A Unique Blend

It’s the name of a construction company. One article uses this phrase to describe the combination of elements on earth that make life possible. A vintage antiques store has this name—as does a wedding shop, a coffee company, a bed and breakfast, a software package, and a lecture on the leadership skills of Winston Churchill. People seem to like the expression a unique blend.

When it comes to describing the divine attributes of the Godhead, Jesus has blended seemingly divergent elements into a view of God that powerfully brings salvation to our world. We know the Bible verse well: “God is love” (1 John 4:8). But we sometimes struggle to connect love and justice, mercy and truth, peace and righteousness. It can appear like trying to stir together water and wax.

From a human perspective, when a person does wrong, the proper response is to carry out the law and make things right. If a criminal is let off the hook, they’ll go back and commit more evil acts. The best approach is to carry out natural consequences and bring down the law … hard. But God took a different tactic that uniquely blended the fulfillment of the law with compassion.

In the life, death, and resurrection of Christ, the combination of God’s love and justice is perfectly offered to our fallen planet. “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Because “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23), we are all in a hopeless state since “all have sinned” (Romans 3:23). But the Lord gave the world an immeasurable present: “The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

God’s character is a unique blend of grace and justice. Heaven has enacted a plan to bring salvation to sinful humanity whereby “the righteous requirements of the law” (Romans 2:26) have been satisfied in Christ. For “in Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7).

Apply It:

Think of an illustration in the natural world where two opposites create a whole, such as opposing poles in a magnet.

Dig Deeper:

Exodus 34:6, 7; Isaiah 32:17; Romans 5:18, 19