This series of articles will explore John Owen's work on the necessity of divine recompense. In another words, in our exposition of Owen's "Dissertation on Divine Justice", we will explore, through Owen's exposition, why it is that God must repay all sin with judgment. This judgment can be borne either by a propitiatory sacrifice, substituting for the offender in question, or its punishment can be borne by said offender.
Owen explains in this work how it is impossible for God to forgive sin merely by an arbitrary act of his will, by a motion of his hand. While some professing Christians blanch at this doctrine, it is essential to the Gospel. Without an understanding of, and submission to, this truth, we do not have a Christianity worthy of the name. Does this doctrine make of our God a merciless, petty ogre? God forbid! In fact, it is largely through the doctrine of the necessity of God's just recompense, that God's mercy is revealed in all its fullness and glory. If this is difficult to understand, it is because we have not studied the sacred writings with enough diligence. If it is difficult to accept, it is because our residual sinful nature bucks against what God.
Comments