Proposed Statement of Faith Article 5

We believe that Jesus Christ, as our representative and substitute, shed his blood on the cross as the perfect, all-sufficient sacrifice for our sins. His atoning death and victorious resurrection constitute the only ground for salvation.

God's gospel is accomplished through the work of Jesus Christ.

In the story of our faith thus far, we have affirmed truths about the human condition and about God that, when viewed together, present an apparent clash. On the one hand, we have said that human beings are sinners by nature and by choice, alienated from God, and under his wrath (Article 3). We all stand in need of the restoration of our fallen nature, reconciliation with our creator (and with the rest of creation), and rescue from the judgment that our rebellion against God's rule deserves.

Yet we have also said that God loves people and that the gracious purpose of God from eternity has been to redeem a people for himself, allowing them to share in his own triune love. The obvious question at this point in the story is this: In the light of our sinful condition, how is God's purpose to be accomplished?

We now come to the part of our story in which we think about how the eternal God actually brought about this reconciliation between himself and fallen humanity—i.e., through the blood of Jesus. Many in our day echo the words of the German poet Heinrich Heine, which he spoke from his deathbed: "God will forgive me. That's his job." Is that true? Is forgiveness God's duty? Can't God simply forgive without punishing evil?

But the Bible affirms that God is holy and just, which means in part that he cannot tolerate evil. Evil must be punished or cosmic justice will have no meaning. If we fail to recognize that, even our human dignity as responsible moral agents will be undermined. Mere forgiveness of sinful human beings apart from the exercise of the judgment of sin would not be the path to a moral or just universe.

The resolution of this dilemma, and the core of the gospel, is found in the work of Jesus Christ. On Christ's cross, God's wrath was poured out on sin and, simultaneously, his love was demonstrated to sinful people. At the cross, God showed himself to be just even while justifying sinners (cf. Rom. 3:25–26). We will think about these wondrous things this weekend. I pray that we will all leave with deep gratitude for the cross of Jesus Christ.

To His glory,

Dr. Greg Waybright
Senior Pastor