Unit 10 Session 4 / God, the Just King

Introduction:

Big Picture Question: Why does sin separate us from God? Because God is holy, sin has broken our relationship with God.

Isaiah 6:5 KJV 1900

5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.

The people of Israel wanted a human king to go out before them and fight their battles, never mind that it was the Lord who had always been there doing exactly that. Yet the Lord gave the people what they wanted, and while he began well, he proved to be a king out for his own reputation and gain. Therefore, the just God who raised him up also tore the kingdom away from him.

God’s justice, both past, present, and in the promised future, serves as a warning against our sin and should lead us to repentance and faith in Jesus. And then, because our God is just, we should strive to live justly and to seek His justice in the world.

Our aim today is this: God is right to judge people for their sinful conduct and hearts, but in His mercy, He judged Christ on their behalf so that they might be saved.

God, the only Just King.

Does the thought of God’s justice comfort or disturb you? Why?

If you were the judge of the universe, what would be your standard of judgment? In other words, how would you decide who gets punished and who goes free? Why?

The world longs for justice. Just turn on the evening news or scroll through social media and you will find the evidence. Of course, it’s easy to cry for justice when we have been wronged or someone we love has been taken advantage of. But most people don’t see themselves as deserving judgment. If we don’t accept this bad news, however, we cannot receive the good news that accompanies God’s justice. With that in mind, let’s take a look at what the Bible says about God’s justice.

Turn with me to Romans 2.

POINT #1: GOD’S JUSTICE IS SERVED TO ALL PEOPLE EVERYWHERE (Romans 2:1-5)

We’ll spend most of our time today in Romans.

The apostle Paul wrote his letter of Romans to a church he had not planted and had not known but whom he knew were faithful believers in Christ and “saints” of God. He longed to preach the gospel to the people in Rome, both believers and unbelievers alike.

This gospel is good news, but first it entails bad news, at least from our perspective — God has wrath for and judges sin and sinners.

Paul began with the Gentiles showing how the people of the world inherently know the truth about God through His creation but have chosen to worship the creation instead of the Creator. Therefore, the Lord has handed His image-bearers over to the sinful fruit of their own corrupted hearts and minds. This has resulted in sexual impurity, homosexuality, a litany of sins such as greed, envy, deceit, and pride, and a desire to applaud those who practice these things. God’s judgment upon these sins is death. (Romans 1:18-32)

Then we come to chapter 2. Look at verses 1-3 with me.

Romans 2:1–3 KJV 1900

1 Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. 2 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. 3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?

Paul indicted the Gentiles as sinners in Romans 1:18-32. But the Jews, who judged Gentiles for their sin, were guilty of the same. Therefore, both Jews and Gentiles — including us — deserve God’s judgment.

Think about the life of Saul for a moment. What sins have we seen thus far in King Saul’s life that we could find in our own? (a lack of faith manifesting in the fear of men; impatience; a disregard for God’s plan; blatant disobedience; blaming others for his sin; justifying his actions; lying; pride)

As Paul explained, the Jews’ judgment of others was inconsistent, for though they rightly judged the Gentiles’ actions as sinful, they themselves engaged in the same kinds of attitudes and behaviors.

The Jews (in our passage) condemned themselves in passing judgement on the Gentiles, showing they knew better, which left them without “excuse” (Romans 1:20).

God’s judgment is based on truth, that is God judges rightly. God judges sinners in light of His perfect righteousness. All people are guilty of sin and deserving of God’s judgment. There is no escape on our own.

For many of us, it would be easy for us to read Romans 1:18-32 and agree with the Jews that “those people” deserve God’s judgment. Similarly, we likely have looked at the rise and fall of King Saul and judged him for his pride and selfish disobedience. But if we are honest, we must confess that we are guilty of the same things and likewise deserving of God’s just judgment.

Romans 2:4–5 KJV 1900

4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? 5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;

Because God is just, He must punish sin, and yet, He shows kindness and patience so that sinners would repent. Though we deserve God’s wrath, He provides for us a way of escape, if we will take it.

How does God’s kindness lead to repentance? (God provides the sun and rain so we can have our daily needs met; God is patient in applying His judgment so sinners can come to their senses and repent and believe in Jesus; God uses the testimonies of believers as they share the Gospel to call sinners to repentance and faith; God has given us His law and His Son)

Not only did the Jews hypocritically judge the Gentiles, many also rejected the only means God gave for the escape from judgment that we all need. They relied on their ethnic identity and heritage, their possession of God’s law, and their covenant relationship with the Lord, but they failed to recognize their own need for repentance.

How can we be like the Jews?

If God is just, then He must judge us for our lawlessness, and as sinners, we have nothing to lean on for support. Whether we look to a lineage, religious upbringing, or good works, all of these are useless for reconciling us to God. So what are we to do? Our only hope must come from this just God.

