This question comes because of the question
Because the shed blood of Jesus is God's justice.
Heb. 9:22, "for without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sin"
In other words; without the clearing the Name of God or, if there is no Justice, there can be no giving up the punishment of a crime against Him (the crime being a defilement of His character which His law reveals).
There are a few factors we need to look at.
1. God's law
2. Justice
3. Penalties for breaking the law Or Punishment for a crime against the law (which is actually apart of #2 Justice.)
4. The Atonement
#1 God's Law:
The law was added because of transgressions, it exists for the reason of making unlawful affections to be evidently unlawful.
In other words, the law exists so that our unlawful affections would be evidently more wicked in contrast to the specific commands of the law (Romans 7:13).
The purpose of the law is to teach one of the character of the LawGiver also to guide us and to guard us while directing us to mercy of the LawGiver (Galatians 3:19,24).
•\tThe law guides by showing us the boundary.
•\tThe law guards us by the Justice of the law and by penalties of breaking the law.
•\tThe law directs us by conviction of guilt that we may seek forgiveness.
The law is not founded in mere randomness, but in the Personhood of God, it is a representation of who He is and a part of the foundation of reality
It isn't really the law that needs to be proven valuable, but Who it serves and protects, which is God's character and His creation who is created in His likeness and in His image.
#2 Justice
The satisfaction of the law is called justice. Justice is the vindication of the offended, vengeance to be given or taken, a just retribution, recompense...etc..
Justice is meant to teach that whoever it serves and protects has personal worth; so if one is offended by a crime, or even commits a crime, he will be judged as someone who is worth equal to but not greater than the criminal, or the victim if being the criminal.
In other words, Justice is to keep the establishment of both, the victim and the criminal as being equal in worth and in value.
All mankind has a personal worth because we are made in the image of God; so also is everyone who sins.
It is a fact that we are not equal to God, but we are shown that we are of as much worth as He is; this is proven by God giving His only begotten SON who is GOD Himself. We are not equal with God, but we are deem as such in value, what a revelation, praise HIM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
#3 Punishment
Punishment for a crime against the law is not for the purpose of rehabilitation, but to satisfy the law.
Punishment for transgression against God's law, or the act of satisfying the law is used as a deterrent for crimes by law enforcement.
In other words, the purpose of punishment or penalties is law enforcement.
God enforced the law by punishing His Son so that all who put their faith in/on Him might be justified because they have reckoned themselves to be in Jesus' place as HE was in their place.
We are to put ourselves in HIS position as to be united with him in the likeness of His death so that we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection (Roman 6:5)
The punishment (the enforcement of the law) is to communicate to the sinner that God is not anyone to profane or defile in any way; He is holy & righteous.
#4 Atonement
Atonement (Substitutional Atonement) is giving God justice, in other words, it vindicates His Name; it shows us the true worth of God.
It also satisfies the law (law enforcement) so that God is justified in forgiving those who put their faith in/on what Jesus has said & done.
Atonement is required for the reason of proving the true worth of God and His character while forgiving the offender of the crime against Him. The atonement acknowledges the true value and worth of God by the One who is sacrificed on behalf of the guilty. God must sacrifice something just as valuable, if not greater in actual worth as the crime and the one who offended Him. The sacrifice must also be of equal severity as to the offence of the crime committed; the punishment must fit the crime.
The only person able to atone for the damage that is done to God's name must be equally great as God, not only in worth but in all aspects to God whom we offended (not just deemed as valuable as mankind is).
The one who makes atonement cannot be a mere mortal, for then he would only be able to atone for just one man (Gen 9:5-6, Exodus 21:12-14, Lev 24:17, Numbers 35:31, Deut 19:11-12).
Furthermore, he must be eternal so that He may atone for all (Hebrews 9:14).
Therefore, it must be God Himself in the likeness of "sinful flesh" who must make atonement (Roman 8:3); for Jesus is the only one who has satisfied the Father, even until the cross, therefore, only He can satisfy Him on the cross.
The one being atoned for must change in order for him to be forgiven. He must first meet the set conditions in order for the atonement to be applied for the forgiveness; these requirements (or “set conditions”) are faith in what Christ has said & done and repentance to prove the faith to be real and genuine. This proves that the one being atoned for understands the true value of the one who is forgiving and that he cannot take this whole thing lightly.
If one refuses to acknowledge the true value and worth of God and refuses to meet the set conditions in order to be forgiven; if he takes lightly all that God has said and done to forgive, he cannot be forgiven.(Matthew 18:23-35, John 15:8)
The atonement is an influence on one’s heart/soul. The selfless, loving sacrifice on our account is to break the heart of the sinner and cause him to acknowledge his sin and the judgment of his sin. A revelation of the suffering of Christ should break and subdue ones heart and bring him to complete surrender to God. The atonement should so affect our hearts that we turn from our disobedience in humble, sincere, and deep repentance, repenting out of a motive of love, remorse, and sincerity (1 John. 4:19). God is drawing all men to Himself through the atonement (John. 12:32), and it is His loving kindness which draws us (Jer.31:3; Rom. 2:4). The Atonement transforms and liberates through reciprocation, when men obey the gospel of Jesus Christ from the heart because God was loving them all along, from the beginning.
Substitutional Atonement satisfies the law &/or justice so that God is justified in forgiving those who put their faith in/on what Jesus has said & done.
However, there is no possible way that anyone to have a substitute for punishment of a crime such as murder in a moral government judicial system as we have in society which reflect the government of God; For example, a father could never take a son's place in his execution for murder.
Furthermore, a King could never let a law breaker go free as in the case of Daniel and the lion's den. However, Jesus did take our place in judgment through His sacrifice that He might satisfy the law as our proxy. He could do this because sin is only against God personally and not against a moral governmental judicial system.
Yes.
But that would be disastorous.
Not realy. He Actually wanted mankind to never sin, which would give no need for the sacrifice of Chrst.
However, since we did & do sin, it was nessesary.
It is what He used to vindicate His name.
Love!
