This is a continuation of a series on the attributes of God. When we speak of God’s attributes, we are talking about those characteristics that help us to understand who He truly is. One of these attributes is “justice.” In other words, God is the just one.
Where it is in the Bible
“Far be it from You to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?”
(Genesis 18:25)
“The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children’s children to the third and the fourth generation.”
(Exodus 34:6-7)
“However You are just in all that has befallen us.”
(Nehemiah 9:32-33)
“What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God?”
(Romans 9:14-33)
“The King’s strength also loves justice; You have established equity; You have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.”
(Psalm 99:4)
“Who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.”
(Romans 1:32)
“The Father… without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear.”
(1 Peter 1:17)
What it means
The Father of justice, God is the ultimate judge over the lives and actions of men. There seems to be so much injustice in the world (men lie, cheat, steal, and kill all the time with no seeming repercussions), but true justice is not meted out in this earthly realm, but in the true realm (the eternal heavenly realm).
Why it matters
In the end, each man will receive his just deserts at the hands of an immutable God who cannot be persuaded or bribed. Christ will look at each man’s heart and if it is the least bit corrupted by sin, that man, not being pure, will receive the justice of hell. The believer too would fail this test, if he were not already made clean by his baptism into Christ’s death. Thus he is rightly judged clean by Christ and enters into eternal Sabbath.
In God’s justice, we can find a comfort for all the wrongs perpetrated against us and against mankind. We know that our cruel boss who cheated us for so many years will receive what he deserves. We know that the politician who did wrong to gain personal power will receive justice. We know that killers like Hitler, Stalin, and Pol Pot will receive justice. And we know that we will receive justice as well. That can be scary for one who truly knows his heart’s deceitfulness and is not a believer, but the Christian rests in his sweet faith in Christ, knowing that he is judged in Christ (cf. Romans 2:16) and his safety is thus secured.
