How much justice is enough justice?

In Calvinism, the amount of justice demonstrated is fully determined by God Himself. This illustration shows a view where God’s justice is fully satisfied at the cross, yet more justice is still shown through the destruction of most image-bearers. The tension is not about whether God is just, but whether justice that is already perfect needs to be added to, and what that says about God’s character.

This illustration is not meant to mock Calvinism. It follows the internal logic of a strong Calvinist view step by step. God creates for His glory, ordains history, and acts according to His sovereign will. The goal is to show what these ideas look like when they are put in order and pictured, not to misrepresent them.

The cross as perfect justice
The illustration correctly shows a key Calvinist belief: the cross fully satisfies God’s justice. Jesus, the perfect Son, takes the punishment for sin. Passages like Romans 3:25–26 teach that God is both just and the one who justifies sinners through the cross. When the illustration asks, “Is that enough justice?” it reflects a real claim Calvinists make, that the cross is complete and perfect.

More justice beyond the cross
The next panels introduce a tension found in Calvinist theology. Even though justice is said to be satisfied at the cross, God is shown choosing to display more justice by preparing many image-bearers for destruction. This reflects ideas often connected to the Calvinist understanding of Romans 9:22–23, where God’s glory is shown in both mercy and wrath. The image of discarded clay visually represents this belief.

Selective salvation and effectual calling
The Spirit’s question about how many will be effectually called reflects doctrines like irresistible grace and limited atonement. Salvation is applied to some and withheld from others by God’s choice. The final image, where only a small group is spared, shows this belief in visual form.

The illustration leaves the viewer with an important question. If justice is fully satisfied at the cross, what is gained by adding more justice afterward? And if more justice is needed, in what sense was the cross truly enough? If this image accurately shows Calvinist theology, the viewer is left to decide whether this picture of God’s justice and character is one they can accept.