I have read C.J.’s books before. My wife and I were a part of the same denomination years ago. C.J. is always a great writer. The cross is a central idea in all of his writings. This one is no exception.In this book he shows the reason Christ came.
How can a God who is just also forgive sin? If God is truly a just judge, sin has to be punished. If he just forgives, sin has not been punished. If we have all been born in sin and fall short of the glory of God, can God brush that sin under the table and just forgive us?
The answer is NO.
Think of a judge. A murderer comes before him. The judge declares him guilty, and then frees him. Is that judge a just judge? No, he would be considered evil because he let the guilty go free without punishment.
God, being a just judge, can not just forgive sin. Sin has to be punished. That is where the mediator comes in. Jesus came to this earth, became a man, and suffered our punishment. God could punish sin through Christ.
Sin is now justly dealt with. God is Just and the Justifier!! Christ is a bridge between a just God and sinful man. He was both man and God. He is the bridge between heaven and earth.
Wow, what wisdom and logic. Man could never have come up with that solution. All other religions believe man has to do something to make it to heaven. Christianity says someone else done something that we may go to heaven.
The only way we can pay for our own sin is by spending eternity in hell. The problem is - how can someone else pay for your sin? Only Christ can. Other men have sinned, so could only pay for their own sins. Only Christ was sinless. He had no sin to pay for. His death could be in our place.
We should bow down in adoration, not only for God's grace on us, but also for His wisdom. What is impossible for man, is possible with God.
This was a short but great book. I highly recommend it. C.J. writes with precision but also with emotion and zeal.
*This book was provided free by Multnomah Books in exchange for an honest review
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