Infinite God, Infinite Punishment

I've had the privilege the last few weeks of helping lead a small group through a study course called Two ways to Live: Know and Share the Gospel. Yesterday, we had a lively (and fun!) discussion on what Jesus' death accomplished and why the resurrection is important.


This quote from Owen summarizes well our discussion yesterday!

"The uniting of the nature of God and the nature of man in one person made Christ fit to be a Saviour to the utmost. He lays his hand upon God by partaking of his nature (Zech 13:7). And he lays his hand upon us, partaking of our nature (Heb 2:14, 16). And he becomes an umpire or referee between God and man, making sure each side fulfils its promises and obligations to the other. By this means, Christ brings God and man together who were driven apart by sin. We who were afar off are brought near to God by Christ. For this very reason, he had room enough in his spirit to bear all the wrath that was prepared for us. Sin brought infinite punishment because it was committed against an infinite God. Christ, being the infinite God in human nature, could suffer the infinite punishment that the sinner deserved. And so, by this personal union in Christ we are saved."

John Owen, Communion with God, pp. 49-50