Romans 3 Footnotes

But what kind of Father sends his Son to such a horrific death to satisfy his own sense of justice? First, Jesus voluntarily gave his life (Jn 10:14-18). So this was the eternally agreed-upon plan of Father, Son, and Spirit. Second, the triune God—not just the Son—is involved in this world’s suffering. The Father and Spirit were not detached observers but were intimately involved with the Son’s suffering on the cross. Third, consider God’s holiness and sin’s offensiveness to such a perfect, unsullied, personal Being. Sin elicits his just, wrathful response—the removal of all traces of both sin and sinner. Fourth, God has limitless love for his human creatures made in his own image. Though he could justly write humans off forever, in love God acted to save those who trust in him. So while his holiness required the just payment of death for sinners, in love he paid the penalty himself in the person of his only Son.