Did you know that “justice” has been mentioned more than 300 times in God’s Word? Nonetheless, what does “justice” mean? And what does the Scripture say about “God is justice”?
Since we are all created in the image of the Almighty Father, we desire a world where justice reigns, and we get mad when we witness injustice everywhere around us. However, the Lord Almighty is the only one who is capable of executing justice that is both flawless and divine.
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What Is The Meaning Of Justice From The Bible?
Justice refers to what is correct or what ought to be the case. God’s justice[1] is one of His attributes, which stems from His holiness. In the Scripture, justice and righteousness are often used interchangeably because righteousness is the attribute of being fair and just and includes both God’s holiness and justice.
To better understand the concept of justice, let us look back at the moment when Adam and Eve committed the first sin. The Lord God forbade Adam and Eve from eating from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, yet they did so (Genesis 2:17; 3:16–17).
Humans have become sinners by nature and choice when they chose to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. So they were banished from the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:23–24).
The serpent’s heel was to be bruised (Genesis 3:15), the first gospel that promises salvation for all of Adam’s descendants, which He accomplished through Christ (Romans 5:12–21). Adam’s high treason necessitates the death sentence. Yet, God replaced Adam and Eve with an animal, which was put to death (Genesis 3:21).
God exhibited his love and righteousness with the crucifixion of Jesus, our Savior. The cross executes justice, erasing our sins and granting us eternal life. We see God’s divine justice finally being met in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the righteous God.
He is the only acceptable sacrifice for sinners and their redemption (2 Corinthians 5:21). Moreover, 2 Peter 3:13 assures us that God’s true justice will be fully shown when Christ physically reigns on all the earth.
Micah 6:8 states, “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God?” Additionally, the Lord instructs in Isaiah 56:1, “Do not oppress anybody.” Because He is coming to show you His justice, you must do what is right and good now.
Learning to do good, aiding the underprivileged, protecting orphans’ rights, and fighting for widows’ rights are examples of what the Bible calls “justice” (Isaiah 1:17). Proverbs 18:5 states that it is not right to acquit the criminal or deny the innocent justice.
What Does “God Is Justice” Mean?
The Lord loves righteousness. That is why He is the God of justice. Never does God pervert justice. The Lord expects us to be his disciples, including never making an unjust judgment.
Every human being was created in the image of the just God (Genesis 1:26–27). Because of this, we seek justice on earth and find ourselves frustrated when we observe injustice happening in the world around us. It’s common for us to ask queries such as, “Why are crimes punished?” or “Why do we desire justice?” Because it’s in our nature that we do not neglect justice.
A poor man’s lamb was stolen by a rich man, and King David was enraged (2 Samuel 12:1–14). Nathan told David the narrative he did because it exposed David’s unfairness in stealing Uriah’s wife from him. His regretful prayer was crucial because he realized his sins against the Lord and accepted the Lord’s righteousness.
Even though David’s wickedness had been pardoned, the Lord, through the prophet Nathan, told David the child he fathered from his affair would surely die. It proved that the Lord had not completely wiped away his sin.
It shows that we must fear God just so we do not act wickedly, but it is also the same faithful God, with his infinite mercy, who will deliver justice and God’s wrath to those who wronged us.
Regarding the end times, the book of Revelation shows God’s justice in all its majesty. As the saints watch the earth’s destruction, they will sing of God’s just punishment of the people for their final sin of rejecting Him.
How To Know The Call Of God For Justice?
Judges must uphold the law, acquit the innocent, convict the wicked, and expose corruption (2 Chronicles 19:5–7) as God’s representatives in the world. They’re not supposed to favor the affluent or the poor in a way that compromises fairness (Exodus 23:3; Leviticus 19:15). According to God’s commandments, a ruler must behave justly and watch out for the helpless.
“Learn to do right [and] pursue justice” is a common exhortation in the Old Testament for the people of God (Isaiah 1:17). To his attackers, Job declares: “I wore righteousness as a garment; justice was my robe and turban… Helped those who couldn’t see or walk with my help. I was a parent to the poor; I took up the cause of the foreigner” (Job 29:14–16).
This same emphasis on the need for loving justice is seen in prophetic literature. It is Amos’ intention to punish “those who persecute the innocent, accept bribes, and deny impoverished people justice in the courts” (Amos 5:12). Moreover, Zechariah encourages God’s people to “Administrate fair justice; exhibit love and compassion to one another.”
“Justice and love of God” are two words that Jesus used to criticize the Pharisees, echoing the Old Testament prophets (Luke 11:42). Throughout his writings and sermons, he stresses the need for justice.
As far as the Lord Jesus Christ is concerned, not caring for the poor is a sign that a person does not agree with God. As shown in Matthew 25:35–36, the real sheep are those who have a love for the hungry, the foreigner, the destitute, the sick, and the imprisoned (Matthew 25:34–36).
20 Promising Bible Verses About Justice
To demonstrate God as a God of justice, here are some Bible verses about justice and God’s judgment:
Colossians 3:25 ESV
For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.
Isaiah 30:18 ESV
Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.
Isaiah 1:17 ESV
Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, and plead the widow’s cause.
Isaiah 61:8 ESV
For I the LORD love justice; I hate robbery and wrong; I will faithfully give them their recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.
Luke 18:1–8 ESV
And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’
For a while he refused, but afterward, he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’”
Deuteronomy 32:4 ESV
“The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity just and upright is he.
Amos 5:24 ESV
But let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.
Psalm 33:5 ESV
He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD.
Psalm 106:3 ESV
Blessed are they who observe justice, who do righteousness at all times!
Leviticus 19:15 ESV
“You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor.
Proverbs 21:15 ESV
When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers.
Zechariah 7:9 ESV
“Thus says the LORD of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another,
Proverbs 28:5 ESV
Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the LORD understand it completely.
Romans 3:26
“He did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.”
Isaiah 51:4–5 ESV
“Give attention to me, my people, and give ear to me, my nation; for a law will go out from me, and I will set my justice for a light to the peoples. My righteousness draws near, my salvation has gone out, and my arms will judge the peoples; the coastlands hope for me, and for my arm, they wait.
Matthew 23:23 ESV
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.
Psalm 37:27–29 ESV
Turn away from evil and do good; so shall you dwell forever. For the LORD loves justice; he will not forsake his saints. They are preserved forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off. The righteous shall inherit the land and dwell upon it forever.
Psalm 140:12 ESV
I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and will execute justice for the needy.
Proverbs 21:3 ESV
To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
Psalm 89:14 ESV
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.
Conclusion
Like His love and kindness, God’s justice is an important component of His nature. Sin would run rampant, evil would triumph if it weren’t for God’s justice, and obedience would reap no benefits. Humans would have little regard for God if He did not uphold the law.
People who trust God are justified by God, who is just and righteous (Romans 3:26). God’s justice has been completely fulfilled in Christ, and only now may those redeemed by grace through faith be adopted by Christ alone.
