I recently began reading a blog entitled “Irish Calvinist” by a pastor in Nebraska and would say that it is worth reading if you are into blogs. It is gospel centered, biblical, practical, and seems to be written with humility and thoughtfulness.
A post I read today struck a chord with me and articulated something that I have thought about before but never really worked through thoroughly- The cross is the ultimate display of God in the glorious splendor of His attributes.
Below is the most significant part of the post although if you want you can read the whole thing here.
The cross of the Jesus is indeed the supreme demonstration of the divine attributes. Where do we find God distinguished as holy more than through the transcendent requirements and achievement of perfection? Surely the priests in Leviticus knew much of God’s holiness, but they merely looked in a glass dimly, but when we see with spiritual lasex, we behold the holiness of God in manifold splendor! We see holiness incarnate nailed to a wooden tree by the demands of divine holiness that he might make unholy men and women holy and blameless. Indeed this is magnificent!
Consider also God’s love. You may say you see God loving in creation or through the giving of life and you are right. However, this pales in comparison to the Son of God, the very object of the Father’s affections, yes even the supreme delight and satisfaction of God, Jesus Christ himself, offered up to redeem rebels. Can you find God’s love more vividly, more beautifully, more heavenly than this?
Consider also God’s righteousness. Oh yes the inflexible divine attribute that is has been plaguing consciences throughout history. God’s righteousness is not seen supremely in the threatenings of the Law or the thunders of Sinai, but rather upon the hill of Calvary. For it is here that we see God’s infinite and unflinching righteousness relentlessly pursuing its vindication in the unleashing of all that is right, good, and just upon the substitute for all that is wrong, bad and filthy. Yes here in the shadow of the cross we see righteousness supremely demonstrated and vindicated. There is nothing like it.
Stand with me in the shadow of the cross and see God’s attributes perfectly illuminated. Tremble at his holiness in the demands of his sacrifice, be convicted and comforted by the unfathomable love that demanded and accomplished Calvary, feel you knees knock as you behold the gasping Son drink dry the eternal vat of condemnation that was due you as he bears all of the burden of divine righteousness.
Stand in the shadow of the cross to learn of God, for it is here where the Son of God was set forth to amplify and supremely demonstrate all of the divine perfections. Stand here and fall in love with this dangerously lovely God and his supremely beautiful Son. Stand here and marvel. Stand here and worship. Stand here and don’t move, you are right where God wants you.
It is amazing to begin to understand how God illumined Himself in the Cross. I had the joy to sit under the teaching of “Attributes of God in light of the Cross” for weeks and, praise to my God, I am humbly allowed to continue to learn and be taught by “The IrishCalvinist” on this issue daily. I see him display the joys of Christ in his life, exclaiming it to others, pleading for Christians to be made holy and be a sweet aroma to God, and pleading with the unbelieving to repent. Being a daily witness to his love for Christ and hearing his love for Jesus in his post made me praise God and I thought with a smile, “I’m married to this man?!? ;*) Thank you Jesus!”
Thanks for the connection. It is always sweet to hear how the word is being promoted and advanced in other areas of the country.