Exeter Seventh-day Adventist Church

God is a God of justice. It’s in the Bible, Deuteronomy 10:17-18, NKJV. “For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe. He administers justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the stranger, giving him food and clothing.”

If God is fair, why is this world full of injustice? God gives free will, and sinful humans are unjust. It’s in the Bible, Deuteronomy 32:4-5, NKJV. “He is the Rock, His work is perfect; for all His ways are justice, a God of truth and without injustice; righteous and upright is He. They have corrupted themselves; they are not His children, because of their blemish: a perverse and crooked generation.”

Although God’s children are treated unjustly, He has not forsaken them. It’s in the Bible, Psalm 37:28, NKJV. “For the LORD loves justice, and does not forsake His saints; they are preserved forever, but the descendants of the wicked shall be cut off.”

Does God care when unjust things happen to His people? Yes, you are the apple of His eye. It’s in the Bible, Zechariah 2:8, NKJV. “For thus says the LORD of hosts: “He sent Me after glory, to the nations which plunder you; for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye."

Who can we rely on if there’s no justice? It’s in the Bible, Psalm 50:15, NKJV. “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.”

You are not left defenseless. It’s in the Bible, Psalm 72:12, NKJV. “For He will deliver the needy when he cries, the poor also, and him who has no helper.”

God can take our tragic losses and turn them into gain. It’s in the Bible, Romans 8:28, NKJV. “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

When Jesus came, He showed us true justice. It’s in the Bible, Psalm 146:7-9, “Who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry. The LORD gives freedom to the prisoners. The LORD opens the eyes of the blind; the LORD raises those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous.  The LORD watches over the strangers; He relieves the fatherless and widow; but the way of the wicked He turns upside down.”

Jesus endured injustice while He was on earth. It’s in the Bible, Acts 8:32-33, NKJV. “The place in the Scripture which he read was this: ‘He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so He opened not His mouth. In His humiliation His justice was taken away, and who will declare His generation? For His life is taken from the earth.’”

Justice says we deserve death, because we are sinners. It’s in the Bible, Romans 6:23, NKJV. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Christ was treated unfairly to bring us back to God. It’s in the Bible, 1 Peter 3:18, NKJV. “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit”

Jesus was treated as we deserved, that we might be treated as He deserved. It’s in the Bible, 2 Corinthians 5:21, NKJV. “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

Trials come to us, and in them we taste what Christ went through to save us. It’s in the Bible, 1 Peter 4:12-13, NKJV. “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.”

Trust God to take care of justice. It’s in the Bible, Romans 12:19-20, “Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord. Therefore ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.’”

Wait on God, He will answer you. It’s in the Bible, Isaiah 30:18-19, NKJV. “Therefore the LORD will wait, that He may be gracious to you; and therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for Him. For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem; you shall weep no more. He will be very gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when He hears it, He will answer you.”

We are called to uphold justice for the weak and defenseless. It’s in the Bible, Psalm 82:3-4, NKJV. “Defend the poor and fatherless; do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy; free them from the hand of the wicked.”

Don’t sell out, but do what is right. It’s in the Bible, Deuteronomy 16:19, NKJV. “You shall not pervert justice; you shall not show partiality, nor take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous.”

What you do to others, will fall on you. It’s in the Bible, Galatians 6:7-8, NKJV. “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.”

God will bring complete justice when He comes again. It’s in the Bible, Psalm 72:4, NKJV. “He will bring justice to the poor of the people; He will save the children of the needy, and will break in pieces the oppressor.”

For more information see:

• Forgiveness
• Grace
• Revenge
• Trust