GOD OF LOVE AND JUSTICE
People in general seem willing to accept the love of God. But some seem less willing to believe that he is also a God of justice. However, the Bible states: “God is love” (1 John 4:16). And “the Lord, love justice” (Isaiah 61:8)–“Righteousness and justice are the foundation of [his] throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before [him]” (Psalms 89:14).
WHY SOME PEOPLE MAY NOT BELIEVE IN THE JUSTICE OF GOD
Some people may not believe in the justice of God because they have not studied to know enough about the Holy Scriptures (2 Timothy 2:15; 2 Timothy 3:16-17). Or they may not have been taught the truth about the Word of God (2 Timothy 4:3-4). Or as Jesus said, some people love their “evil” deeds more than they desire to obey God (John 3:19), even though they may call him Lord (Luke 6:46).
Nevertheless, God does not want anyone to perish, “ but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9; and “believe” (Acts 2:38). Having or increasing one’s knowledge of the truth of God’s biblical Word may inspire one to believe and repent; or strengthen one’s faith in both his love and justice. The following are some more biblical truths about the love and justice of God who loves us enough to send his Son to die for our sins:
FIRST, GOD GIVES A VIEW OF HIS LOVE IN JUSTICE AFTER HE MADE ADAM AND EVE IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN.
In the cool of the day God would visit and have loving fellowship with Adam and Eve. But they sinned by disobeying their creator. In God’s justice, they were separated from him and condemned to die.
However, in his love and justice, God took the skin of an animal to temporarily cover their sense of guilt and nakedness, until God sent someone sinless to atone for their sins (Genesis 3).
SECOND, GOD GIVES AN ADDED VIEW OF HIS LOVE AND JUSTICE IN GIVING THE COMMANDMENTS AND LAW.
The commandments or law of the Old Testament was written “in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure”
(Romans 7:13).
As a result of people continuing to sin, God in his love and justice provides a day of atonement for their sins. God allowed animals to be sacrificed as atonements (Leviticus 16). He allowed this as a temporary measure of atonement until the coming of Jesus Christ, “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29; Galatians 3:13).
The book of Hebrews says concerning the law and Christ: “The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. 2Otherwise, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. 3But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins. 4It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins” Hebrews 10:1-4
5Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said:
“Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,
but a body you prepared for me;
6with burnt offerings and sin offerings
you were not pleased.
7Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll—
I have come to do your will, my God.’ ” (Hebrews 10:1-7).
FINALLY, GOD GIVES US A COMPLETE PICTURE OF HIS LOVE AND JUSTICE IN THE PERSON OF HIS SON JESUS CHRIST.
- When the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship (Galatians 4:4-5).
- To all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God (John 1:12)
- For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16).
- All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23).
- The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead (Acts 17:30-31).
- Now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2)
- Because of the Lord Jesus Christ’s love for sinners and his desire to keep them from the judgement-wrath of God, Jesus remarked to some sinners: “you will perish, too, unless you repent of your sins and turn to God” (Luke 13:3). “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil” (2 Corinthians 5:10).
- God “will repay each person according to what they have done. To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger” (Romans 2:6-11).
Everyone who believes and repents of their sins, God shows his love and justice by the atoning death of his sinless Son Jesus Christ (John 3:16). For he was offered once to bear the sins of many, but will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him (Hebrews 9:28).
