Lesson No. 16 

Lesson No. 16 Justice

Justice is a very extensive principle. It includes not only punishment for those who do wrong and freedom for the innocent, but also the act of doing rightly in all orders of life. It is said to consist of a feeling of righteousness and equity that governs the individual's conduct, making them properly acknowledge all the rights of others and give each person what is rightfully due to them.

Applying this concept to the field of theology, justice is recognized as one of God's moral attributes, which consists of the inflexible righteousness of His divine government. This means that He will always do what is right, that He will act according to the principles of justice.

Concerning this divine attribute, let us see what the following passages of the Holy Bible tell us:

Psalm 11: verse 7: “For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright”.51

Psalm 145: verse 17: “The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works”.51

Deuteronomy chapter 10: verses 17 and 18: For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward: 18He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment”.51

That is why the prophet Isaiah said: Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place. (Isaiah chapter 28: verse 17).51

Justice can also be found in humans intuitively, as they were created in God's likeness.

God is just not only in Himself, but He demands that the human, whom He made in His own image, practice justice as well as He does. As an example of this, consider the following passages from the Scriptures:

Leviticus chapter 19: verse 15: “Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour”.51

Our Lord Jesus Christ also said: For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew chapter 5: verse 20).51

It is an indisputable reality that a large part of the people whose hearts have not been renewed remain indifferent to the practice of justice even when it is a demand of conscience, indicated by the light of reason. Meanwhile, many of them demand justice only when it may favor their interests. However, it is an irrefutable reality as well that there exists that other part of humanity that indeed feels in their hearts the desire to put justice into practice, but due to the lack of perfect knowledge of most unobserved acts, often and in many circumstances, even wanting to act justly, unintentional injustices are committed. This can be verified if we apply it to the experience we have often had regarding it.

However, God demands from the human being that in everything within their understanding, they make practical and constant use of justice.

As for God, it is easy to understand that being just, He can practice this attribute of His with full freedom, as His knowledge of all things is perfect. So even the secrets of all humans are laid bare before His eyes, for He knows each one of their thoughts and feelings.

Therefore, for the wicked, perverse, and impenitent sinner, there will be no escape.44 Although presently, God's justice often seems absent, we know that in due time it will manifest, for His Holy Word declares it in Romans chapter 1: verses 18 and 32: For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 32Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.51

Also in Romans chapter 2: verses 5 and 6, it says: 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; 6Who will render to every man according to his deeds.51

These Scripture declarations refer to a day of judgment where each will receive recompense according to their works. This also constitutes clear evidence of divine justice, from which no one can escape.

As our theologian45 comments, the promulgation of the holy commandments, as the most relevant pattern of justice for human conduct, crowned by the redemption of man through Jesus Christ, brightly and eternally highlights the justice of God.