[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":549},["ShallowReactive",2],{"footer-links":3,"content-\u002Fshema\u002Fconcerns\u002Flove-of-god":12},[4,9],{"path":5,"title":6,"type":7,"isExternal":8},"\u002Fabout","About","link",false,{"path":10,"title":11,"type":7,"isExternal":8},"\u002Fdisclaimer","Disclaimer",{"id":13,"title":14,"body":15,"description":540,"extension":541,"meta":542,"navigation":544,"path":545,"seo":546,"stem":547,"__hash__":548},"content\u002Fshema\u002Fconcerns\u002Flove-of-god.md","God Loves For His Son",{"type":16,"value":17,"toc":529},"minimark",[18,22,30,48,53,67,83,104,119,123,150,153,157,168,195,206,210,246,278,331,335,367,401,408,430,434,478,498,502],[19,20,14],"h1",{"id":21},"god-loves-for-his-son",[23,24,25,29],"p",{},[26,27,28],"em",{},"If the Father loved His Son, why send him to die instead of dying Himself?"," This is a serious moral question, especially for anyone who has seen a parent demand suffering from a child. It deserves more than an assurance that the outcome was good.",[23,31,32,33,38,39,42,43,47],{},"The question also needs an accurate account of what Christians claim. The Father is ",[34,35,37],"a",{"href":36},"..\u002F..\u002Fhuman\u002Fdistinct","distinct"," from the Son. Christians do not generally say that ",[26,40,41],{},"the Father died",". Most Christians affirm that ",[44,45,46],"strong",{},"the Son suffered and died",".",[49,50,52],"h2",{"id":51},"the-fathers-compassion-and-love","The Father's Compassion and Love",[23,54,55,56,59,60,66],{},"The LORD describes Himself as ",[44,57,58],{},"merciful, gracious and patient, abounding in steadfast love",", forgiving sin without simply clearing the guilty (",[61,62,65],"span",{"className":63,"dataReference":65},[64],"bible-ref","Exodus 34:6","–7). These belong together. Mercy does not mean that wrongdoing is harmless. Justice does not mean that God has stopped caring for those caught in it.",[23,68,69,73,74,77,78,82],{},[61,70,72],{"className":71,"dataReference":72},[64],"Psalm 103:8",", 13 compares the LORD’s compassion with a ",[44,75,76],{},"father’s compassion for his children",". ",[61,79,81],{"className":80,"dataReference":81},[64],"Genesis 6:6"," says that human evil grieved Him. These passages come before any account of Jesus’ death. They do not picture a distant God who needs to be persuaded to care, or one who enjoys watching suffering.",[23,84,85,89,90,94,95,98,99,103],{},[61,86,88],{"className":87,"dataReference":88},[64],"John 3:16","–17 says God loved the world and sent His Son so that people might have life rather than perish. ",[61,91,93],{"className":92,"dataReference":93},[64],"Romans 5:8"," states, “but God shows his ",[44,96,97],{},"love"," for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” ",[61,100,102],{"className":101,"dataReference":102},[64],"Romans 5:9","–11 also speaks of judgement, reconciliation and salvation. Love here does not erase the problem of sin or pretend that judgement is unreal.",[23,105,106,107,111,112,115,116,47],{},"Likewise, ",[61,108,110],{"className":109,"dataReference":110},[64],"1 John 4:9","–10 places the initiative with God. The Father sent His Son because ",[44,113,114],{},"He loved",", not because the Son ",[26,117,118],{},"persuaded an unwilling Father to become merciful",[49,120,122],{"id":121},"the-son-gives-himself-willingly","The Son Gives Himself Willingly",[23,124,125,126,129,130,134,135,139,140,144,145,149],{},"An unwilling child handed over to violence would be a disturbing comparison. Jesus’ own words resist it. Speaking of his life, he says, “No one takes it from me, but I ",[44,127,128],{},"lay it down of my own accord","” (",[61,131,133],{"className":132,"dataReference":133},[64],"John 10:18","). His ",[34,136,138],{"href":137},"..\u002F..\u002Fhuman\u002Ftemptations","temptations"," show that his obedience was tested (",[61,141,143],{"className":142,"dataReference":143},[64],"Matthew 4:1","–11). He also says that he received this charge from his Father. His willing action does not cancel ",[34,146,148],{"href":147},"#the-fathers-compassion-and-love","the Father’s initiative",". The Father’s command does not erase the Son’s agency.",[23,151,152],{},"Willingness, however, does not turn suffering into something easy or make consent a general excuse for another person to demand a sacrifice. Jesus’ particular mission gives no parent, leader or institution permission to force someone else into harm. The claim is about what this Son gave of himself, not a rule that vulnerable people must accept abuse.",[49,154,156],{"id":155},"his-human-suffering-was-real","His Human Suffering Was Real",[23,158,159,160,129,163,167],{},"Jesus did not face death without anguish. In Gethsemane he prayed, “Yet ",[44,161,162],{},"not what I will, but what you