Christ died for God

I love to mow..Yes I admit it. I am a yard nerd. Preparation for the task includes getting the ipod in position and coveering the earbuds with big red earphones. Man I must look like a dork. But I love to take that time to lose myself in good sermons or good music.So I listened to a sermon by John MacArthur while mowing my yard today. The message was titled "Christ died for God" with his main text being Romans 3:21-26. It made me think how we tend to make the Gospel so man-centered. "Jesus died for you"
"Jesus died for man" Jesus died for sinners"...all true, but all missing something. Though I can't sufficiently put it in words yet (I need to listen at least 3 more times to digest the message) I can say it affected my thinking today. Actually it kinda rocked my world. The fact that God has ALWAYS forgiven men based on grace/faith and not by works has left Him open to accusation. Somehow this gift to man calls God's justice and righteousness into question. If a judge lets someone off the hook for no good reason we consider him an unjust judge. Yet God has always operated this way, even long before Christ died as the substitute. Romans says it was God's patience that allowed Him to overlook sins committed in the past. But we know that any sin forgiven at any time in history was based solely on the finished work of Christ on the Cross. Yes He died for me and for you...but He also died to vindicate God the Father and satisfy His holy justice.....you can listen to the sermon at www.gty.org and search through sermon archives...they are FREE
peace