8.38 The love of God satisfied the justice of God on the cross

Some people may still find it difficult to reconcile the image of God as a Father, and that of a Judge. Christ has reconciled the two. God has exhausted His judgment for our sins on the cross so that there is no judgment or condemnation left for us. Our sins have been righteously judged in the body of Jesus. Love has satisfied the full demands of God’s justice.

When Elijah made the sacrifice on Mt. Carmel, the fire of God burned up the sacrifice plus the water in the trench around the altar. The judgment of God was greater than the animal sacrifice. But when Jesus took the judgment of God on the cross, He was left standing. Jesus, the Son of God was greater than the judgment of God for the whole world.

Isaiah 53 describes in detail the suffering Messiah on the cross. After the work was finished, Isaiah 54 tells us that God will no longer be angry with us, and His kindness shall not depart from us.

(Isaiah 54:9-10)
“For this is like the waters of Noah to Me;
For as I have sworn that the waters of Noah would no longer cover the earth,
So have I sworn that I would not be angry with you or rebuke you.
For the mountains shall depart And the hills be removed,
But my kindness shall not depart from you,
Nor shall My covenant of peace be removed,”
Says the Lord, who has mercy on you.

All that is left to be meted out is the love of God. This is why the Bible says that there is no fear in love. The fear here is referring to the fear of judgment which involves torment. The perfect love of God which is manifested through Christ casts out all our fears of judgment.

(1 John 4:18)
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.

Because there is no fear of judgment before God, we can come boldly to the throne of grace before our Father (Heb 4:16). While Israel trembled and stood afar at Mount Sinai, we are seated in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus at the right hand of the Father.

Today, we do not relate to God as our judge, who is out to catch us doing wrong, and who delights to punish us. In fact, He does not delight in judgment. James 2:13 says that mercy triumphs over judgment. Micah 7:18 says that God delights in mercy.

Today, we relate to God as our Father, full of love, full of acceptance, full of delight in us – because we are in Christ. We see ourselves as the sons of God. John 1:12 says, “But as many as received Him [Jesus], to them He gave the right to become children of God…” Rom 8:16 says that the Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. We live our lives as the sons of God, in the image of our Father.