Listen to this article
In this article:
- What is sin?
- Justice is part of who we are
- Living the image of justice
Have you ever heard God referred to as the God of Justice? God exhibits various attributes: love, sovereignty, faithfulness, unfailingness, and justice. “Justice” is often used interchangeably with the word “righteousness" when describing God’s character in scripture.
“Justice” is a term which refers to that which is right. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines justice as “the principle or ideal of just dealing or right action: conformity to this principle or ideal: righteousness.” We learn from the Bible that God is a God of justice. Yet in order to fully understand God as just we must first understand the nature of sin.
Defining sin
What is sin? Sin is everything that contradicts God’s holy nature. Sin is what is offensive to God, and justice demands separation from God. Romans 3:23 says, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Yet in Romans 5:8-11 we learn that God loves us so much that God sent his one and only son Jesus to pay the penalty of sin and death for all who accept Jesus as their savior.
Romans 5:8-11 says, “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by this life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”God’s love is so deep that despite the fact that our sin tears us away from God’s glory, God demonstrates justice by sending God’s one and only son Jesus to reveal how we can be restored and reconciled in right relationship. Through the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ we are brought into righteousness and delivered a new understanding of justice.
Justice in us
The book of Genesis tells us that we are made in the image of God, and just as God demands justice so do we as human beings. We have a deep longing for moral justice. When injustice strikes we are outraged. Why do we seek justice? Justice is a sense that we inherited from our Creator. We are just because God is just.
If justice did not exist in this universe that God created we would have no moral code. Humans would have no rights. Most importantly we would have no desire for eternal life. Every truth in the universe points back to God’s hand. What we have discovered through human knowledge are existing truths of God’s work. God’s infinite wisdom is hidden for us to find throughout the universe. Justice is one of those discoveries that has no true beginning or true explanation. In matters of morality we hold God’s truths in our hearts.
God is just. Justice is an indispensable trait of God’s character just as God’s unconditional love, grace, and mercy are key to God’s holy character. If there was no justice the law of sin and death would win. There would be no reward for obedience to God’s word. Micah 6:8 tells us that “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” God’s character of justice is a reflection of how we should walk through life’s journey.
Madison Myers is a graduate of The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, having majored in marketing, and is a young professional. She has traveled to a majority of America's national parks and is eager to see them all.
