JUST GOD
The word justice is defined as: a deserved reward or punishment. Justice consists in giving every man and woman what they deserve.
There is an old adage that goes: If I get in trouble with the law I do not want to stand before a just judge, I want a merciful judge.
The word sin is defined: a breaking of the law of God.
God is by nature a just God. When we break one of his laws we have sinned and are due a just punishment; “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory (praise and honor) of God.” (Romans 3:23) By His just nature He can not ignore sin and let it go unpunished, if He did He would be an unfair judge and a respecter of persons, showing favoritism to some and unfair punishment to others. Even Jesus Christ is subject to God’s just nature as Christ speaks: “My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent me.” (John 5:30) “Therefore, when He (Jesus) comes into the world, He says, ‘Sacrifice and offerings You have not desired, but a body You have prepared for me; In whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You have taken no pleasure.’ Then I (Jesus) said, ‘Behold, I have come (In the roll of the book it is written of me) to do Your will, O God.’ After saying above, ‘Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You have not desired, nor have You taken pleasure in them’ (which are offered according to the [Old} Law), then He (Jesus) said ‘Behold, I have come to do Your will.’ He (Jesus) takes away the first (Old Law) in order to establish the second (New Law).” (Hebrews 10; 5-9)
Many in the so-called “Christians world” teach that all who believe there is a God will spend eternity with God. (This includes religious groups that do not believe in Jesus nor the teachings of the New Testament) This teaching makes Jesus a liar and God unjust. Jesus said: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” (John 14:6)
Many in the so-called “Christian world” also teach that all who believe in Jesus will be saved whether they have been added to Christ’s Church (the saved Body of Christ) by being baptized for the remission of sins or not. This faith only teaching makes Jesus a liar and God unjust. “He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.” (Mark 16:16)
Many in the so-called “Christian world” teach that if you are ever in a saved state, God will not let you be lost. (Once Saved-Always Saved) This makes the apostle Peter a false teacher and God unjust. “For if, after they have escaped the defilement’s of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment delivered to them. It has happened to them according to the true proverb, ‘A DOG RETURNS TO ITS OWN VOMIT, and ‘A SOW AFTER WASHING, RETURNS TO WALLOWING IN THE MIRE.” (2 Peter 2:20-22) For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain terrifying expectation of judgment, and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES.” (Hebrews 10:26-27)
This line of thinking could go on and on, but God is a Just God. His fairness is one element of his perfection. Another element of his perfection is that of a loving and merciful God. Because God is a loving and merciful God, He devised a plan to satisfy His justice side. In place of giving all men their just punishment, He sent His son Jesus to shed blood and die on the cross as a sacrifice to Himself. This allowed God to forgive the sins of those who are obedient to his commands. Through this plan those obedient will be able to stand before Him on judgment day justified, that is with payment for their sins paid in full. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) “By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” (Hebrews 10:10) “but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD, waiting from that time onward UNTIL HIS ENEMIES BE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET. For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.” (Hebrews 10:12-14)
We do not fully understand why it requires the shedding of blood to satisfy God’s vengeance, but we learn from the bible that “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” (Hebrews 9:22). It is most likely because the giving up of life is the ultimate price that can be paid by a person and the life of Jesus, being the Son of God, is the ultimate of all life.
This plan not only satisfies the justice side of God, it also satisfies man’s need for a link to God. We know that when we pray to and through Jesus Christ, we are communicating with someone that has been on this earth and has felt physical and heart breaking pain as a human. This makes Jesus Christ a perfect mediator to stand between man and his God. “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”
(I Timothy 2:5)
“Hence, also, He is able to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He (Jesus) always lives to make intercession for them.” (Hebrews 7: 25) “Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised (from the dead), who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.” (Romans 8:33-34)
“The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. (II Peter 3:9)
This is why it is so important that we take the proper steps as
set out in the word of God (Bible) to be assured that we are in
the saved Body of Christ (His Church).