BS2E - UNDERSTANDING THE FATHER'S RIGHTEOUSNESS AND JUSTICE
Over the past three studies we’ve been looking at three of the most important aspects of God’s character so that we can understand what Jesus is like. Since He is like His Father these same characteristics apply to Jesus.
First, we saw that God is absolutely holy. He is without defilement of any kind and pure in heart. Second, we saw that the essence of God’s character is love. That is what naturally flows from the heart of God towards all He has made. Third, we saw that love manifests itself in mercies flowing towards all of us who will accept them.
Now in one final look at God’s character we’ll look at his righteousness and justice. In the Old Testament and the New Testament, the same Hebrew and Greek words are translated as the righteousness of God and sometimes as the justice of God.
Scripture tells us over and over that God is righteous and just. Here are just a few times:
Ezra 9:15 / Psalm 119:137 / Psalm 145:17
What does King David say is the foundation of God’s throne?
Psalm 97:2
What does it mean to be righteous or just?
The Hebrew word used means “right” or “straight”. The Greek word used means “custom” or “useage” (i.e. that which conforms to custom). Taken together these words indicate that the righteousness and justice of God always leads Him to do right – especially regarding His dealings with others.
Deuteronomy 32:4 / Psalm 18:30 / Jeremiah 9:24
How is the righteousness or justice of God manifested to us?
- What do these verses tells us about what God loves and hates?
Psalm 11:4-7I think we can safely conclude from these verses that God loves righteousness but He hates wickedness. - For those who won’t listen or obey the voice of God there are consequences. Scripture records some of these over the years and in the case of Revelations 16….what is yet to come.
2 Chronicles 12:5-6 / Daniel 9:12,14 / Revelations 16:5-6 - For those who do listen and obey the voice of God there are rewards.
Psalm 7:9-11 / 2 Timothy 4:8 / Hebrews 6:10 - From these verses notice the common thread of how God protects and delivers His people from their adversaries.
Psalm 98:1-3 / Psalm 103:6 / Psalm 129:1-4 / 2 Thessalonians 1:6-7 - God’s primary concern is the vindication and avenging of His people ---rather than the suffering of the wicked.
Psalm 116:3-6 / Psalm 145:14-20 / Revelation 16:4-6 / 19:1-2 - God always keeps His promises to us!
1 Kings 8:56 / Romans 4:21 / 2 Corinthians 1:20 - God’s justice and righteousness is shown in that He has provided the sacrifice of Himself (Jesus). Christ’s death satisfies God’s wrath against the sins we have committed against Him and each other. Since ALL of us have sinned against God (Romans 3:23), the sacrifice of Jesus enables ALL of us to be justified and made in right-standing with God.
Romans 3:24-26 - God forgives the sins of every believer when they are confessed.
1 John 1:9 - And He justifies the one who has faith in the substitute – Jesus. To be justified is to be made “just as if we had never sinned”!
Romans 5:1 / 1 Corinthians 6:11 / Galatians 3:24
The prediction of Jesus coming to carry out God’s justice so that we could be in right-standing with God (i.e. righteous) was predicted many times in the Old Testament. Here is how Jeremiah put it:
Jeremiah 23:5-6
Notice that this righteous branch or descendant of King David would be called “The Lord our Righteousness”. What would be his main mission in coming to earth?
Matthew 1:21
What does this mean for us to have Jesus to save us “from our sins”?
2 Corinthians 5:21
We were made for God and Jesus doesn’t want any of us to miss the purpose of our life. We were made to walk in unison with God, carrying out His directives in a partnership with Him.
We said that the righteousness and justice of God always leads Him to do right especially in His dealings with others. So too as we study Christ’s life, we’ll see Him living a sinless life with the wisdom to dispense His Father’s justice towards the repentant and the defiant.
John 5:30
Next Study: BS2F-How Jesus Describes Himself