Musing the Infinites
People spend an eternity in hell, in the lake of fire. The cause of their forever stay in outer darkness is the infinite nature of their sins. When one sins against the infinite nature of God, the punishment fits the crime. The wrath and curse due sin are infinite in nature, too.
The death of Christ must be sufficient in this same infinite way. The value of the death of Jesus Christ is based on His identity. It is true that Jesus was perfect man, having no sins to His record, either inherited nor practiced. He was unique as a genuine holy man.
If Jesus was simply a sinless man, He would not warrant an infinite value in His death. It is because He is the Son of God that He garners the infinite valuation in His death. God is infinite and eternal. Because Jesus is God, the second person of the Trinitarian Godhead, He was the God-man during His earthly habitation and ministry.
Jesus was not a man who became divine, but He was a divine Person, which means He was God who took on flesh. The course for all mankind is to be conceived in sin, born in sin, live in sin, and die in one’s trespasses and sins. The infinite number of sins committed against God is complemented by the infinite nature of each offense. The judgment for sins is meted out in God’s just wrath for all eternity, in a real place of torment (Mt 8:12; 22:13; 25:41, 46; Lk 16:23–25, 28; Jude 7; Rev 20:14–15).
Men underestimate their sin nature and the perfectly recorded account of sins committed against heaven. Sin is lawlessness, and the working of sin in each man is relentless. Theologians speak of the total depravity of man. Every inclination of the heart is only evil, all the time (Gen 6:5). The human heart is wicked and deceitful above all else (Jer 17:9).
Amazingly, despite God’s true assessment of man, made available to him in the Bible, man considers himself “good”. This self-deception is one reason why most people do not seek a resolution to their sin crisis. There is no one good, and there is no one who seeks after God for His remedy (Rom 3:10–12).
Christians witness to the world about sin, God’s law, the day of judgment, and eternal damnation. Christians also preach Christ crucified, an atonement for sin. The world finds the Bible offensive when it is clearly and accurately taught. Thus, the world manufactures an endless number and varieties of religion.
The marketplace of religions would be a sea of confusion were God’s decree of salvation not sure. The adversary has blinded unbelievers from seeing the Gospel (2 Cor 4:4). This is not a problem for God our Savior, who opens the eyes of the blind. To understand and believe God’s work of salvation is salvation itself. God has done everything necessary to save the people He has chosen for salvation, and by His appointment, they are saved. Not one is lost or stolen (Jn 10:28–29; Rom 8:31–39).
Although the world, devoid of God’s grace to believe, denies the infinite value of Christ’s substitutionary atonement on the cross, God’s people understand all of the concepts included in this article. The Christian confesses, without hesitation, that she is a totally depraved sinner. She recognizes the glory of the Law of God, but she confesses that she daily falls short of that glory. The Christian humbly acknowledges she deserves the just punishment of God’s eternal wrath. She sees herself as a pathetic wretch at the judgment bar of Almighty God.
The Bible is clear that there is no other name under heaven, given among men, where a man must be saved (Acts 4:12). There is salvation in no one else but Jesus Christ, who is God our Savior. An infinitely-valued offering for the sins of God’s people has been made by the God-man, the Just sacrificing Himself for the unjust (1 Pet 3:18).
In conclusion, we have considered the infinite nature of sin, of wrath, and of hell. There is only one counter-measure ever employed to deal with these infinite terrors. We have also considered the infinite nature of the Son of God, adding infinite value to the one time blood atonement, sufficient to cover the infinite number of sins committed against the infinite Being of God. The result: God accepted Jesus’ perfect sacrifice. Justice is satisfied. Forgiveness is granted…for an infinite amount of time. This is eternal life. It is certainly worth musing.
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
August 17, 2021
