Required reading
Remarks on Important Theological Controversies in Vol 2 of the Works by Jonathan Edwards (Available from Amazon or free here) - Commence Chapter V 'Of satisfaction for sin' by reading up to the paragraph commencing '3. The apostle when he would express his willingness to be a made a sacrifice for his brethren...'
My summary
Today we start the chapter concerning the necessity and reasonableness of the Christian doctrine of satisfaction for sin.
Most of the reading demonstrates the necessity of satisfaction for sin and the reasonableness of the Christian doctrine because sin deserves punishment.
What grabbed me
It is always good to hear a defense of the eternal punishment of sin:
'The honour of the greatness, excellency, and majesty of God’s being, requires that sin be punished with an infinite punishment. Hitherto I have spoken of the requisiteness of God’s punishing sin, on account of the demerit and hatefulness of it absolutely considered, and not directly as God is interested in the affair. But now, if we consider sin as levelled against God, not only compensative justice to the sinner, but justice to himself, requires that God should punish sin with infinite punishment. Sin casts contempt on the majesty and greatness of God. The language of it is, that he is a despicable being, not worthy to be honoured or feared; not so great, that his displeasure is worthy to be dreaded; and that his threatenings of wrath are despicable. Now, the proper vindication or defence of God’s majesty in such a case, is, for God to contradict this language of sin, in his providence towards sin that speaks this language, or to contradict the language of sin in the event and fruit of sin. Sin says, God is a despicable being, and not worthy that the sinner should fear him; and so affronts him without fear. The proper vindication of God’s majesty from this is, for God to show, by the event, that he is worthy that the sinner should regard him and fear him, by his appearing in the fearful, dreadful event to the person guilty, that he is an infinitely fearful and terrible being. The language of sin is, that God’s displeasure is not worthy that the sinner should regard it. The proper vindication of God from this language is, to show, by the experience of the event, the infinite dreadfulness of that slighted displeasure. In such a case, the majesty of God requires this vindication. It cannot be properly vindicated without it, neither can God be just to himself without this vindication; unless there could be such a thing as a repentance, humiliation, and sorrow for this, proportionable to the greatness of the majesty despised. When the majesty of God has such contempt cast upon it, and is trodden down in the dust by vile sinners, it is not fit that this infinite and glorious majesty should be left under this contempt; but that it should be vindicated wholly from it; that it should be raised perfectly from the dust wherein it is trodden, by something opposite to the contempt, which is equivalent to it, or of weight sufficient to balance it; either an equivalent punishment, or an equivalent sorrow and repentance. So that sin must be punished with an infinite punishment.'
Sin against an infinite God means infinite punishment.
Next week's reading
Continue Chapter V 'Of satisfaction for sin' by reading up to the paragraph commencing '9. Christ suffered the wrath of God for men's sins in such a way as he was capable of....'
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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