“Only the Christian gospel presents….a way in which justice and mercy kiss each other…First, Christianity confirms the fact that justice must be satisfied. Sin must be condemned according to its demerit. This means eternal doom. The sinner must be damned because God must be inexorably holy and just. His all-powerful Being must vindicate His all-holy Being. Christianity never compromises the ever-blessed purity and excellency of the divine nature. Second, Christianity alone finds a way to satisfy infinite justice and provide infinite mercy at the same time. What no other religion has dreamed of, Jesus Christ has accomplished. He underwent the infinite wrath of God against sin and lived to bestow His mercy on the damned sinners for whom He died. The infinite Son of God took upon Himself a human nature in which He underwent the full fury of the divine wrath. The omnipotent God satisfied His violated holiness by punishing sin completely in His blessed Son, who “became sin” for His people. The justice of God was vindicated in full in the substitute, His own Son, our Saviour dear. He survived that awful vengeance and rose victor over the grave by the power of His own divinity. Now He offers to every sin-sick and “pleasure”- burdened soul an everlasting mercy. Perfect mercy and perfect justice in the gospel of the crucified.”
John Gerstner, The Problem of Pleasure, p. 24-25.
Powerful…….. What no other religion has dreamed of, Jesus Christ has accomplished…..Amen.
Amen, Oscar!
May the Lord be merciful to you and bless you. May He cause His face to shine upon you!
You are dearly loved by the Langella’s!
“Only the Christian gospel presents….a way in which justice and mercy kiss each other…” I really like that!
So may good, truth-filled points:
“Justice must be satisfied….
Sin must be condemned…
The sinner must be damned because God must be inexorably holy and just.
[God’s] all-powerful Being must vindicate His all-holy Being…
Christianity never compromises…
Christianity alone finds a way to satisfy infinite justice and provide infinite mercy at the same time.”
AMEN!!
Amen, Petra!
My, how you have summarized this so beautifully!
Yes! Only in Christianity does God satisfy His own violated holiness in the person of Jesus Christ.
“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Cor. 5:21
Blessings to you my dear sister!
Amen to Oscar and Petra’s comments! I am so blessed by this Christina! John Gerstner is Robert’s 2nd favorite author next to Pink. He always went against the flow of apostasy, as did Pink, Spurgeon, and all who stand firm for the Truth.
Thank you for sharing this wonderful piece.
Blessings to you and Steven this Lord’s Day.
Blessings to you, Diane!
From what I’ve read of Gerstner so far he has quickly become one of my favorites too! Thank God for these men who were bold and sound enough to take their stand against “the flow of apostasy”!
I pray you, Robert, and ALL the saints at Harvest have a beautiful Lord’s day!
Much love,
Christina
Great quote! Thank God for the cross where His justice was vindicated and yet His love was displayed. Have a blessed Lord’s day and week, Christina.
You too, Pilgrim Mommy!
I also loved what you shared on your blog from your pastor’s sermon. It is a great thought to start the week with!
Have a beautiful week in the Lord my dear sister!