Our Just God
This past Monday I had the opportunity to play “Mr. Mom” while Beth attended a conference in Chicago. There is no doubt in my mind that Beth has a more difficult job than I do!
My greatest challenge came late morning when I was trying to give our baby Megan a bottle. Since Beth is nursing her, Megan has no interest in artificial leche that’s the one word I know in Spanish. Being the resourceful person that I am, I decided to sit down on the couch, and watch “Judge Joe” on TV while I tried to figure out how to get some formula down Megan’s throat. I was worried that she was going to dehydrate on me! Whenever I put the bottle in her mouth, she would just smile at me and push it away with her hands.
Finally, I came across a plan. I took the Playtex bottle in one hand and used my other hand to push the little bag of formula up into the bottle so the milk would spray out the nozzle or whatever it’s called. Whenever Megan opened her mouth, I just aimed, and squirted. She didn’t get much in her mouth but I did hear her swallow a couple times.
While Judge Joe was berating a young man in his TV courtroom, and Megan was wiping milk off her chin as it drooled down her neck, our 5-year-old Becky came into the room. She observed what I was doing, frowned a little bit and said, “Dad, do you really know what you’re doing?”
Just then Judge Joe was lecturing the criminal on TV by asking him a similar question, “Son, did you really know what you were doing?” I was afraid that Becky and Megan were going to press charges so I quickly put the bottle down and listened intently to the judge conclude his remarks by saying, “I’ve seen your types before. Even if you didn’t know what you were doing, I know what you’re all about. You’re guilty as charged. Now pay up!” I don’t know how this guy got up the courage, but he yelled out at Joe the Judge, “That’s not fair! I don’t deserve that kind of punishment it was my fiancée’s fault!”
Like Judge Judy on a different channel, Judge Joe seemed to enjoy dispensing justice maybe a little too much! I couldn’t help but wonder the same thing his ruling didn’t seem all that fair.
As we continue in our series called, “Getting to Know God,” our focus this morning is on “Our Just God.” Justice is not an external system to which God tries to adhere. He didn’t have to go to law school or get a TV courtroom to learn how to apply the law. His justice comes out of his inner being and is based on His holiness, His truthfulness, and His righteousness. Moses put it this way in Deuteronomy 32:4: “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 always acts in a way consistent with the requirements of His character as revealed in His law. He rules His creation with honesty. He keeps His word. He renders to all creatures their due.
The word justice in the Bible refers to conformity to a rule or norm. God plays by the rules. The ultimate norm of justice is His own Holy character. There is a consistency in God, a straightness about Him. This is in contrast to humans, who are referred to as being unrighteous, or crooked. We refer to criminals as crooks because they are crooked -- they’re not straight. Only God is. In all eternity, God has never done a crooked thing.
Biblical Survey
Let me give you a brief overview of some key passages that deal with God’s justice:
Psalm 9:16: “The Lord is known by His justice.”
Psalm 75:7: “But it is God who judges.”
Proverbs 29:26: “Many seek an audience with a ruler, but it is from the Lord that man gets justice.”
Daniel 9:14: “For the Lord our God is righteous in everything He does.”
Our fascination for fairness is found not only in court and in real life, but also in the Bible. A case in point is a parable Jesus tells in Luke 18, which describes an incredibly corrupt legal system. It’s a simple story with only two characters, a crooked judge and a desperate widow. Jesus told this story to show that God is the exact opposite of this type of judge. This profound parable touches on at least four points about God’s justice:
We want it
We don’t want it
We’re going to get it
We may have to wait for it
We Want It
The first point, when it comes to justice is this: we want it.
Notice the picture Jesus paints in Luke 18:2-3: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’”
Judges during the time of Jesus were notorious for being crooked. Unless a plaintiff had influence and money to bribe his way to a verdict, he had no hope of ever getting his case settled. This widow didn’t have a chance since she probably had little influence and even less money. She didn’t measure up to the judge’s standards -- crooked though they were. So she used the only weapon she had -- persistence! She knew she could never receive justice from this crooked judge unless she persisted.
