Divine Paradoxes: Resolving Seeming Contradictions in Christian Theology
Category 3: Doctrinal Paradoxes in Salvation
1. Introduction
Christian doctrine proclaims that God is absolutely holy, completely set apart from sin and moral corruption (Isaiah 6:3; Habakkuk 1:13). At the same time, the heart of the gospel is that Christ took the place of sinners on the cross, bearing their guilt and punishment (2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 5:8). This paradox confronts the mind with a striking tension: how can the Holy One embrace the defilement of sin without compromising His purity?
2. God’s Absolute Holiness
2.1 Biblical Foundation
- Isaiah 6:3 – “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts.”
- Habakkuk 1:13 – “Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity.”
- Leviticus 11:45 – “Be ye holy, for I am holy.”
2.2 Theological Implication
- Holiness is not merely one attribute of God, but a defining perfection that governs all His actions,
- God’s holiness means He is wholly other, morally pure, and cannot tolerate sin (Psalm 5:4–5),
- Divine justice flows from divine holiness — sin must be punished or atoned for.
3. Christ Took the Place of Sinners
3.1 Scriptural Evidence
- 2 Corinthians 5:21 – “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin.”
- Isaiah 53:5–6 – “The Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
- Romans 5:8 – “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
- Galatians 3:13 – “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us.”
3.2 Substitutionary Atonement
- Christ, though sinless, stood in the place of sinners, receiving the judgment that sin deserves,
- This act does not mean He became a sinner, but rather that He was treated as though He were guilty,
- The holiness of God was not compromised, but magnified in that He judged sin in Christ’s body.
4. Theological Resolution: Holy Love Expressed in Substitution
4.1 Divine Holiness Meets Divine Love
- At the cross, God’s justice and mercy converge,
- The cross does not deny God’s holiness; rather, it demonstrates it, for God did not excuse sin — He punished it in Christ.
4.2 Christ as the Sinless Substitute
- Christ’s role is unique: He is the sinless bearer of sin,
- Hebrews 4:15 – “[He] was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”
5. Historical and Theological Perspectives
5.1 Early Church Fathers
- Athanasius – Christ became what we are to redeem what we were,
- Gregory Nazianzus – “That which He has not assumed He has not healed.”
5.2 Reformation Voices
- Martin Luther – Called the cross the “wondrous exchange” where Christ bore our sin,
- John Calvin – Emphasised penal substitution: Christ bore the punishment that was due to us.
5.3 Contemporary Theologians
- John Stott – “The essence of sin is man substituting himself for God… the essence of salvation is God substituting Himself for man.”
(The Cross of Christ, 1986)
6. Clarifying the Paradox
| Divine Attribute | Paradoxical Reality in Christ |
|---|---|
| God is perfectly holy | Yet allowed His Son to take on the guilt of sin |
| God cannot tolerate sin | Yet judged sin in the body of Christ on the cross |
| God must punish sin | Yet provided a substitute to bear that punishment |
7. Doctrinal and Devotional Implications
7.1 Confidence in God’s Justice
- God is not indifferent to sin; He dealt with it decisively in Christ,
- This assures believers of the moral integrity of God’s forgiveness.
7.2 Assurance of Salvation
- Since Christ has fully satisfied the demands of God’s holiness, believers are secure in grace,
- There is no condemnation left for those in Christ (Romans 8:1).
7.3 Call to Holiness
- Being saved by a Holy God calls Christians to live in holiness,
- 1 Peter 1:15–16 – “Be ye holy, for I am holy.”
8. Conclusion
The paradox of a Holy God allowing His sinless Son to take the place of sinners reveals the depth of divine love without compromising divine righteousness. It is not a contradiction but a convergence — where God’s wrath against sin and His mercy toward sinners meet in the crucified Christ.
References
- The Holy Bible, King James Version (KJV)
- Stott, J. (1986). The Cross of Christ. IVP.
- Calvin, J. Institutes of the Christian Religion
- Luther, M. Works
- Gregory of Nazianzus. Theological Orations
- Athanasius. On the Incarnation