THE GLORY OF GOD’S JUSTICE: Part 1 Old Testament
Justice is not a standard God follows: HE IS THE STANDARD!
Justice flows from Him. An eternal immutable attribute of His glory. (Isa. 40:14; Ex. 34:6-7).
Justice is that perfection of God’s nature whereby he is infinitely righteous in Himself & in all he does.
Justice, as it applies to Mankind, is: “Just behavior or treatment.” “The quality of being fair & impartial.” “The administration of ‘The Law’ in maintaining Justice.”
When an individual or Nation does this they are “Righteous” & will be exalted by God (Prov. 14:34; 4:18; Deut. 4:6-8; 28:1-14)
Justice, as it applies to Mankind, is an uncompromising allegiance to God’s moral standard.
“Justice” & “Righteousness” used interchangeably in the Bible
When a person or situation is “Just” they are “right” or “as they were created to be” (Ezek. 18:5; Hosea 14:9). When we violate God’s moral standard (sin) we are no longer “right” with God and must be Judged for every violation. All moral perversity is abhorrent to a Holy & moral God.
Because God is the perfectly Just & righteous Creator of everything, God Himself is the moral standard for all mankind. (Deut. 32:4). “Be ye holy; for I am holy” (I Pet. 1:15-16; Lev. 19:2; Matt. 5:48). Thus, God is the Judge of all the earth! (Gen. 18:25;). He will never compromise Justice in any way (2 Chron. 19:6-7).
MAN’S PROBLEM IN LIGHT OF GOD’S JUSTICE
Because God is Just & righteous He must Judge all the earth.
Justice requires we get what we deserve based on God’s omniscience of everything we did & why we did it!
The Justice of a Sovereign God Reigns over History. Because we are Created in God’s image (Gen. 1:26-27), we long for moral justice to prevail & are outraged when we see injustice (2 Sam. 12:1-14).
So if a Just God is the Sovereign Judge of all things how do we explain the seeming injustices manifest in History? Why sometimes the wicked prosper & innocent suffer?
THE GLORY OF GOD’S JUSTICE MUST BE UNDERSTOOD IN LIGHT OF ETERNITY
From our limited perspective in this fallen World, we often think “Life is not fair.” Then we wrongly think God is not fair. But God’s Justice must be understood in Light of Eternity. Only when we enter “Eternity Future” will we understand how God “worked all things for good for us who love Him” (Rom. 8:28). It is hard to grasp the glorious perfections of eternity when we are passing through the dark tunnel of time.
Genesis 3 thru Revelation 20 is the History of how a Just & Loving God is working out His perfect redemption in a Fallen World.
God’s Book answers life’s 3 great questions: “Where did I come from?” “Why am I here?” “Where am I going?”
God’s Book also reveals History is Controlled by a Righteous God. We Learn of the Perfection of God’s Justice. God has revealed, “The Beginning” & “The End” of History. God rebukes every false religion that doesn’t know the Beginning of our world nor how it will End.
“… let them show the former things, what they be, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come. (Isa 41:22)
Show the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods (41:23) (also Isa. 45:21; 46:9-10; 48:3-5; John 13:19)
Illustration: Corrie Ten-Boom. Her entire Family died in German concentration Camps for helping the Jews. She said: “When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don’t throw away the ticket and jump off. You sit still and trust the engineer.” One time Corrie was sewing while she was being interviewed. All we could see was the back of the cloth and it was just a confusion of strings going in all direction. After describing many of the injustices and trials she had passed through she turns the cloth she was sewing around. And it says “VICTORY!” She explained how on this side of heaven and eternity we only see the backside of God’s plan for our life and often it doesn’t make sense to us. But the day is coming when we will see our whole life from God’s viewpoint and realize everything leads to a glorious VICTORY!
GOD IS THE PERFECT JUDGE
God’s Character Guarantees all wrongs will be made right, & all rights rewarded on “The Day of Judgment” (Rom. 2:5; Matt. 12:36; 2Tim. 4:8; 2Pet. 2:9; 3:7; I John 4:17).
God is the perfect Judge because He has total authority over everything He created. (God is Sovereign)
God is the perfect Judge because He is perfectly Just & righteous (He is no respecter of persons) (Acts 10:34; Rom. 2:11; I Pet. 1:17)
God is the perfect Judge because He is omniscient & all wise (God knows every Deed, Word, Thought & Motive)
God is the perfect Judge because He is powerful enough to enforce every just sentence (God is omnipotent).