will",[61,164,166],{"className":165,"dataReference":166},[64],"Mark 14:36",").",[23,169,170,171,129,174,178,179,182,183,186,187,129,190,194],{},"Isaiah does not soften the Father’s involvement when it speaks of “the ",[44,172,173],{},"will of the LORD to crush him",[61,175,177],{"className":176,"dataReference":177},[64],"Isaiah 53:10","). Nor does the Father’s purpose excuse the executioners. Peter says Jesus was delivered up according to “the ",[44,180,181],{},"definite plan and foreknowledge of God","”, while telling his hearers, “you ",[44,184,185],{},"crucified and killed","” him. “",[44,188,189],{},"God raised him up",[61,191,193],{"className":192,"dataReference":193},[64],"Acts 2:23","–24).",[23,196,197,198,129,201,205],{},"Isaiah says the servant will “",[44,199,200],{},"make many to be accounted righteous",[61,202,204],{"className":203,"dataReference":204},[64],"Isaiah 53:11","). This states the saving end of his suffering, though Scripture does not answer every question about why the Father chose this means.",[49,207,209],{"id":208},"the-new-covenant-and-its-blood","The New Covenant and Its Blood",[23,211,212,213,129,216,220,221,224,225,229,230,234,235,238,239,129,242,167],{},"God warned Adam, “you shall ",[44,214,215],{},"surely die",[61,217,219],{"className":218,"dataReference":219},[64],"Genesis 2:17","). Paul traces death to human sin and contrasts Adam’s disobedience with “the ",[44,222,223],{},"one man’s obedience","” of Christ (",[61,226,228],{"className":227,"dataReference":228},[64],"Romans 5:12",", 19). The Father chose to send his obedient human Son rather than die himself. Paul also connects human death with resurrection through a man (",[61,231,233],{"className":232,"dataReference":233},[64],"1 Corinthians 15:21","). Scripture presents this as the Father’s saving course, not proof that an external rule required the only possible remedy. “The ",[44,236,237],{},"wages of sin is death",", but the ",[44,240,241],{},"free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord",[61,243,245],{"className":244,"dataReference":245},[64],"Romans 6:23",[23,247,248,249,129,252,256,257,260,261,129,264,268,269,272,273,277],{},"Israel’s broken Sinai covenant is distinct from Adam’s death consequence. The Father promises, “I will make a ",[44,250,251],{},"new covenant",[61,253,255],{"className":254,"dataReference":255},[64],"Jeremiah 31:31","–32): “I will put my ",[44,258,259],{},"law within them","” and “I will ",[44,262,263],{},"forgive their iniquity",[61,265,267],{"className":266,"dataReference":267},[64],"Jeremiah 31:33","–34). Paul says the later Sinai law “",[44,270,271],{},"does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God","” with Abraham (",[61,274,276],{"className":275,"dataReference":276},[64],"Galatians 3:15","–18). The promised new covenant does not depend on treating broken Sinai as unchangeable.",[23,279,280,281,129,284,288,289,129,292,296,297,299,300,129,303,307,308,129,311,315,316,77,322,326,327,330],{},"At Sinai Moses declared, “Behold the ",[44,282,283],{},"blood of the covenant",[61,285,287],{"className":286,"dataReference":287},[64],"Exodus 24:8","). Blood was necessary “to make ",[44,290,291],{},"atonement",[61,293,295],{"className":294,"dataReference":295},[64],"Leviticus 17:11","). Jesus calls his death “my ",[44,298,283],{},"”, poured out “for the ",[44,301,302],{},"forgiveness of sins",[61,304,306],{"className":305,"dataReference":306},[64],"Matthew 26:28","), and calls the cup “the ",[44,309,310],{},"new covenant in my blood",[61,312,314],{"className":313,"dataReference":314},[64],"1 Corinthians 11:25","). His death thus inaugurates the promised forgiveness and renewal. This does not establish a blood requirement for every instance of ",[34,317,321],{"href":318,"rel":319},"https:\u002F\u002Fword.ofgod.info\u002Fterms\u002Fforgiveness",[320],"nofollow","forgiveness",[61,323,325],{"className":324,"dataReference":325},[64],"Leviticus 5:11","–13 allows fine flour and says the person “",[44,328,329],{},"shall be forgiven","”.",[49,332,334],{"id":333},"the-rescue-mission","The Rescue Mission",[23,336,337,338,341,342,129,345,349,350,129,353,357,358,361,362,366],{},"Paul says people are “",[44,339,340],{},"justified by his grace as a gift","” through “the ",[44,343,344],{},"redemption that is in Christ Jesus",[61,346,348],{"className":347,"dataReference":348},[64],"Romans 3:24","). He also describes them as “",[44,351,352],{},"set free from sin",[61,354,356],{"className":355,"dataReference":356},[64],"Romans 6:22","). His explicit phrase “",[44,359,360],{},"bought with a price","” addresses the Corinthians, not the Romans (",[61,363,365],{"className":364,"dataReference":365},[64],"1 Corinthians 6:20","; 7:23). Purchase and slavery language conveys costly