What a contrast! He was the epitome of power and social status. She was on the lower rung of the cultural ladder. Widows back then had no clout, no cash, and no connections. They were easy prey for predators. And one day a thief came and robbed her blind. The widow then appeals to the judge for some justice. She doesn’t seek vengeance; all she demands is justice. And so do we.
In New York City, 4 police officers were found not guilty in the death of Amadu Diallo, an African immigrant. Many minority groups are outraged. At the end of the lead story on the NBC Nightly News last night, the reporter said this, “There’s a bitter feeling that justice has not been done.”
Injustice leaves a bitter taste in our mouths. At school, when some bully shoves us or ridicules us, we demand justice. At work, when an employee lies to us, or when an employer falsely accuses us, we demand justice. In marriage, when a partner cheats on us or abandons us, we demand justice.
I’ve really enjoyed watching PCS volleyball games this year. I admit I didn’t know many of the rules before the season started, but now I’m an expert. I’ve been intrigued by how the two referees call the game. One climbs a ladder and stands perched above the net so he or she can scan all the lines and keep an eye out for all infractions.
I remember one game a couple weeks ago when a ball was called out that sure looked like it was in. I remember thinking, “that’s not fair you didn’t even see where it landed!” Later, between the games, one of the refs who was perched on the ladder, turned to the crowd and asked us if we had any questions about volleyball. I was going to ask when he last had his eyes checked, but thought better of it!
Why was I so upset about a call? It’s because I want justice I want things to be fair and if they’re not, I at least want the calls to go in our favor…
Are you upset with any blown calls in your life? Are you angry with anyone today? Who is your adversary? How has he or she offended you? In what area of your life are you like this desperate widow? The truth is, when it comes to justice, we all want it.
We Don’t Want It
The second truth about justice may sound contradictory when you first hear it: We Don’t Want It.
R.C. Sproul recounts an experience he had teaching a freshman Old Testament course to 250 students at a Christian college. On the first day of class he went over the assignments very carefully, explaining that the course required three short term papers. He made it clear that the first one was due by noon on the last day of September no extensions would be given. If the paper was not turned in on time, the student would receive an F for the assignment.
On September 30th, 225 students turned in their paper, while 25 students stood quaking in terror, full of remorse. As they cried out for mercy, Dr. Sproul decided to give them a break. He then said, “Remember, the next assignment is due the last day of October.” The students were very happy and promised to have their next assignment in on time.
On the last day of October, 200 students came with their papers. 50 students came empty-handed. They were nervous, but not in a panic. They told the professor, “We’re sorry. Please give us one more chance. We promise it will never happen again.”
The professor relented one more time but said, “This is the last time. If you are late for the next paper, it will be an F. No excuses and no whining. Is that clear?” They all nodded their heads in agreement.
What do you think happened on the last day of November? Right. Only 150 students came with their papers. The other 100 strolled into class utterly unconcerned. Dr. Sproul shouted out, “Where are your term papers?” One student replied, “Oh, don’t worry, Prof, we’re working on them. We’ll have them in a couple days.”
The professor then picked up his lethal black grade book and began taking down names. “Johnson! Do you have your paper?” “No sir,” came the reply. “F,” the professor said as he wrote the grade in the book. The students reacted with unmitigated fury. They howled in protest, screaming, “That’s not fair.”
Sproul then looked at one of the complaining students and asked, “Do you think this is unfair?” The student courageously responded, “Yes this is not fair at all.”
The teacher then said, “I see. It’s justice you want? I seem to recall that you were late with your paper the last time. If you insist upon justice you will certainly get it. I’ll not only give you an F for this assignment, but I’ll change your last grade to the F you so richly deserved.”
The student was stunned. He had no more arguments to make. He apologized for being so hasty and was suddenly happy to settle for one F instead of two.
