The cry for justice in our nation has been loud and divisive over the past few years. We demonstrate in our streets and argue in the chambers of our state and federal legislatures for social justice, racial justice, economic justice, reform of criminal justice and now even reproductive justice, wherein it is believed by all too many in our society that women have a “constitutional” right to kill a child developing in her womb when she believes that in some way the birth of that child will interfere with her happiness and wellbeing, her personal fulfillment in this world. And when demonstrations and legislative debate does not bring the results we see as just or right we go to what we call in this nation, the Supreme Court, comprised of nine men and women who essentially have final say on what laws are right and just in this nation, based on their conformity to the Articles and Amendments in our Constitution. Despite this, (or likely because of this) we have yet to achieve the justice we cry out for in this nation.
Mankind, throughout the ages, has strived to achieve some sort of a just society, wherein everyone in that society is treated fairly, equitably with equal access to all things that would lead to the flourishing of that society and the happiness and fulfillment of the individual. And it is quite clear that we have failed miserably in our striving, as evidenced by the strife and conflict ever present within and among the nations.
Most of us think of justice as a person receiving what they deserve, what is due them based on natural, legislated or contractual rights, personal achievement or conformity/lack of conformity to a moral standard, and this would not be wrong. However, it is much more than that. Justice ultimately is a term used to represent that which is right in regard to how things should be, or as I noted in my previous post, how things ought to be in regard to human flourishing and individual happiness. And the only one who can define or establish how things ought to be is the God who created mankind for His glory (Isaiah 43:7); that the infinite perfections and awesome wonders of His being would be seen, proclaimed, displayed and enjoyed by all of creation, but most importantly mankind, who were made in God’s image and likeness to know Him intimately, love Him supremely and enjoy Him eternally as the most glorious, most desirable, most valuable and most awesome being in His universe (Genesis 1:26-28) (1 Chronicles 29:10-13).
We are told in the Bible, that God is a “God of Justice” (Isaiah 30:18), that our understanding of true justice is to be found in His nature and character (Psalm 89:14). As such, He and He alone as creator and sovereign ruler of that creation has both the right and responsibility to define, establish and order how things ought to be so that His glory is upheld, His will is obeyed, and His purposes fulfilled. And thus each of us, as beings created by Him and for Him (Colossians 1:16) (Revelation 4:11), have the responsibility of conforming our lives, our hearts and our minds to God’s decree of how things ought to be.
The Bible reveals that in the beginning God created man upright or just (Ecclesiastes 7:29), able to know and live out that which would make for a just society. However, we are told that mankind, beginning with Adam, chose to do things our own way, in opposition to God, believing the devil’s lie that we could determine for ourselves good and evil, what is just and what is unjust, in place of God (Genesis 3:4-5).
As creator and sovereign administrator of His creation, God established a system of legislative justice, wherein He gave us laws consistent with His holy nature and character – laws which represented His design for how life in His world should be in regard to His glory being displayed/magnified in the joy, pleasure and satisfaction of all mankind in Him. We are told that these laws were written on the heart of man, so that we are all without excuse for not obeying them as God requires (Romans 2:14-15) (Romans 1:18-21).
God’s law was accompanied and enforced by sanctions (Deuteronomy 30:15-20), promising first the reward of eternal life, life in God’s gracious presence forever to the obedient, those who were fully submitted to His purpose for and rule over their lives (Psalm 24:3-5) (Psalm 16:11). This is referred to by theologians as His remunerative justice.
Conversely, God announced, in the Garden of Eden, His determination of the right and just penalty for disobedience, for transgression of His law which the Bible refers to as sin (1 John 3:4). That penalty would be death, our being cut off from the glorious life with God for which we were created, forever the objects of His divine wrath (Ezekiel 18:20) (Ephesians 5:6). This is referred to by theologians as God’s retributive justice. The Bible makes it clear that all of mankind have sinned – all have rejected God’s purpose for and rule over our lives (Romans 3:23). And thus, all mankind have been judged to be deserving of death, subject to God’s divine wrath in Hell (Psalm 9:17).
Thankfully, we also have one more expression of God’s justice, which has been referred to by theologians as His redemptive or restorative justice. God, in the ultimate expression of His mercy, grace and love will Himself come into this world as a man, the man Jesus Christ. And as a man Jesus will perfectly fulfill the just requirements of the law, and then take upon Himself the just penalty for the transgression of that law we deserve. He does this out of love, so that God can justly forgive the sins and declare to be just or justified all who will repent of their sin and trust Jesus as both Savior and Lord (Romans 3:24) (Romans 10:9). All who do are granted the the gift of eternal life (John 3:16) (Romans 6:23), where in the ages to come, God will demonstrate the exceeding riches of His kindness and grace (Ephesians 2:4-7) within a new universe and earth where God, redeemed men and women, the Holy Angels and all of nature will live in true and everlasting Shalom (Revelation 21:1).
Grace and Peace ×
Amen and thanks for God’s Word!