Meaning of JUSTICE

Term that appears with great frequency in the Scriptures, expressing an attribute of God that maintains what is consistent with his own character, and that necessarily judges what is opposed to Him: sin.

In man it is also the opposite of "anomie" or sin (1 Jn. 3:4-7). It must be kept in mind that, as far as man is concerned, apart from a work of grace in him, "there is none righteous, not even one" (Ps. 14:1-3; Rom. 3:10).

Independently of man, God has revealed his justice in the thorough judgment and removal of sin, and of the state with which sin was connected in man.

This was accomplished by assuming the Son of God the nature of man, becoming part of the human race, although without any sin in Him, and taking on the cross, vicariously, the place of man under the curse of the law, being made sin. and glorifying God by bearing the judgment of sin (Rom. 3:21-26; Gal. 3:13; Phil. 2:5-8 ff.).

Thus, the righteousness of God, declared and expressed in the saints in Christ, is the divine response to the fact that Christ was made sin. On the other hand, the lake of fire (see ETERNAL PUNISHMENT) is the eternal expression of God's righteous judgment. Today the justice of God is revealed in the Gospel and appropriated by faith.

This is an entirely different principle from that by which the Jew acted, namely, that of attempting to establish his own righteousness, without submitting to the righteousness of God (Rom. 10:3). Abraham's father believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness; and the faith of the believer is credited to him as righteousness apart from works (Rom. 4:3, 5).

Christ Jesus is made to us the righteousness of God (1 Cor. 1:30). He is the end of the law for justice to all those who believe.

There is also practical justice that characterizes every Christian. Knowing the justice of God becomes a servant of justice (Rom. 6:13, 19, 22).

The wife of the Lamb is presented dressed “in fine linen, clean and shining; for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints” (Rev. 19:8).