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God is not a sinner; never sinned and never will. However, the “law of sin” had an effect upon Him. It did not begin at the time of Jesus' crucifixion; it did not begin at the time of Jesus' birth; it did not begin at the time of the prophets; it did not begin when Adam and Eve sinned. The law of sin had its effect upon God in eternity past. The gospel plan of salvation is the result of that effect upon God!

Hear Isaiah declare the effect that the law of sin had upon God and the inhabitants of the heavenly realm: “Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment, And who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; For the transgressions of My people He was stricken. And they made His grave with the wicked—But with the rich at His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was any deceit in His mouth. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand. He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, And He shall divide the spoil with the strong, Because He poured out His soul unto death, And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors.” (Isaiah 53.4-12).

“It pleased the LORD to bruise Him.” The greatest pleasure is always connected with the greatest sacrifice. That is the principle behind Isaiah's summation of God's actions and feelings “at Calvary.” However, dear reader, please understand that “At Calvary” means far more than the events of that fateful day when Jesus died. “At Calvary” is where “His soul was made and offering for sin,” and where the “Righteous Servant justified many,” and where “He bore the sin [note the singular use of the word; the total sum of all sins that have ever or will ever be committed] of many, And made intercession for the transgressors.” Yes, it pleased the LORD to bruise Him, but it was not the bruises that pleased the LORD; it was the healing that resulted from the bruises! Yes, the greatest pleasure is connected with greatest sacrifice and for that reason, the LORD knew the greatest pleasure that could ever be known, and He knew it at Calvary!

The law of sin did not die at Calvary, but the effects of the law died potentially there. There is not a single sin that was not paid for at Calvary. We went astray of our own choice, and we receive reconciliation by the same means. All we like sheep have gone astray, but just like we went astray (of our own volition), we also can hear His voice and return. The Lord Jesus Christ did not die for a few; He died for all; His sacrifice was not limited atonement (as some mistakenly teach); rather, His blood was and is an adequate sacrifice for all the sins of all of humanity!

Avoid the penalty demanded by the law of sin by rendering obedience to the gospel, God's power unto salvation (Romans 1.16-17).

Questions:

1. How did the law of sin affect God?

2. Who was the righteous Servant of Isaiah 53.11?

3. What pleased God about the crucifixion? Was it the bruises or the healing of bruises?

4. What is “limited atonement?” Why is it a false doctrine?

"Voice of Inspiration" from Andy Castro

A Lot Of Salt