Personal Notes – Led by Central Pastor Shawn Haggerty Vox Church
Theology Class Session Notes — Reconciliation, Righteousness, and the Triune God
VoxNotas.com — Exploring Biblical Doctrine and the Character of God
“Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.” (Psalm 119:18)
“But now.” Two of the most hopeful words in all of Scripture.
“The thing that He demands from you, He freely gives to you.”
“He is both just and the one who justifies.” (Romans 3:26)
“You were never meant to bear the weight.”
The Reconciliation of God’s Wrath and Love
God’s holiness, justice, and wrath are not in conflict with His love; they are unified in perfect harmony at the cross. Wrath is not the opposite of love but an expression of it — His holy, just response to sin that flows from His love for His creation.
- God’s wrath is the righteous action of retributive justice toward those whose actions deserve condemnation (Romans 1:18).
- His wrath and love exist in perfect unity with His other divine attributes.
- Like a parent’s anger toward something harming their child, God’s wrath flows from love.
- God intensely hates sin (Psalm 5:4–6).
- The phrase “God loves the sinner but hates the sin” is challenged; Scripture shows that apart from Christ, even the sinner is under wrath (Ephesians 2:3).
- Yet, while we were enemies, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8–10).
- At the Last Supper, Jesus extended Himself both to the betrayer (Judas) and to the denier (Peter) — love given to enemies.
To grasp the depth of God’s love, we must understand this paradox: the Holy God draws near to those He despises because of sin, compelled by an unrelenting love. The cross resolves the tension between wrath and mercy, satisfying divine justice while revealing divine love.
Righteousness Through Faith Apart from the Law
“But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it — the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.” (Romans 3:21–22)
- The first three chapters of Romans diagnose humanity’s universal problem — all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23).
- “But now” marks the pivot from judgment to hope.
- Righteousness comes not from works or law but as a gift received by faith in Christ.
- This gift is for everyone — the betrayer, the denier, and all who believe.
Righteousness is not achieved by human effort; it is bestowed by divine grace through faith.
Justification by Faith
“There is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 3:22–24)
- There is no difference between Jew and Gentile — all are under sin.
- Justification is free, an act of grace.
- This justification is accomplished through Christ’s redemption.
Atonement and Sacrifice
“God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of His blood — to be received by faith.” (Romans 3:25)
Atonement means “at-one-ment,” the reconciliation of humanity with God through Christ’s sacrifice.
- The shedding of Christ’s blood demonstrates God’s righteousness and mercy.
- It satisfies justice while offering forgiveness.
God’s holiness demanded payment for sin, and His love provided it.
God’s Righteousness and Forbearance
God is both just and the justifier — maintaining His righteousness while declaring sinners righteous through Christ.
- “Forbearance” (Greek anoche) is a financial term meaning to postpone payment of a debt.
- God delayed judgment for sins committed before the cross, knowing the debt would be paid by Christ.
- The sacrificial system was temporary — sin’s debt always came due.
- At the cross, justice and mercy meet; God alone is the hero of the story.
Illustration:
A man once carried $23,000 in student debt with minimal income. Offered “forbearance,” he could postpone payments — but interest would grow, enlarging his debt. Ultimately, his father paid the full amount, erasing the burden entirely.
Likewise, God’s forbearance delayed judgment until Christ paid the full debt of sin.
The Threefold Love of God
- Benevolence: God’s constant goodness and faithfulness to all mankind (Psalm 145:9).
- Mercy: Not receiving the punishment one deserves (Titus 3:5).
- Grace: Receiving favor one does not deserve (Ephesians 2:8–9).
These three aspects reveal the fullness of divine love — faithful, forgiving, and freely given.
Old Testament God vs. New Testament God
Some claim the God of the Old Testament is wrathful while the New Testament God is loving. Scripture shows otherwise.
- In the Old Testament, God continually extended mercy and pointed to the coming Messiah (Exodus 34:6–7).
- The difference lies not in God’s nature but in the means of mediation.
- Under the old covenant, priests mediated between God and man; in Christ, God became His own mediator (1 Timothy 2:5).
- The same God who judged in justice now saves in mercy through His Son.
The Doctrine of the Trinity
The Trinity declares that God is one Being in three eternal Persons — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each is fully God, sharing one divine essence.
- The Bible is unashamedly Trinitarian (Matthew 28:19, John 14:16–17).
- The Father sends, the Son redeems, and the Spirit empowers.
- The early church defended this truth against heresy (e.g., the Arian controversy).
- If Jesus were a created being, salvation would collapse, for only God can save.
