Is God's atonement for sins like Paul's a great good?

  • Clarifying the question

    Consider how several Jewish leaders instigated a judicial murder of God incarnate,1 having him nailed to a cross, or how Paul horrifically persecuted His church shortly after.2 Instances of individuals who persecute God and his people in the most heinous ways fill the history books, and yet God in all his might and holiness nevertheless offers loving forgiveness to those who crucified him,3 to Paul,4 and to everyone else who sin against God and his people.5 Is God's atonement and forgiveness of these kinds of persons in particular an especially great good?

    Debates this question affects:

    1. • Mark 15:12-15 -- Answering again, Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Him whom you call the King of the Jews?” They shouted back, “Crucify Him!” But Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify Him!” Wishing to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas for them, and after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified.
      • Acts 2:23-24, 37-26 -- “this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. … Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?” 38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
    2. • 1 Corinthians 15:9-10 -- For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.
      • Acts 8:1-5 -- Saul [Paul's Hebrew name] was in hearty agreement with putting [Stephen, the Christian] to death. And on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Some devout men buried Stephen, and made loud lamentation over him. But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house, and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison. Therefore, those who had been scattered went about preaching the word.
    3. • Lk 23:34 -- “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” See also Acts 2:23-24, 37-36. This also falls out of God offering forgiveness to everyone (Jn 3:16, Rom 5:6, 8).
    4. • Ephesians 3:8 -- To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, (see 1 Cor 15:9)
    5. • John 3:16 -- “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
      • Romans 5:6, 8 -- For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. … But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
“Yes, after all…

  • Great and honorable acts are a great good

    Great and honorable acts are a great good. This is relevant because, for a holy entity like God Almighty to grant forgiveness to his persecutors, like Paul, is a great and honorable act.1

    1. For example, it allows God to express his love, which is unquestionably a great act. God's atoning death and offer of full salvation was extended to them. It makes for one of the most dramatic examples of love and forgiveness in the history of human thought. John 15:13 -- “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.” There is also something to be said about the individual who is granting forgiveness here. For the President of the United States to lay down his life for a random person who has attacked him feels as if it is a greater act than a normal sacrifice for two reasons: (a) he is the President, and (b) he is doing it despite the attack. Unlike in the case of the President, God is truly greater than any human, and so God's humbling himself for a mere undeserving man makes God's act far more honorable.

  • True evil-conquering stories are a great good

    A true evil-conquering story is a great good. This is relevant because the ability for God to turn the greatest evil into the greatest good is arguably the greatest evil conquering story.1

    1. This reversal testifies to God's brilliance and ability to redeem. > Andy Rau: “God took the very worst thing that has ever happened in the history of the universe — deicide, or the death of God on the cross — and turned it into the very best thing that has happened in the history of the Universe: the opening up of heaven to all who follow Him.” [Why Does God Allow Tragedy and Suffering?] It has long been noted that God can masterfully turn evil into good, and that this is quintessentially displayed on the cross.

      Genesis 50:20 -- “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result,”

  • Love-bonds forged in suffering are a great good

    Certain relationships (of forgiveness, of empathy, etc.) are a great good, especially in the context of eternity. 1

    This page analyzes three arguments:

    This is relevant because Jesus's (God's) forgiveness of such individuals as Paul results in a uniquely special relationship which is otherwise impossible to attain.

    Luke 7:47 -- “but he who is forgiven little, loves little” Such a relationship is an especially great good and especially for Paul, since it is perpetually enjoyed throughout eternity. Its value is limitless. The love, adoration, and worship that Paul etc. have for Christ will now be of higher quality for eternity. Other people in heaven will also be worshiping extra hard, knowing how God has forgiven Paul and those like him. As Paul says in Eph 3:8 — “To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ,”