Satisfaction For Sin – Hebrews 9:18-22

The entire Scriptures are permeated with expressions pertaining to God’s justice. One should not merely understand God to be just, equitable, and proper in His nature and deeds, but also that He executes justice as a Judge. This is confirmed by the following texts: “shall not the Judge of all the earth do right” (Gen 18:25); “God judges the righteous” (Ps 7:11); “Righteous art Thou, O Lord, and upright are Thy judgments” (Ps 119:137). It is common knowledge that the justice of a judge is an attribute consisting in giving everyone his just reward: treating each according to his desert whereby the guilty one is condemned and the innocent acquitted. It is an abomination before God if an earthly judge acts contrary to this (cf. Prov 17:15). However, God being Judge, who will judge all men, cannot but condemn or acquit. Both acts are attributed to God in Scripture. From this we may conclude with certainty that God cannot justify anyone unless they are righteous and free from guilt. Furthermore, since God justifies many, they are most certainly righteous. Now, in order for such persons to become righteous who in themselves most certainly are sinful and condemnable, their sin must first be punished and the law must first have been perfectly obeyed. Only in this manner will they be righteous and be able to stand before the righteous judgment of God. It is thus evident that God’s justice cannot permit sin to go unpunished. If one admits God to be Judge, one must admit that God can only condemn the sinner and must also admit of the absolute necessity of satisfaction for sin for those whom He justifies by bearing the punishment due upon sin. – Wilhelmus Brakel