Sin Is an Offence against God

Posted on August 12, 2014 by Matt Jury under George Stevenson

Formally considered, sin is not, with respect to God, of the nature of a personal injury, but an offence against his law and government. “He that committeth sin transgresseth also the law, for sin is the transgression of the law.” As sin is not to be viewed, in regard to God, as a private offence, so divine punishment is not to be considered as an act of private revenge, but as an act of retributive justice for the vindication of law and government. Were sin to be viewed, as committed against God, as a private injury, and divine punishment as of the nature of private revenge, there would be no room for satisfaction by substitution; for revenge will rest satisfied with nothing short of the ruin of its object. But since sin is an offence against the law and government of God, and punishment, under his administration, is for the vindication of the honour of his law and government, if this end of punishment can be gained even more effectually by satisfaction from a surety than it could possibly be by the eternal destruction of the sinner, the doctrine of satisfaction by substitution must be compatible with the honour of God’s law and moral administration.

George Stevenson, The Offices of Christ

The Splendour of His Royal Dignity

Posted on August 1, 2014 by Matt Jury under George Stevenson

His [Jesus Christ’s] presidency over the church triumphant will continue for ever. Jesus, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood; but his presidency over the worship and services of the church triumphant will constitute, if not the principal, at least one of the main functions of his priesthood in eternity. The splendour of his royal dignity will never eclipse the memorials of his death as a priest on Calvary, which he carried along with him to the throne of God. No; while eternal ages roll on, he will appear in the midst of the throne as a lamb that hath been slain, and by his appearance in this character he will continue to direct, enliven, and stimulate the praises of saints and angels for ever and ever. As believers in the church on earth are sweetly constrained, by the love of God in giving his Son to save them, and the love of the Son in giving his life a ransom for them, to devote their persons and services to God, so the saints in glory will be sweetly, yet powerfully, influenced by the same motives, in prosecuting the services of the celestial world; and these motives will be maintained in constant operation by the saints in light having perpetually in their view the memorials of that death by which they were redeemed to God out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.

George Stevenson, The Offices of Christ