Divine Paradoxes: Resolving Seeming Contradictions in Christian Theology
Category 3: Doctrinal Paradoxes in Salvation
1. Introduction
One of the most profound paradoxes in the Christian faith is that the perfectly righteous God condemned the sinless Christ. Scripture proclaims God’s absolute justice—He does not clear the guilty (Exodus 34:7)—yet Jesus, who knew no sin, was treated as if He were guilty (2 Corinthians 5:21). This tension between divine justice and Christ’s condemnation lies at the heart of the doctrine of substitutionary atonement, where God’s righteousness is not compromised but fulfilled through the suffering of the innocent on behalf of the guilty.
2. Scriptural Foundations
2.1 God Is Righteous
- Deuteronomy 32:4 – “A God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.”
- Psalm 11:7 – “For the Lord is righteous; he loves righteous deeds.”
- Romans 3:26 – “That he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.”
2.2 Christ Was Condemned
- Isaiah 53:5–6 – “He was wounded for our transgressions… the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
- Mark 15:15 – “Pilate… delivered Jesus… to be crucified.”
- 2 Corinthians 5:21 – “He hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin.”
3. Theological Meaning
The condemnation of Christ was not a miscarriage of justice, but the divinely ordained substitution for sinners. God remained righteous because He did not ignore sin; rather, He punished it in Christ, who voluntarily bore the penalty. In doing so, God preserved both His justice and His mercy.
4. Paradox Explained
| Divine Attribute | Apparent Contradiction | Doctrinal Resolution |
|---|---|---|
| Righteous and Just | God condemns the innocent Christ | Christ was condemned as substitute for sin |
| Sinless Saviour | Treated as if guilty | He bore the guilt of others willingly |
| Justice Maintained | Yet mercy extended to sinners | Justice satisfied in Christ’s sacrifice |
5. Christ as the Fulfilment of Both Aspects
- Jesus was the only sinless man (Hebrews 4:15),
- He was judged as a transgressor (Isaiah 53:12),
- Yet in doing so, He fulfilled the righteous requirements of the Law (Romans 8:3–4),
- The cross was not divine injustice, but perfect justice applied to the innocent for the sake of the guilty.
6. Historical Theological Perspectives
6.1 Early Church
- Athanasius: The death of Christ was necessary to satisfy divine justice and restore humanity.
- Gregory Nazianzen: Christ’s substitution was a mysterious act of love and justice.
6.2 Reformation
- Martin Luther: Christ was made sin so that sinners might be made righteous—a divine exchange.
- John Calvin: God’s righteousness was satisfied when He condemned sin in Christ’s flesh.
6.3 Evangelical Theology
- R.C. Sproul: The cross is where “justice and mercy kiss.”
- John Stott: At the cross, God proved His righteousness by punishing sin, while saving sinners.
7. Doctrinal Implications
- The cross is not divine injustice, but justice carried out righteously,
- Christ’s death shows the seriousness of sin and the depth of God’s love,
- Believers are declared righteous because Christ was condemned in their place.
8. Devotional Applications
- Worship with awe for the One who was condemned in your place,
- Repent seriously, knowing the cost of your forgiveness,
- Live righteously, because your sin was not ignored—it was judged at the cross.
9. Summary Table
| Reality Affirmed | Explanation |
|---|---|
| God is Righteous | Never ignores sin or lets guilt go unpunished |
| Christ Was Condemned | Bore punishment as substitute for the guilty |
| Believers Are Justified | By the righteousness of Christ credited to them |
10. Conclusion
God’s righteousness is not suspended at the cross—it is most clearly displayed there. The condemnation of Christ was not a denial of justice but its fulfilment in mercy. The sinless One stood in the place of the sinful so that justice might be satisfied and grace might be extended. This paradox is the beating heart of the gospel: the righteous Judge condemned the Righteous One, that the unrighteous might be declared righteous in Him.
References
- The Holy Bible, King James Version (KJV)
- Athanasius. On the Incarnation
- Gregory of Nazianzus. Theological Orations
- Luther, M. Commentary on Galatians
- Calvin, J. Institutes of the Christian Religion
- Stott, J. The Cross of Christ
- Sproul, R.C. The Holiness of God