Truth Misapplied

Elihu asks Job to think about his behaviour, good and bad. How does it affect God? Elihu asserts that God doesn’t benefit at all if we are righteous, nor does he suffer at all if we sin. He argues that we never put God in our debt by doing good things, and neither do we harm him when we do wicked things.

At the heart of Elihu’s argument is the transcendence of God. God is perfect, holy, and exalted. He is high above the world and its inhabitants. This is true. Yet what Elihu infers from God’s transcendence is false. He takes a true doctrine (God is transcendent) but then makes a tremendous mistake in its real-world application. The picture he paints is distorted; it is truth misapplied. What is true is that God is transcendent: what makes Elihu’s doctrine false is his belief that God’s transcendence means he is not affected by human sin.

No, human sin does not affect God’s nature or character. Yes, God exists in a state of maximum perfection, beauty, and joy. But our sin affects God in the most profound of all ways. Our sin is what severed our relationship with God. The only way to restore our relationship with God, the only way for our sin to be taken away, and the only way for us to be forgiven was for God himself to take on human flesh, live a perfect life, and die on the cross in our place. Jesus Christ was God in human flesh, and he lived, died, and was resurrected to cleanse us from our sins and grant us eternal life.

Yes, God is transcendent, but our sin does affect him. In fact, in the death of Jesus, we see just how much our sins affect God.

Respond in Prayer

Majestic God, you are far above all my thoughts and ways. Yet you were willing to take on human flesh so you could die for my sins. Lord, help me to love and honour you for your sacrifice. Forgive me for my sins and help me live for you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Steve West

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version® (NIV®).