never did God appear more glorious. By Thomas Charles We considered
him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. He was
pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities.
The punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his
wounds we are healed. Isaiah chapter 53 verses 4 to
5 God is as glorious in punishing sin as he is in pardoning sin. Never did God appear more glorious
than when He was pouring out His wrath on the Son of His love
for our sins. Justice and mercy, holiness and
love shone there with united and transcendent splendor. The
same glory of God which shines in punishing sin in hell appeared
in His punishing it on the cross. Does not God deserve to be loved
for the one as well as for the other? Does He not deserve to
be loved wherever and in whatever manner He causes His glorious
justice to appear? That man never had true grace
who does not love God for punishing sin as well as for pardoning
it. Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming
a curse for us. For it is written, Cursed is
everyone who is hung on a tree. Galatians 3.13 He himself bore
our sins in his body on the tree. 1 Peter 2.24