- The Trinity is not abstract theology — it defines the very nature of reality, love, and salvation.
Analogy: Three notes played together form one harmonious chord. Distinct yet one, they echo the triune unity of God.
The Divinity of Jesus Christ
“By Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth… all things were created through Him and for Him.” (Colossians 1:16)
- Jesus is the “image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15) — not a created being, but the fullness of deity in bodily form (Colossians 2:9).
- “Firstborn over all creation” refers to His preeminence, not His origin.
- Hebrews 1 commands angels to worship the Son — which would be idolatry if He were not God.
- Only a divine Savior can accomplish divine redemption.
The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is not a force but a divine Person — the third member of the Trinity.
- He comforts, counsels, and convicts (John 14:16–17, John 16:13).
- He reveals truth and empowers obedience.
- “Ruach,” Hebrew for “breath” or “spirit,” first appears in Genesis 1:2 — the Spirit hovering over the waters.
- The Spirit connects believers to the life of God, fulfilling Jesus’s prayer: “that the love with which You have loved Me may be in them.” (John 17:26)
Righteous Anger vs. Sinful Anger
- “For you are not a God who delights in wickedness… you hate all evildoers.” (Psalm 5:4–5)
- Human anger is often sinful, but divine wrath is pure righteousness.
- God’s hatred of sin and sinners apart from Christ is consistent with His holiness.
- Christ’s anger in the temple illustrates perfect, sinless wrath (John 2:13–17).
- Our love for sinners must never distort our understanding of God’s holiness.
The Divine Council in Scripture
Scripture reveals a spiritual realm of created heavenly beings — “sons of God” (B’nai Elohim) — subordinate to the Creator.
- “Let us make man in our image.” (Genesis 1:26)
- “Sons of God” seen in Genesis 6 and Psalm 82.
- Corresponds to “principalities and powers” in Ephesians 6:12.
- These beings serve God’s purposes but are not co-creators.
- The Bible’s focus remains on the supremacy of God, not on these beings.
The Church as an Image-Bearer of the Triune God
Humanity is made in the image of the Triune God (Genesis 1:26–27), and the Church is called to reflect that same relational unity.
- The cross breaks down hostility and forms one new humanity (Ephesians 2:14).
- The Church reveals God’s nature through community, unity, and love.
- “By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35)
Trinity: A Model for the Church
| Trinity | Church | Scripture |
|---|---|---|
| 3 Persons in Community | Believers in Community | 1 Corinthians 1:9 |
| 3 Persons in Dynamic Unity | Unity in Diversity | Ephesians 2:14 |
| Equality within the Godhead | Equality among Members | 1 Corinthians 12 |
| Sending God (Missional) | The Great Commission | Matthew 28:18–20 |
| Incarnational Love | Love in Action | John 3:16, John 13:35 |
The Church, as a reflection of the Trinity, embodies love, unity, and mission. Just as the Father sends the Son and the Spirit empowers, believers are sent into the world to demonstrate incarnational love.
Sovereignty and Providence
Sovereignty is God’s total control over all things. Providence is His purposeful direction of all things toward His will.
- “He determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.” (Acts 17:26–27)
- God is near, not distant.
- What man intends for evil, God uses for good (Genesis 50:20).
- Suffering, though painful, becomes the soil of transformation.
God’s providence ensures that no circumstance is wasted.
God’s Providential Involvement with Creation
- Preservation – God sustains all things by His power (Hebrews 1:3).
- Concurrence – God works in and through creation to accomplish His purposes (Ephesians 1:11).
- Government – God directs everything to fulfill His will (Daniel 4:35).
From sustaining the cosmos to shaping hearts (Psalm 33:13–15), God governs creation with wisdom and compassion.
The Nature of Freedom and Free Will
Modern culture defines freedom as total independence, but Scripture defines freedom as willing submission to God’s sovereignty.
- “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” (2 Corinthians 3:17)
- True freedom is not autonomy but alignment — living under the authority of a good and sovereign God.
- At Sinai, Israel trembled before His presence, not debating free will but acknowledging His power (Exodus 19:16–19).
Biblical freedom is not doing whatever we want; it is being freed to do what we were created for — to love, obey, and glorify God.
Assignments and Reflections
- Reflect on how God’s justice and love are reconciled at the cross.
- Consider how the Trinity models unity, equality, and love within the Church.
- Read Psalm 82 and wrestle with difficult passages honestly.
- Discuss: “If God is sovereign over all things at all times, in what ways is that comforting, and in what ways is it difficult?”
- Pray for the upcoming youth retreat, Dig the Well: Going Deeper, that young believers may integrate faith into daily life.
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