Divine Paradoxes: Resolving Seeming Contradictions in Christian Theology
Category 3: Doctrinal Paradoxes in Salvation
1. Introduction
One of the most astonishing declarations in Scripture is that God justifies the ungodly (Romans 4:5). At face value, this appears contradictory: how can a perfectly righteous God, who cannot tolerate sin (Habakkuk 1:13), legally declare sinners righteous without violating His own justice? This paradox lies at the heart of the gospel and opens the way to understand justification not as moral compromise, but as the profound outworking of divine grace through substitution.
2. The Holiness and Justice of God
2.1 Scriptural Foundations
- Deuteronomy 32:4 – “All His ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is He.”
- Exodus 34:7 – “[He] will by no means clear the guilty.”
- Proverbs 17:15 – “He who justifies the wicked is an abomination to the Lord.”
2.2 Theological Emphasis
- God’s character is unchangeably righteous,
- He cannot overlook or excuse guilt arbitrarily,
- His justice demands payment or atonement for sin.
3. Justification of the Ungodly
3.1 Scriptural Affirmations
- Romans 4:5 – “God justifies the ungodly.”
- Romans 3:26 – “That He might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.”
- 2 Corinthians 5:21 – “For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.”
3.2 What It Means
- The ungodly are not declared righteous based on their works,
- Justification is a legal declaration, not moral transformation,
- It is based entirely on Christ’s righteousness credited by faith.
4. Doctrinal Resolution: Substitutionary Atonement and Imputed Righteousness
4.1 Christ as Substitute
- Jesus bore the penalty of sin on behalf of sinners (Isaiah 53:5–6),
- God’s justice is satisfied in the cross, not set aside.
4.2 Imputation
- Our sins are imputed to Christ,
- His perfect obedience is imputed to believers (Philippians 3:9).
4.3 Righteousness Apart from Law
- Romans 3:21 – “But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is manifested…”
- Justification reveals a righteousness that is external, objective, and divine.
5. Historical Theological Perspectives
5.1 Early Church
- Athanasius: Emphasised Christ’s substitution to restore righteousness.
- Augustine: Justification as the infusion of grace, yet grounded in divine mercy.
5.2 Reformation
- Martin Luther: Declared justification to be “the article by which the church stands or falls.”
- John Calvin: Taught justification as a forensic act—not making righteous, but declaring righteous through union with Christ.
5.3 Modern Theology
- J.I. Packer: Defined justification as “God’s act of unmerited favour by which He puts a sinner right with Himself.”
- R.C. Sproul: Defended the doctrine as essential to preserve God’s justice and grace simultaneously.
6. Clarifying the Paradox
| Divine Attribute | Apparent Contradiction |
|---|---|
| God is perfectly just | Yet He declares the guilty to be righteous |
| Sin must be punished | Yet sinners are forgiven and accepted |
| Wickedness is abominable | Yet the wicked are justified by faith |
Resolution: God does not ignore sin, but punishes it fully in Christ, so He remains both just and the justifier (Romans 3:26).
7. Doctrinal and Devotional Implications
7.1 Assurance of Salvation
- Justification is secure, since it depends on Christ’s work, not ours.
7.2 Grounds for Humility
- We are declared righteous though undeserving, eliminating all boasting (Ephesians 2:8–9).
7.3 Motivation for Holiness
- Justification is not an excuse to sin but a call to grateful obedience (Romans 6:1–4).
8. Conclusion
This paradox—God declaring the ungodly righteous—reveals the deepest beauty of the gospel. The justice of God is not set aside but satisfied, and the ungodly are welcomed not through works, but through faith in Christ. In this act, the righteousness of God is vindicated, and the grace of God is glorified.
References
- The Holy Bible, King James Version (KJV)
- Augustine, On Grace and Free Will
- Calvin, J., Institutes of the Christian Religion
- Luther, M., Commentary on Galatians
- Packer, J.I., Knowing God
- Sproul, R.C., Faith Alone: The Evangelical Doctrine of Justification
- Stott, J., The Cross of Christ