A Study of The Knowledge of the Holy - Chapter 17 - The Justice of God

Chapter 17 – The Justice of God

·        Prayer - Our Father, we love You for Your justice. We acknowledge that Your judgments are true and righteous altogether. Your justice upholds the order of the universe and guarantees the safety of all who put their trust in You. We live because You are just - and merciful. Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, righteous in all Your ways and holy in all Your works. Amen.

·        In the Bible, justice and righteousness are synonymous.  The word in the original language can be translated either way.

·        God was held up by the psalmists and prophets of Israel as the all-powerful ruler, reigning with equity.

·        Holy men of compassion, outraged by the injustice of the world’s rulers, prayed, “Lord, God of vengeance, rise up, O Judge of the earth and repay to the proud what they deserve.  How long shall the wicked triumph?” (Psalm 94:1-3)  This was not a plea for personal vengeance, but a longing to see moral justice prevail in human society.

·        Justice embodies the idea of moral equity, and iniquity is the exact opposite (in-equity, the absence of all that is right, fair, honest)

·        “Justice requires God to do this.” – an error in thinking.  Nothing requires God to do anything.  When we speak of the justice of God, we are speaking of the way He is.  When He sentences evil men or rewards the righteous, He simply acts like Himself from within, uninfluenced by anything outside of Himself.

·        The problem for the ages: How does God spare the wicked, if God is supremely just?  None is righteous.  We have all sinned and stand justifiably condemned and guilty before God.

o       The Doctrine of Redemption – through the work of Christ in atonement, justice is not violated, but satisfied.  Mercy does not become effective toward a sinner until justice has done its work.  The just penalty for sin was paid for when Christ our Substitute died for us on the cross.

o       The message of Divine justice discharged (on Christ) and mercy operative (on us) is more than just theological theory.  It announces a fact made necessary by our deep human need.  When infinite equity encounters our chronic and willful in-equity, there is violent war between the two, a war which God won and must always win.  But when the penitent sinner casts himself upon Christ for salvation, the moral situation is reversed.  Justice goes over to the side of God’s trusting children.

o       God’s justice stands forever against the sinner in utter severity.  The popular hope that God is too kind to punish the ungodly allows millions to silence their fear of God and practice all pleasant forms of iniquity while death draws nearer every day and repentance goes unregarded.

o       As responsible moral beings, we dare not fool around with our eternal future.