liberation.",[23,368,369,370,129,373,377,378,381,382,386,387,129,390,393,394,129,397,167],{},"In the same account of redemption, Christ is the one “",[44,371,372],{},"whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood",[61,374,376],{"className":375,"dataReference":376},[64],"Romans 3:25","). Jesus says he gives his life as “a ",[44,379,380],{},"ransom for many","” without naming a payee (",[61,383,385],{"className":384,"dataReference":385},[64],"Mark 10:45","). Isaiah describes the servant bearing sin and making “",[44,388,389],{},"an offering for guilt",[61,391,177],{"className":392,"dataReference":177},[64],"–12). Paul also says Christ “",[44,395,396],{},"gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God",[61,398,400],{"className":399,"dataReference":400},[64],"Ephesians 5:2",[23,402,403,404,407],{},"The Father’s initiative addresses justice without depicting a payment that made him begin to love (",[61,405,376],{"className":406,"dataReference":376},[64],"–26; 5:8–9).",[23,409,410,411,414,415,419,420,424,425,429],{},"These images belong to one ",[44,412,413],{},"rescue mission"," (salvation) at ",[34,416,418],{"href":417},"the-cross","the cross",". God warned Adam that disobedience would bring death (",[61,421,423],{"className":422,"dataReference":423},[64],"Genesis 2:16","–17). The humans then disobeyed (",[61,426,428],{"className":427,"dataReference":428},[64],"Genesis 3:6","). Their sin created the need for rescue, not a desire in the Father to cause pain. A firefighter may willingly risk injury to reach someone trapped. The aim is rescue, not suffering to please a commander.",[49,431,433],{"id":432},"raised-honoured-and-followed","Raised, Honoured and Followed",[23,435,436,437,440,441,129,444,448,449,453,454,457,458,461,462,129,465,469,470,129,473,477],{},"The Son was not discarded after suffering. He was “",[44,438,439],{},"obedient to the point of death","”; “",[44,442,443],{},"Therefore God has highly exalted him",[61,445,447],{"className":446,"dataReference":447},[64],"Philippians 2:8","–9). ",[61,450,452],{"className":451,"dataReference":452},[64],"Psalm 110:1"," speaks of the king at God’s “",[44,455,456],{},"right hand","”. Peter says, “",[44,459,460],{},"This Jesus God raised up","”, and that God made him “",[44,463,464],{},"both Lord and Christ",[61,466,468],{"className":467,"dataReference":468},[64],"Acts 2:32","–36). His rule is “",[44,471,472],{},"to the glory of God the Father",[61,474,476],{"className":475,"dataReference":476},[64],"Philippians 2:11","). Resurrection and honour do not erase his anguish, but they show that death was not the end of the Father’s purpose for him.",[23,479,480,481,484,485,129,488,492,493,497],{},"Those who receive God’s gift are called to trust him and follow Jesus, not to earn rescue by a transaction. Jesus says, “If you ",[44,482,483],{},"love me",", you will ",[44,486,487],{},"keep my commandments",[61,489,491],{"className":490,"dataReference":491},[64],"John 14:15","). Paul’s question about continuing in sin after receiving grace rejects that course (",[61,494,496],{"className":495,"dataReference":496},[64],"Romans 6:1","–4). This shared saving purpose is no claim that everyone is automatically saved or that the executioners’ violence was good.",[49,499,501],{"id":500},"conclusion","Conclusion",[23,503,504,505,508,509,513,514,518,519,523,524,528],{},"The Father’s sending of the Son is not presented as cruelty. ",[34,506,507],{"href":147},"The Father's compassion"," moves Him to rescue, and ",[34,510,512],{"href":511},"#the-son-gives-himself-willingly","the Son acts willingly",", despite ",[34,515,517],{"href":516},"#his-human-suffering-was-real","real suffering",". The Father’s purpose is ",[34,520,522],{"href":521},"#the-new-covenant-and-its-blood","forgiveness and renewal",", not pain for its own sake. Those who killed Jesus remain responsible, and ",[34,525,527],{"href":526},"#raised-honoured-and-followed","God raises and honours him",". This does not make harming an innocent person permissible or settle every question about why the Father chose this course.",{"title":530,"searchDepth":531,"depth":531,"links":532},"",2,[533,534,535,536,537,538,539],{"id":51,"depth":531,"text":52},{"id":121,"depth":531,"text":122},{"id":155,"depth":531,"text":156},{"id":208,"depth":531,"text":209},{"id":333,"depth":531,"text":334},{"id":432,"depth":531,"text":433},{"id":500,"depth":531,"text":501},"Does the Father's decision to send His Son to die make Him cruel? A biblical account of His love, Jesus' willing sacrifice, and the resurrection.","md",{"keywords":543},"God's love, Father and Son, Jesus' death, sacrifice, resurrection",true,"\u002Fshema\u002Fconcerns\u002Flove-of-god",{"title":14,"description":540},"shema\u002Fconcerns\u002Flove-of-god","ynTSoHwNx90znSPz5SyQ5SbLejtSaz_ffNKIhrIeBBY",1794459725919]