Required reading
Systematic Theology Volume 1 by Charles Hodge (Available from Amazon or free here) - Continue Chapter 5 (Nature and attributes of God) by reading up to the heading '13. The Goodness of God'.
My summary
Today we continue to learn about the attributes of God.
This week it's the justice of God. Hodge teaches us:
(i) the meaning of the word justice;
(ii) the relationship of justice to sin;
(iii) that the reformation of the sinner is not the primary objective of punishment;
(iv) that the prevention of sin is not the primary end of punishment;
(v) inadequate philosophical views of the nature of justice.
What grabbed me
I liked Hodge's point that punishment of the wicked is not ultimately for their good: 'That the good of the sufferer is not the primary end of the infliction of punishment, is proved : — 1. Because the punishment of the wicked is always, in the Scriptures, referred to the anger of God, and the chastisement of his people to his love. The cases, therefore, are not analogous. This difference of representation is designed to teach us that the wicked and the good do not stand in the same relation to God, as objects of benevolence ; but that the one He punishes to testify his disapprobation and satisfy his justice, and the other He chastises to bring them nearer to Himself. '
The punishment of the wicked is for God's good, not man's.
Next week's reading
Conclude Chapter 5 (Nature and attributes of God).
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
No comments:
Post a Comment