God’s Love vs. God’s Righteousness — Seen Through the Cross

 

God’s Love vs. God’s Righteousness — Seen Through the Cross

John 3:16—God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.
Romans 5:8—Christ died for us while we were sinners, proving God’s love.
Romans 3:25–26—Christ as the propitiation demonstrates God’s righteousness: He is righteous and also justifies those who believe in Jesus. 

Aspect	God’s Love	God’s Righteousness
Meaning	Love is God’s nature and inward motivation to save, care, and draw near to man.	Righteousness is God’s procedure, way, and divine law—His moral requirement for dealing with sin.
Reason	God loves mankind and desires none to perish; love moved Him to bear man’s punishment.	God is righteous and therefore cannot tolerate sin; He must judge sin to maintain His holiness and dignity.
Difference	Love forgives, covers, bears, and substitutes for man.	Righteousness demands penalty, judgment, and legal satisfaction.
Explanation	Love led God to transfer the punishment to Himself in Christ on the cross.	God must judge sin. The cross preserved God’s righteousness by satisfying all legal demands.
Purpose	To save sinners, draw them into God’s life, and manifest His compassion.	To make salvation legal and proper; to justify sinners and constitute them God’s righteousness.
Interrelationship	The cross fully manifested God’s love—God willingly bore man’s penalty.	The cross fully manifested God’s righteousness—God judged sin uncompromisingly. Love and righteousness meet harmoniously on the cross.
Example  (the Cross)	Christ became sin for us and bore the judgment because of divine love.	God judged Christ as the Substitute because righteousness requires judgment.
Application for Believers	Live in God’s love: forgive, cover, intercede, care, and express Christ’s gentleness.	Live out God’s righteousness: walk properly, justly, and “seek first His kingdom and His righteousness.”
Burden	To help believers see that the cross is the outpouring of divine love.	To see that salvation is not emotional or random, but strictly according to God’s righteous procedure.
Prophesying Pointers	Emphasize that God personally bore what we could not bear—this is love.	Emphasize that God judged sin in Christ so we could become God’s righteousness.
Conclusion	God’s love willingly saves and substitutes for sinners.	God’s righteousness demands judgment and proper procedure. The cross is the perfect meeting place of love and righteousness.
Related Scriptures	John 3:16—God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. Romans 5:8—Christ died for us while we were sinners, proving God’s love. 1 John 4:9–10—God sent His Son as the propitiation for our sins; this is love.	Matthew 6:33—Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. 2 Corinthians 5:21—He who knew no sin was made sin that we might become the righteousness of God.

 

Integrated Key Points:

1. God’s Love

• Love moved God to substitute Himself for man.
• Love bore what man could never bear.
• Love paid the supreme cost—giving His Son.

2. God’s Righteousness

• God must judge sin; otherwise He is not righteous.
• Salvation must follow God’s divine procedure.
• Righteousness required the judgment to fall upon Christ.

3. The Cross

• The cross displays God hates sin (righteousness) and God loves sinners (love).
• Both attributes are fully expressed without compromise.
• The cross is the perfect harmony of love and righteousness.

4. Result

• We become the righteousness of God in Christ—a living expression of God’s righteousness on earth.

 

*Please refer to the May 2025 International Elders and Responsible Brothers Training, General Topic: Matthew Chapters 5-7, Week 8: Seeking First the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness.