It is in opposition to His
nature and His law. It is also in opposition to that development of
character which He has designed for all His children. Anything which
conflicts with that, excites His indignation. Hence the pains and
penalties which follow in the track of sin, though the sin itself may be
forgiven. When we consider that a person may be very angry with himself
because of sin, though he knows that the sin is forgiven, we can
understand something of the same feeling on the part of God.
God does visit the iniquity of the fathers upon the children. But is the
suffering thus inflicted to be regarded as the penalty due to sin? No.
There is an amended verse in one of our old hymns in which the view
seems to be taken, and I think rightly, that the atonement is not only
the basis on which pardon can be righteously vouchsafed, but the very
certainty of its being vouchsafed. The stanza is this:
"But never shall my soul despair
Thy pardon to secure,
Who knows Thine only Son has died
To make my pardon sure."
The whole matter of suffering is dealt with at length in the twelfth
chapter of The Hebrews. Over and over again it is described as
chastening. It is not penalty. The penalty has been paid. Suffering
henceforth is Fatherly chastisement. And the intention and effect of
chastisement are clearly intimated.
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