God is just

If you’ve ever served on jury duty you know how difficult it can be to determine guilt or innocence. The prosecuting lawyer paints a convicting picture. You’re convinced the accused is guilty. Then the defence lawyer presents the evidence from a different angle, and you’re equally confident that the accused is innocent. Sometimes justice isn’t easy to determine in the courtroom. An unfair verdict is, of course, a tragedy. Don’t you wish everything could be perfectly fair? Don’t you wish that someone who knew all the facts could judge impartially and render true justice?

While life isn’t always fair, there is a source of true justice. God is always fair. He is a just God. Justice is one of His defining attributes. Justice is one of His defining attributes. Justice, or righteousness, refers to the concept that God is always consistent with His perfect standard of right and wrong. Psalm 89.14 says of God, “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne.” According to Revelation 15.3 the inhabitants of heaven call out, “Great and marvellous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King of the ages.”

Even though life may not seem fair, God will ultimately uphold justice. Jesus, in Luke 18.7-8, said, “Will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly.” God honours justice in this world, and even when things aren’t fair here and now we know that in heaven God will eventually settle any injustices we experience in this world. Second Thessalonians 1.6-7 assures us, “God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels.” As God’s people, we look forward to that day in which God restores justice on earth.

However, God’s justice can be a double edged sword. We want God to treat us justly. But because He is just, He must judge our sins. We deserve to die forever because of our rebellious hearts and actions. But Jesus died in our place. Romans 3.25-26 tells us, “God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice . . . so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.”

Because God is just, He cannot simply overlook our sins. Instead, He transferred our sins to His Son. When we put our faith in Jesus, we are justly forgiven. First John 1.9 tells us, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” Why not put your faith in Jesus right now, thank Him for His justice, and receive His forgiveness?