POINT #2: GOD’S JUSTICE IS REVEALED IN THE ATONING SACRIFICE OF JESUS (Romans 3:19-26)

Romans 3:19–20 KJV 1900

19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

All people stand guilty before God. No one can argue their innocence before the holy God. Keeping the law to earn righteousness is not an option since human beings, all of whom are corrupted by sin, cannot keep the law.

The very nature of the law is to display God’s holy and righteous standard and reveal humanity’s sinfulness. The law cannot save us — it shows us our need to be saved from our sin.

The law of God provides us no hope for righteousness or salvation because we, being sinful, cannot keep it. Rather, the law shows us our desperate, sinful state and our need for a Savior.

Romans 3:21–26 KJV 1900

21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

These verses illuminate for us the Essential Doctrine that our lesson is built on:

Essential Doctrine #17: God is Just: God establishes standards for His moral creatures that are in accordance with His righteousness, and His moral creatures will be judged according to those righteous standards (Leviticus 11:44-45; Romans 2:5-11; 2 Corinthians 5:10). It would be an injustice if God were not to uphold His righteousness, for such a failure would require God to violate His own righteous character. Since humanity has sinned by failing to live up to God’s righteous standards, God has taken it upon Himself to make provision by being both just and the justifier of those who place their faith in Christ (Romans 3:25-26).

How should we respond to the truth that God is both just and gracious in the gift of Jesus for salvation? (with humility; with praise; with faith in Jesus for salvation; with a desire to share the gospel)

VOICES FROM CHURCH HISTORY — “When we put our faith in Jesus, we are relying on him to stand as our substitute before God, in both his perfect life and his penalty-paying death for us on the cross. In other words, we are trusting that God will substitute Jesus’ record for ours, and therefore declare us to be righteous (Romans 3:22).” — Greg Gilbert

*quick aside concerning the Day of Atonement.

POINT #3: LIVING WITH AN ABUNDANCE OF JUSTICE IS PLEASING TO GOD (Amos 5:18-24)

Amos 5:18–20 KJV 1900

18 Woe unto you that desire the day of the Lord! To what end is it for you? The day of the Lord is darkness, and not light. 19 As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; Or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him. 20 Shall not the day of the Lord be darkness, and not light? Even very dark, and no brightness in it?

The day of the Lord was that day on which God judges all sinners among all peoples, Jews included.

The reality is, just as we have established from Romans 2-3, neither ethnicity nor morality can save anyone. Only by faith in God — now, specifically in Jesus Christ crucified and resurrected — can one be saved from the wrath to come.

God is just, and He is concerned for justice in His creation. This will result in judgment against all sinners who do not find refuge in God.

Amos 5:21–24 KJV 1900

21 I hate, I despise your feast days, And I will not smell in your solemn assemblies. 22 Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept them: Neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts. 23 Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; For I will not hear the melody of thy viols. 24 But let judgment run down as waters, And righteousness as a mighty stream.

The Lord stated in no uncertain terms how little He cared for Israel’s religious practices. While God was pleased to give His people a law that called for such acts of worship, they meant nothing to Him if they were performed to the neglect of daily obedience, the pursuit of righteousness and justice.

Ritual without obedience is not true worship.

The people of God must not be concerned with appearances only. Rather, the justice and righteousness of God should flow from our faith-filled hearts and inform our faith-filled actions.

To put it in modern terms, what good is it to raise your hands in worship while secretly using those same hands to abuse those in your care? What good is it to give your offerings in church and then secretly give your money to support your sexual addiction? Is God pleased with prayer ministry that fuels gossip in the church? With a small group that loves the Bible but has a disdain for “those people” in the neighborhood?

If we carry out our acts of worship while neglecting a life of worship, then we will not please our just and righteous God. The fact that our God is a God of justice means that we, His people, should reflect His righteousness and justice in our lives.

Micah 6:8 KJV 1900

8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; And what doth the Lord require of thee, But to do justly, and to love mercy, And to walk humbly with thy God?

What should it look like for believers in Christ to reflect God’s justice and righteousness in the world? (to hate sin and disobedience, foremost in ourselves; to repent of our own sin and call others to repent of theirs; to share the gospel of God’s justice and grace in Christ; to obey God’s commands from the heart, not just as a ritual or for appearance; to stand firm on the truth of God’s Word with love for those who disagree; in the name of Christ, to stand up for and protect those who are marginalized, oppressed, and helpless.

APPLICATION:

Because God is just in all of His ways, we are to live justly and righteously before all people as an act of worship to our God.

Head — Because God is just, how should believers view the circumstances of their lives?

Heart — What are some ways you might be going through the motions of worship instead of repenting and worshipping with a whole heart?

Hands — How is God calling you to share the hope of the gospel while seeking justice for others?