The Divine Abomination

“He that justifies the wicked, and he that condemns the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.” – Pro 17:15

The 18th century English hymnist, Joseph Hart, wrote in one of his hymns, “A sinner is a sacred thing; the Holy Ghost hath made him so”. It’s a strange construct, but checks out with scripture. Rom 4:5 calls God “Him that justifies the ungodly”.

That’s a very serious statement; because Pr 24:24 says, “He that says unto the wicked, you are righteous; him shall the people curse...”

What’s more, God told the Israelites in Ex 23:7 “Keep far from a false matter; and the innocent and righteous slay you not: for I will not justify the wicked.” This verse seems to worsen the conundrum, because now it mentions slaying “the innocent and righteous”; which is exactly what happened at the Cross!

At Calvary, the One in whom the Father admits is the Son in whom He is “well pleased” received the full brunt of said Father’s wrath  so much that the Son cried out to Him “Why have you forsaken me?” (Mt 3:17; 27:46). When the prophet Isaiah presciently saw the Cross, he declared that “It pleased the LORD to bruise Him (Christ) (Is 53:10).

So, in one swoop, God justified the wicked (me) and condemned the just (Jesus), which is exactly the abomination Pro 17:15 talks about.

Or is it?

Completing our Isaiah prophecy, he says “thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin...” and Paul explains it further in 2Cor 5:21 when he says that God had “made Him, who knew no sin, to be sin for us; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

So, no, Jesus wasn’t innocent at the Cross, He was there as ME – weak, sinful, and guilty of every just judgment of God. And I, – “through the operation of God” (Col 2:12) – stand faultless and justified through Christ’s righteousness.

God's mercy is so abundant, and his love for us is so great, that while we were spiritually dead in our disobedience he brought us to life with Christ. –  Eph 2:4-5 GNB)

AMEN.

More Blessings await you today; you’ll not miss them in Jesus’ Name.

GREG ELKAN