How God and Man are Satisfied
There is no greater sense of satisfaction than knowing one’s sins are not counted against him at the bar of God’s holy judgment. Forgiveness of sins is what allows a man to rest in Christ. Freedom from guilt and shame allows a person to live a life of peace with God and with others.
The fallen nature of man is sin, and man wills to sin all day long, by following his nature. In his ungodly thoughts, words, and actions, man displays his unrighteousness. Depraved humanity does not have right standing with God, and because sin is lawlessness, each man must be judged by God.
God’s nature is holy, and God displays His holiness by giving man the Law. Thus, man knows right from wrong by this Law. Sin is too powerful and enslaves man to a life of enmity and rebellion against the holiness of God. The Law cannot save man from sin, for it only exposes man and provokes him to sin even more.
In order for man to have right standing before God, so that he might live and not die, man must make a payment-in-full for the innumerable sins he has committed against God. He must then go and sin no more.
Not that man’s will is inclined to be right with God, but if it were, man would still not be able to pay for his sins. This leaves man without God, and without hope in the world.
Man feverishly tries to avoid death, knowing that it is appointed once for a man to die, and then comes the judgment. The troubles associated with encroaching death informs man his judgment day draweth nigh. Humanity has been warned, there is an eternal punishment, resulting from God’s righteous judgment, in order to satisfy God’s justice. Satan deceives humanity, so that people are blinded or persuaded into unbelief about their pending plight. This is observed in man’s self-assessment of his own goodness. This contradicts the Bible’s assessment. Man is helpless and deluded, but he is responsible for what he has done.
The Bible teaches us that God is merciful to people, who are ungodly, but who have been shown mercy by no merit of their own. Mercy is the only way the ungodly and God can dwell together in peace. Still, justice demands satisfaction, and it is God who satisfies His justice so that He can show mercy.
Satisfaction comes when the full payment for one’s sins has been made. Man cannot do this by himself, but God sent His only begotten Son into the world to satisfy justice, by making the payment for sins.
The perfect sinless life of Jesus Christ was offered, in love, as a substitutionary sacrifice — a vicarious satisfaction for atonement. Sin could no longer separate God from the people He chose to love, according to His eternal good pleasure.
Jesus Christ came to save His people from their sins. He bore our sins in His body on the Cross. He became sin for us, and a curse, so that God directed His wrath toward Jesus.
The punishment we deserve for all eternity in hell was suffered by the eternal Son of God. His precious blood was shed for the remission of our sins. He cancelled out our debt of sin, paying our ransom price to the law that held us, in anticipation of judgment day. He set the captives free, bringing many sons to glory. Christ is the surety, by way of substitution, of our salvation.
To understand the death of Christ, we must know our need for a substitute. There is only one who could make blood atonement with a once, for all-His-people, sacrifice acceptable to mete out perfect justice. When this vicarious payment was made, God’s mercy was justly dispersed, according to His will and decree.
God’s Word is that He will have mercy, but that is not without the satisfaction of justice. Did God accept Jesus’ substitutionary sacrifice on behalf of, and in the stead of, His elect people? Yes, He raised Jesus from the dead to demonstrate the satisfaction of justice. His righteousness is imputed to His people, and for this reason, He has made us glad. Blessed is the man whose iniquities are not counted against him (Ps 32:2).
David Norczyk
Portland, Oregon
August 1, 2021
