The wrath of God satisfied

Have you ever been grieved about stuff that happens, genocide, rape, murder, abuse, sex slavery etc., etc? And have you ever thought “Somebody aught to do something about that?” Well somebody has, somebody is, and somebody will. I am talking about the God of all Justice, but the very same One who is the God of all mercy. One of the definitions of justice, is “The administering of deserved punishment, or reward.” If God is to be just, and He is, then injustice must be punished. So think about what kind of punishment that is deserved for the accumulated sum of every evil act, every mean thing, every abuse etc. And now consider that the Lord has laid in Him the iniquity of us all (Isaiah 53:6).

The suffering Servant Isaiah spoke of, had done no violence, nor was there any deceit in His mouth. He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for transgressors (Isaiah 53:9, 12). He is talking about you and me, for “All we like sheep have gone astray” (verse 6). The suffering Servant is Jesus (Acts 8:30-35), and it is on this One, who knew no sin (2 Corinthians 5:21), on whom the Lord laid all our sins, iniquities and transgression. The greatest injustice in creation, the crucifixion of the spotless Lamb of God atones for (takes away the sins of the world) all the injustice in creation (John 1:29; 1 Peter 1:19). The wrath of Almighty God was assuaged by Jesus’ act of obedience to the Father (Luke 22:42). In the words of the hymn “In Christ alone,” the wrath of God was satisfied.

There is a huge controversy over the wording of this line in the hymn. The controversy is not over what the original said. The controversy has to do with our discomfort at thinking that God is wrathful. Part of the problem, I suspect, is that the only examples we have likely seen of wrath, is human anger out of control. God’s wrath is not like that, it is righteous, holy anger and fully in control. We see it in Jesus driving out the corrupt money changers in the Temple (John 2:12-15). He shows us His control by making a whip of chords. God shows us His control and patience by delaying judgement until the last day. And why does He do this? It is because He is patient toward us, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). And when we come to Him in repentance and receive the free gift of salvation, then He takes our sin, and give us His righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21). In this way He can be just and the justifier of those those who have faith in Jesus (Romans 3:26).

Father, the Scriptures tell us that it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Hebrews 10:31). But in words from hymns, for those of us who to You “for refuge have fled,” there is “no guilt in life, no fear in death.” Indeed Your perfect love casts out all fear. So Lord hep us (help me) to never take all this for granted. And help us please to daily come to You to present ourselves as living sacrifices and we will give You the honour and glory in Jesus Name Amen