Doctrinal Paradoxes in Salvation
-
37 – God Is the Judge, Yet Christ Was Judged: Justice and Substitution in the Atonement
Divine Paradoxes: Resolving Seeming Contradictions in Christian TheologyCategory 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,…
-
38 – God Declares the Ungodly Righteous: Justice and Justification
Divine Paradoxes: Resolving Seeming Contradictions in Christian TheologyCategory 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…
-
39 – God Is Blessed, Yet Christ Was Cursed
Divine Paradoxes: Resolving Seeming Contradictions in Christian TheologyCategory 3: Doctrinal Paradoxes in Salvation 1. Introduction God is described in Scripture as eternally blessed, full of joy, glory, and divine favour (1 Timothy 1:11; Romans 9:5). Yet the crucifixion presents a striking contrast: Christ, the Son of God, was cursed as…
-
40 – God Is Holy, Yet Christ Took the Place of Sinners
Divine Paradoxes: Resolving Seeming Contradictions in Christian TheologyCategory 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…
-
41 – God Is Righteous, Yet Christ Was Condemned: Justice and the Substitute
Divine Paradoxes: Resolving Seeming Contradictions in Christian TheologyCategory 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…
-
42 – Salvation is Free, Yet Costs Everything: Grace Without Price and the Call to Total Surrender
Divine Paradoxes: Resolving Seeming Contradictions in Christian TheologyCategory 3: Doctrinal Paradoxes in Salvation 1. Introduction The New Testament consistently teaches that salvation is a free gift of God’s grace (Romans 6:23). It cannot be earned by human merit, effort, or righteousness. And yet, Jesus also declares that following Him requires…
-
43 – Justified by Faith, Yet Judged by Works: Harmonising Grace and Accountability
Divine Paradoxes: Resolving Seeming Contradictions in Christian TheologyCategory 3: Doctrinal Paradoxes in Salvation 1. Introduction Christian doctrine boldly proclaims that sinners are justified by faith alone (Romans 3:28), apart from works. At the same time, Scripture teaches that every person will be judged according to their works (Romans 2:6; Revelation…
-
44 – Already Saved, Yet Still Being Sanctified: The Tension Between Justification and Growth in Holiness
Divine Paradoxes: Resolving Seeming Contradictions in Christian TheologyCategory 3: Doctrinal Paradoxes in Salvation 1. Introduction Christian theology affirms that believers are already saved through faith in Jesus Christ, fully justified before God (Romans 5:1). Yet the New Testament also teaches that believers are to be progressively sanctified, striving toward holiness…
-
45 – Elected Before Time, Yet Called in Time: The Mystery of Eternal Choice and Temporal Invitation
Divine Paradoxes: Resolving Seeming Contradictions in Christian TheologyCategory 3: Doctrinal Paradoxes in Salvation 1. Introduction The doctrine of election poses a profound tension: Scripture teaches that believers are chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4), yet they are also called and justified within history (Romans 8:30).…
-
46 – Christ Died for All, Yet Only Some Are Saved: The Tension Between Universal Atonement and Particular Redemption
Divine Paradoxes: Resolving Seeming Contradictions in Christian TheologyCategory 3: Doctrinal Paradoxes in Salvation 1. Introduction One of the most profound tensions in Christian theology arises from the assertion that Christ’s atoning death was for all, yet not all will be saved. Verses such as 1 John 2:2 affirm that Jesus…
-
47 – Lose Your Life to Find It: The Gospel of Self-Denial and Resurrection
Divine Paradoxes: Resolving Seeming Contradictions in Christian TheologyCategory 3: Doctrinal Paradoxes in Salvation 1. Introduction One of Jesus’ most startling teachings is that true life begins with self-denial and death to self. In Matthew 16:25, He declares, “Whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his…
-
48 – Weakness is Strength: Power Perfected in Human Frailty
Divine Paradoxes: Resolving Seeming Contradictions in Christian TheologyCategory 3: Doctrinal Paradoxes in Salvation 1. Introduction Christianity proclaims a profound paradox: true strength is found in weakness. This teaching runs contrary to worldly notions of power, self-sufficiency, and dominance. Yet in 2 Corinthians 12:9, Christ declares to Paul, “My grace is…
-
49 – Last Will Be First: Divine Reversal and the Ethics of the Kingdom
Divine Paradoxes: Resolving Seeming Contradictions in Christian TheologyCategory 3: Doctrinal Paradoxes in Salvation 1. Introduction One of Jesus’ most repeated paradoxes is: “The last shall be first, and the first last” (Matthew 19:30; 20:16; Mark 10:31). In a world governed by hierarchy, status, and merit, this reversal appears irrational. Yet…
-
50 – Die to Live: Self-Denial as the Path to Eternal Life
Divine Paradoxes: Resolving Seeming Contradictions in Christian TheologyCategory 3: Doctrinal Paradoxes in Salvation 1. Introduction At the heart of the Christian message lies a paradox that defies worldly logic: in order to truly live, one must die. Jesus declared, “He that loseth his life for my sake shall find it”…
-
51 – Slaves of Christ, Yet Truly Free: Servitude as Spiritual Liberty
Divine Paradoxes: Resolving Seeming Contradictions in Christian TheologyCategory 3: Doctrinal Paradoxes in Salvation 1. Introduction The Christian life presents a striking paradox: believers are called “slaves of Christ” (Romans 6:22; 1 Corinthians 7:22), yet simultaneously promised perfect freedom (Galatians 5:1; John 8:36). In the world’s eyes, slavery is inherently oppressive.…