Bible Students

First, it is important to define what God’s love and justice are, and what the atonement accomplished. John writes that God is love. This love is caring and kind, but also disciplinary in nature. The whole reason God created humanity seems to be only for the fact that He loves us. God needs nothing, yet He chose to dwell among rebellious and stiff-necked people. God’s love is the only reason we exist. 

God’s justice, on the other hand, stems from His uncontradictory nature. He can not contradict His own character, which requires punishment for sin. The nature of punishment for sin seems to be something engrained into the fabric of reality, through the nature of God. It is somewhat unclear biblically why sin must be punished. However, I believe there is a case to be made that the anger of God must be given out on sin. God is not arbitrary. It may be that the biblical description of God’s emotions has hindered an understanding of His character in some ways. It may be that God’s anger is really a human way of relating the warning sign of God’s delayed destruction of rebellion.

The atonement acted as a “switching of places” for sinners and Jesus. Rather than punish people who love Him, God used Jesus as a representative of humanity, and took out the punishment for humanity’s sin on Jesus. In order to have one’s place switched with Jesus, all one must do is love God (believing in Jesus), and the atonement of Christ will be applied to them. 

Now understanding what these three things are separately, one can understand how they fit together. The atonement is a representation of God’s love by sending His Son to die, to take the place of all sinners who love God. Those who love God do not have to endure the punishment for their sin. They are free to enjoy the blessings of God, as well as the discipline, which belong to the Son of God. This free gift is the epitome of love. The atonement also demonstrates the justice of God by not overlooking the punishment due for rebellion. God’s anger was satisfied in Christ’s atonement. God’s consistent nature was not infringed upon by the atonement because Another acted as the representative party, taking the responsibility for the rebellion, though no rebellion was found in Him.