In God’s court, you and I have a flimsy defense. Romans 3:23 says, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” and Romans 6:23 reminds us that “the wages of sin is death.” There’s no possibility of a plea bargain or of God grading on a curve. Because God is a just God, He will judge accordingly. Friends, be careful of demanding that justice be done -- God may give you the “F” you deserve!
We’re Going to Get It
In thinking about God’s justice, we’ve established two things so far. First, We Want It. Second, We Don’t Want It. Let’s come back to the parable that Jesus told. Here we see point #3: We’re Going To Get It.
This widow eventually gets her day in court. This judge, though corrupt, finally caves in. Jesus tells us why as he continues the parable in verse 4. Referring to the judge, he says:
“For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care about men, 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!’ ”
He gets tired of her hounding, and so reluctantly renders a decision. This judge finally responds, not because it is the right thing to do, but because it is the convenient thing to do. Jesus then presses home his point.
Notice verses 6-8: “And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 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? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly.”
Think about it. This unjust judge had no respect for absolutes. He probably cheated on his exams for law school! He may have become a judge by bribing other officials. What’s worse, he has no compassion for people. He is indifferent to the needs of the poor plaintiffs who have to appear before his corrupt court. All he cares about is himself.
By contrast, our just God is the author of absolutes. His standards are not arbitrary, but are completely consistent with his perfect character. And his standards are not for sale. He cannot be bribed. He cannot be fooled. He accepts no plea-bargains.
God will judge the world; God must judge the world. This means that he must judge you and he must judge me.
The Law News Alert reports a story about a police lineup. Each suspect was asked to repeat the words, “Give me all your money or I’ll shoot.” This was to help witnesses make a positive identification. Suddenly, one of the suspects yelled out, “Hey, that’s not what I said!”
We’re all a bit like this guy. We know we’re guilty and it’s tough to keep quiet about it. In God’s court of law, we’re all busted. The good news is that God is not only passionate about truth -- He is compassionate toward people. The unjust judge did not care about men. But our just God became a man. Jesus is God’s gift of forgiveness to a world that didn’t just demand justice; we all deserved justice. John 3:17 says, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” Are you trusting in the Son to save you from judgment?
We Can Be Pardoned
Because God is a just God, He must judge everyone who does not meet his standards for perfection. That means you. That means me. Sin has to be paid for. Time must be served. God’s justice requires that there be payment for the penalty of sin.
There really is no tension between God’s love and God’s justice. Jesus is the fusion of divine love and divine justice. Picture a line drawn vertically -- that’s God’s justice. And another line drawn horizontally -- that’s God’s love. Where they meet is the cross. There is dissonance only if your view of love requires that God forgive sin without any payment being made.
Actually, the offer of Jesus as our sin substitute shows a greater love on God’s part than simply releasing us from the consequences of sin without payment being made. To fulfill his justice, God’s love was so great that He gave His Son for us. Love and justice are not two separate attributes competing with one another. God is both righteous and loving, and has himself given what He demands.
God sent His Son Jesus to die in our place. Romans 3:26 says that “he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies the one who has faith in Jesus.”
The cross was at once the most horrible and the most beautiful example of God’s wrath. It was the most just and the most gracious act in history. With the concentrated load of sin that Jesus carried to the Cross, God poured out His wrath -- the penalty for the sins that every one of us have committed -- on Jesus. It was with this act that God’s holy justice was completely satisfied. It was done for you. It was done for me.
In other words, the sacrifice of Jesus demonstrates God’s justice. When you put your faith in Jesus for forgiveness of sins, according to Romans 3:26 you will be declared just in His sight -- and you won’t have to pay the price.
I read this week about a burglar from Belgium who was surprised while he was robbing a house. When he heard the homeowners returning, he fled out the back door, clambered over a 9-foot wall, dropped down on the other side, and found himself in the city prison! As we’ve already learned in this series, it is impossible to run from God because you’ll eventually be imprisoned by your own sins.
