25 – “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?”
- Psalm 9:8 – “He shall judge the world in righteousness.”
- Romans 2:5–6 – “God… will render to every man according to his deeds.”
- Hebrews 12:23 – “God the Judge of all.”
2.2 Theological Meaning
- God is the ultimate moral authority,
- His judgments are always right, impartial, and holy,
- He cannot overlook sin without compromising His justice.
3. Christ Was Judged in Our Place
3.1 Scriptural Evidence
- Isaiah 53:5 – “He was wounded for our transgressions… the chastisement of our peace was upon Him.”
- Romans 8:3 – “God sending His own Son… condemned sin in the flesh.”
- 2 Corinthians 5:21 – “For He hath made Him to be sin for us… that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.”
- Galatians 3:13 – “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us.”
3.2 Christ Judged as Substitute
- Christ was sinless, yet willingly bore the penalty of sin,
- God did not set aside justice, but executed it upon Himself in Christ,
- This was not injustice, but substitutionary atonement.
4. Theological Resolution: The Judge Becomes the Justifier
4.1 Substitutionary Atonement
- In Christ, God took upon Himself the judgment due to sinners,
- This preserved both His justice and His mercy (Romans 3:26).
4.2 Penal Substitution without Divine Division
- The Trinity was not divided—Father, Son, and Spirit were united in redeeming love,
- The Son bore the wrath voluntarily, not as an outsider, but as God incarnate.
4.3 Divine Initiative
- The Cross was not man pleading for mercy, but God initiating salvation, even through judgment (John 3:16; Romans 5:8).
5. Historical Theological Perspectives
5.1 Church Fathers
- Athanasius: The Word took on flesh to offer His own body for judgment.
- Gregory Nazianzus: He who is Judge, judged Himself for us.
5.2 Medieval and Reformation Thought
- Anselm: Divine honour was restored by God making satisfaction Himself.
- Luther: The Cross was God forsaking God to redeem man.
- Calvin: Christ bore the whole weight of divine justice to reconcile sinners.
5.3 Modern Theology
- John Stott: The Cross is where love and justice perfectly meet.
- J.I. Packer: Penal substitution is the heart of the gospel, revealing God’s integrity and grace.
6. Clarifying the Paradox
| Divine Attribute | Apparent Contradiction |
|---|---|
| God is Judge | Yet He was judged in the person of Christ |
| God condemns sin | Yet bore the condemnation Himself |
| God demands justice | Yet paid the penalty Himself |
Resolution: God did not bypass justice; He fulfilled it through self-substitution, offering righteousness without compromise.
7. Doctrinal and Devotional Implications
7.1 Confidence in Forgiveness
- Our sin has been fully judged in Christ—no guilt remains (Romans 8:1).
7.2 The Gravity of Sin
- The Cross shows how seriously God takes sin—it cost Him everything.
7.3 Model of Self-Giving Love
- God, the Judge, absorbed judgment—calling us to imitate such sacrificial love (1 John 4:10–11).
8. Conclusion
The paradox of God the Judge being judged in Christ is central to the gospel. It upholds God’s perfect justice while revealing infinite mercy. In Christ’s condemnation, believers find justification. The Cross does not soften divine justice—it satisfies it in the most astonishing, loving way possible.
References
- The Holy Bible, King James Version (KJV)
- Athanasius, On the Incarnation
- Anselm, Cur Deus Homo
- Luther, The Freedom of a Christian
- Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion
- Stott, J. The Cross of Christ
- Packer, J.I. Knowing God