God Is Just Series

God is Just

Deuteronomy 32:4; Luke 18:1-8

Luke 18:1-7

Intro

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Justice. When we see justice occur it is often very satisfying, in such a way that we feel all is right with the world.

But, often, we look around and see what we believe are injustices and it is disheartening.

But who is it that determines what is just? And is justice the same for everyone?

I would argue that true justice is the same for all, however, due to our inability to see all things, and know all things, justice in the eyes of men may look very different from one person to the next.

As an example of these differing views of justice, perhaps some of you remember a murder trial from 1995 and the very different responses from different segments of society.

OJ video

Slide after video

Was Justice done or was it a travesty of justice?

It certainly depended on what it was that you thought was being decided and it broke down largely along racial lines.

African Americans largely viewed the verdict as justice being done regarding what they saw as a long history of abuse by our justice system against black men. Even if they thought OJ was guilty, they felt there was some justice.

White Americans largely viewed it as an injustice, not looking at it from the standpoint of righting societal injustice, but from the fact that it seemed like the evidence was clear that OJ killed Nicole and her friend Ron.

Thus the different reactions, differing views of what constituted justice in this case based on how a person or group was looking at the situation. Each segment of society saw it through their own distorted lens, believing however that their view was truly the clearest view.

Transition

So in life, is this where our hope rests? On the ability of flawed men to met out justice and if they don’t, too bad?

Thankfully that is not the case, because there is a God who is completely just.

This morning we are continuing our series “Who is God” and we will be considering this very fact, that God is just.

Throughout Scripture we see that God is called Just. Listen to how Moses describes God in Deuteronomy 32:4

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Deuteronomy 32:4

4 He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just.

A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.

God is just. But my question is, if God is just, why is there so much injustice in the world? Where is God’s justice and judgment when injustice is happening?

Well, for us, with our limited perspectives and views that only encompass some of the situation, we have to realize that we do not see the whole picture and our views of justice are affected by our own experiences and our own distorted views, as well as our own selfishness and sin.

But rest assured, the God who is Just will Justly deal with all matters when He Judges the world justly.

This morning, as we consider that God is just, I want us to see justice and how it is often perceived from our own standpoint, and then talk about what the Bible says about how justice will be done and how all of our actions will be judged justly and what we can expect as a result.

So, I want to begin with a parable Jesus told.

Turn with me to Luke 18:1-7

Slide

This is the parable of the Persistent Widow and was used by Jesus to encourage persistence among the disciples regarding prayer, but there is a desire for justice from the widow that I want to consider more closely this morning.

Luke 18:1-7

18 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.'

4 "For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care about men, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!'"

6 And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?

Pray

This woman says “Grant me justice against my adversary.” She wants justice against someone who has wronged her.

The reality is, that

We want Justice when we are wronged