For those of you who have been acquitted by a just God due to the sacrifice of his Son, there is a fourth principle in this parable. When it comes to justice, we want it, we don’t want it, we’re going to get it, and finally, we may have to wait for it.
We May Have to Wait For It
The context of this parable is the Second Coming of Christ. That is how Luke 17 ends and how Luke 18 begins: “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.” Jesus concludes this story in verse 8 with this question: “When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”
The implication is that He may not. The danger is that God’s apparent delay in dispensing justice may cause some to doubt, or to despair, or even to depart from the faith. When evil goes unpunished, when good is not rewarded, some may be tempted to walk away.
I don’t know how many times you’ve been wronged. I don’t know how many ways you’ve been victimized. I don’t know how long you’ve waited for justice to be served.
But I do know that God is not deaf to your cries. Unlike the widow, you don’t have to pester a reluctant God to act on your behalf. He will not keep putting you off. Genesis 18:25 asks, “Will not the Judge of the all the earth do right?” The answer is a resounding “Yes!” But our question is “When?”
This parable refers to the interval between Christ’s first Advent and his final Advent. 2,000 years ago, he came as an unrecognized babe in a manger. One day, he will come as the inescapable Judge of all the earth. We now live in the interim between these Advents. And these interim days are ones that call for patient, persistent, waiting faith.
Why does God delay? Two reasons come to mind.
He delays in order to fortify the faith of those who demand justice. He wants believers to keep praying and not give up.
Second, he delays in order to give those who deserve justice time to trust in his Son. Each day of postponed judgment is an extended day of grace. Will you receive Him?
Closing Challenge
All you need to do is ask and He will erase all your sins. He will pay your debt by charging your sins to Christ’s account.
When our daughter Becky was born, we accumulated a mountain of medical bills and some family members offered to pay for some of them. We were very thankful but didn’t send any bills to them for a while. A couple weeks later they called and wondered why we hadn’t taken them up on their offer. We assured them that we would as soon as we got the next bill.
You see, they couldn’t pay our debt unless we gave it to them -- and we’d have been stupid to not take advantage of their generous offer.
Friends, the same is true for your spiritual bills. Jesus has already paid for them -- but you need to submit your claims. It’s not automatic. If you haven’t surrendered your life to Him and asked Him to forgive you for your sins, His payment will not be applied to your account. And, if Jesus doesn’t pay for your sins, guess who will?
Let me ask you a question. How are you going to pay for your sins? How are you going to do it? Someone has to. You have 2 choices:
1. Either you choose to pay for your sins in Hell -- and justice will prevail.
2. Or, you receive Christ as your sin substitute -- and justice will prevail.
Are you ready to charge your sins to Jesus’ payment plan? If you are, you will spend eternity with Him on the merits of what He did on the cross.
Some of you are ready to make that commitment right now. You want Jesus to cancel your sin debt. You’re ready to surrender yourself to His leadership in your life. If you are, then there’s no better time than now to do it.
Thousands of cars are stolen every year in California, but in 1981, there was one car theft that made all the local papers and was the lead story on the evening news. The police issued an all-points bulletin to find the missing car and tried to make contact with the person who stole it.
Why all the excitement? The owner of the car had informed the police that on the front seat of the car was a box of crackers laced with a deadly poison. The car owner had planned to use the crackers as rat bait. So the police were desperately trying to find the thief not to punish him, but to save his life. They were afraid he would eat one of the crackers and die.
In the same way, our just God pursues us not because He wants to punish us but because he wants to save us. You may be running away from God because like the car thief you are a sinner. You have broken God’s law. But what you may not realize is that God is trying to rescue you, not condemn you. Jesus has paid the penalty for your sin, and God wants to give you your freedom. So stop running away from Him and turn yourself in. Run to Jesus, not away from Him. Your life is at stake!