Bible is very clear throughout the O.T. that God is Just and must execute The Judgment on every sin. “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness” (Rom 1:18).
As the Perfect Judge God must inflict upon all sin & wrongdoing the penalty it deserves!
THE WRATH OF GOD’S JUSTICE IS REVEALED IN…
God’s Judgment on Adam & Eve for disobeying His command.
Have you ever disobeyed a command of God?
The wrath of God’s Justice was revealed when God Judged the whole world in Noah’s day for their evil thoughts (Gen. 6:5). Do you ever have evil thoughts?
God’s Justice was revealed when… God Judged the People of Babel for their vain pride (Gen. 11:1-9). Do you ever suffer from vain pride?
God’s Justice is revealed in…God’s Judgment on Sodom & Gomorrah for immorality (Gen. 18:25). Have you ever been immoral?
God Emphasizes His Justice by His Judgment of Sodom & Gomorrah
throughout His Holy Word: Isaiah 1:9-10; 3:9; 13:19 “the sin of Sodom”; Ezek. 16:49-50; Jeremiah 6:15; 8:12; 20:16; 49:18; 50:40; Lamentations 4:6; Deuteronomy 29:23; 32:32-35; Psalms 11:6; 107:34; Amos 4:11; Zephaniah 2:9; Matthew 11:23-24; Mark 6:11; Luke 10:12; 17:28-29; Romans 9:29; 2 Peter 2:6; Jude 7.
If we don’t Believe the Lessons of History we doom ourselves to Repeat them! “Even as Sodom & Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire” (Jude 1:7)
The Wrath of God’s Judgment revealed in His… Judgment on Egypt for persecuting His people (Exodus 7 thru 12). But then He even had to pour out Justice on Israel for worshipping the golden calf (Ex. 32:26-35). Have you ever persecuted someone or worshipped idols?
The Wrath of God’s Judgment revealed in His… Judgment on Nadab & Abihu for disrespect in worship (Lev. 10) and on Achan for coveting & stealing (Joshua 7). Have you ever stolen something?
The O.T. is filled with the righteous Judgment of God upon all the unrighteousness (sin) of man (Eccles. 11:9; 12:14; Rom. 1:18-21)
The Scriptures give ample proof that all evil will be disposed of decisively Justly, & permanently. The conflict between Good & Evil will come to a glorious end! Victory in Jesus! (Rev. 19-21). We should all make sure we will be on the winning side!
BUT WHILE WE ARE PASSING THROUGH THIS DARK TUNNEL OF HUMAN HISTORY, NEVER FORGET…
Actions lead to consequences.
Good actions (righteousness) leads to good results.
Bad actions (sin) brings bad results.
NEVER FORGET Our Hopeless situation Before God: “They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” (Ps. 14:3; 53:1, 3; Rom. 3:10-12, 23). We will all be Judged by the inescapable moral Law of the Creator of all things.
Illustration: Clever Lawyer and his cigars
WE HAVE A CHOICE: RECEIVE JUSTICE OR RECEIVE MERCY
Because of Christ’s perfect righteousness, He can save me from the Just the consequences of my sin! Jesus took the Judgment due to our sin on the Cross!
“He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; & with his stripes, we are healed. (Isa 53:5) All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isa. 53:6)
Illustration: 8 yr. old Monica was bitten by a poisonous snake
There is so much wrong with Me & this World! How will everything be made right? Either by receiving God’s perfect Justice at the Throne of Judgment Or by receiving God’s Mercy & Forgiveness at the Cross of Christ. Which do you want? MERCY or JUSTICE? It’s your choice.
Those who refuse to be saved by His mercy must be consumed by his justice. Do nothing and Get eternal Justice. The Justice due one who has sinned against a holy God (Rom. 6:23). Or you can Repent of your Sins & Trust in Christ and Receive Mercy & the Gift of Eternal Life
(Rom. 6:23; John 3:36; 5:24; 6:40; 10:28; 17:2; I Pet. 1:3-4; I John 5:11-12). Hallelujah!
WHAT WILL YOU DO?
What will you do with the Mercy & Forgiveness God the Father offers us?
What will you do with the Salvation Jesus provided by suffering the Justice due to our sin on the Cross?
Will you receive the Gift of the Holy Spirit so you can live life in the Victory Jesus has already won for us?