Justice is defined as “being equitable and fair.” That is to say, it is to treat others in the manner that they deserve, without bias. It implies a sense of morality, decency, and rightness. In a broad sense, justice is about rewarding those who do good, defending or supporting those who cannot defend or support themselves, and punishing those who do wrong.
We tend to think of justice in legal terms - meaning taking someone to court, or putting someone in jail. But justice is not a matter of legality so much as it is a matter of righteousness. If we only ever associate justice with legality then we will strip it of the richness of its full meaning. Yes, God is the judge of all creation, but He is also the Father of all creation, and so His justice is not merely one of a judge ready to pass judgement on the law-breaker, but His justice is one of a Father who provides, teaches, corrects, rebukes, and rewards.
That doesn’t mean that God is a push-over. If you disobey God, you will have to suffer the consequences. But He doesn’t just cut you off immediately and never give you a second chance. He absolutely wants you to learn from your mistakes and repent (which means to change your mind or course of conduct).
God is just because He defines what is right, and true, and good - and He is the judge of these things because He is the one who defines them - and He, in His righteousness, always does these things. That means that God doesn’t just do justice, but God is justice. Justice is another part of His infinite character that we, in our limited understanding, identify as something that we can recognize, and talk about, and try to understand better.
One thing I have seen people do throughout my life is question God, as if to accuse Him of not being just. How could He let this happen; why me; there’s no way a good God would do that… But that kind of thinking is very limited. It’s a here-and-now mindset. But God does not have the same here-and-now as we do. God’s here-and-now is eternity. And God’s justice is of such finality that once He judges between good and bad, and passes a sentence, that is an eternal decision. So God, in that sense, is holding off His ultimate justice - His final judgement - and allowing us the chance to say we’re sorry and ask for forgiveness. God is just, but He is also merciful - not just to you, but to everyone - but we’ll get into His mercy later. The point is that we tend to think that God should make snap judgments (preferably in our favor), but He only makes eternal judgments - and it’s very rarely that we can ever wrap our heads around that…
Remember that justice, in the sense that we’re talking about here, is so much more than just finding someone guilty or not guilty. God’s justice is about doing the right thing - about being righteous. If you recall, righteousness is an aspect of God’s goodness and love - it is doing the good and loving thing - not merely the legal thing. And God calls us to be just also. His justice is another one of His attributes that He imparts, or communicates, to us, and we - as His image bearers - are to reflect His justice into the world by being righteous.
In a previous article I talked about God’s infiniteness, and said that we are part of God because we are woven together into the fabric of His being. Well, I bring that up because I want you to think of yourself for a minute as a part of God’s justice. Yes, God will judge you and you won’t have any say in that matter - don’t hear what I’m not saying - just consider this. God desires mercy, and lovingkindness, and righteousness. He does these things, is these things, and wants us to do them too. I just want you to know that you are not alone and separated from God in His justice, but you are bound together with Him - in His image - to be and do His justice right now. He wants you to give. He wants you to defend. He wants you to lead. He wants you to love, and not just in a warm cuddly way, but in a sacrificial way.
Think about how God’s justice works - even for Him. He created us, in His image, to have relationship with Him. And we turned our backs on Him. At that point He could have eradicated us and started over. But He didn’t, because He loves us. So what did He do instead? He sent His son to die for us.
God’s justice is not merely about right and wrong. God’s justice is about commitment and love - even sacrificial love - to the point where He can’t simply wipe us (who are weak and dependent on Him) off the face of His creation, because that would not be the right thing to do. His justice doesn’t just give Him the ability to declare us good or bad, but it requires Him to also do everything in His power to love us, and protect us, and defend us, and provide for us. He created us, and we are His responsibility, for better or worse. And we are not the only thing He created. He created everything! And everything He created is entirely dependent on Him. So He is required, by His justice, to do what is right in regards to everything He created. And this obligation is not somehow placed on God externally - IT IS WHO HE IS!
Let that sink in. As it sinks in for me it brings tears to my eyes, and I’m filled with a whole new depth of love for God. His love for us is so far beyond our understanding. He loves us so much that He cannot not love us. He created us so that He could love us - and so that we could love Him. And His justice is reflected in the very fact that instead of killing us for rebelling against Him, He came and died for us so that we could return to Him. He didn’t simply bring justice down upon us, but He, by His very nature, did the most righteous and just thing He could and came to rescue us from His own wrath for our rebellion.
God you are so good, and I truly, dearly love you. Amen.
Genesis 18:25 (NLT) Surely you wouldn’t do such a thing, destroying the righteous along with the wicked. Why, you would be treating the righteous and the wicked exactly the same! Surely you wouldn’t do that! Should not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?”
Jeremiah 9:24 (NLT) But those who wish to boast should boast in this alone: that they truly know me and understand that I am the LORD who demonstrates unfailing love and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth, and that I delight in these things. I, the LORD, have spoken!
Psalm 33:5 (NLT) He loves whatever is just and good; the unfailing love of the LORD fills the earth.
Psalm 89:14 (NLT) Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne. Unfailing love and truth walk before you as attendants.
Romans 12:19 (quoting Deuteronomy 32:35) (NLT) Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the LORD.
Luke 18:6-7 (NLT) Then the Lord said, “Learn a lesson from this unjust judge. Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?
Psalm 40:8 (NLT) I take joy in doing your will, my God, for your instructions are written on my heart.”
Proverbs 31:8 (NLT) Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.
Isaiah 1:17 (NLT) Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows.
Isaiah 42:1 (NLT) “Look at my servant, whom I strengthen. He is my chosen one, who pleases me. I have put my Spirit upon him. He will bring justice to the nations.
Isaiah 59:1-2 (NLT) Listen! The LORD’s arm is not too weak to save you, nor is his ear too deaf to hear you call. It’s your sins that have cut you off from God. Because of your sins, he has turned away and will not listen anymore.
Micah 6:8 (NLT) No, O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
Nehemiah 9:33 (NLT) Every time you punished us you were being just. We have sinned greatly, and you gave us only what we deserved.
Psalm 99:4 (NLT) Mighty King, lover of justice, you have established fairness. You have acted with justice and righteousness throughout Israel.
1 Peter 1:17-19 (NLT) And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time as “foreigners in the land.” For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.