Bible Reference: Micah 6:1-8
“Hear ye now what the Lord saith; Arise, contend thou before the mountains, and let the hills hear thy voice. 2 Hear ye, O mountains, the Lord’s controversy, and ye strong foundations of the earth: for the Lord hath a controversy with his people, and he will plead with Israel. 3 O my people, what have I done unto thee? and wherein have I wearied thee? testify against me. 4 For I brought thee up out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed thee out of the house of servants; and I sent before thee Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. 5 O my people, remember now what Balak king of Moab consulted, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim unto Gilgal; that ye may know the righteousness of the Lord. 6 Wherewith shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old? 7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? 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?” Micah 6:1–8
INTRODUCTION
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10
A Biblical Understanding of Justice
1. God Is the Habitation of Justice Jeremiah 50:7
2. God’s People Are to Model Just Living 1 Chronicles 18:14
3. Men Are Responsible Individually Deuteronomy 24:16, Ezekiel 14:12–14
1. Defined Biblically
Biblical Justice: The faithful application of the law of God
A. A Biblical Concept
“For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” Galatians 5:14
Communitive Justice: Living in right relationship with God and others; giving people their due as image-bearers of God.
“Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.” Genesis 9:6
Distributive Justice: Impartially rendering judgment, righting wrongs, and meting out punishment for lawbreaking. Reserved for God and God-ordained authorities.
“Righteous art thou, O LORD, and upright are thy judgments.” Psalm 119:137
Quote: “My argument against God was that the universe seemed so cruel and unjust. But how had I got this idea of just and unjust? A man does not call a line crooked unless he has some idea of a straight line. What was I comparing this universe with when I called it ‘unjust’? Justice requires a standard, and there is no objective standard in a purposeless universe.”—C.S. Lewis
B. A Biblical Practice
“Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.” Psalm 82:3
“To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.” Proverbs 21:3
“Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble.” Psalm 41:1
Quote: “Biblical justice is based on God’s character; not the winds of culture.”
C. Secular Counterfeits
“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; That put darkness for light, and light for darkness; That put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” Isaiah 5:20
Three Counterfeits for God’s Justice
1. Secular Social Justice
Quote: “When you look at prominent social justice groups and the issues they are fighting for…it’s clear that these are toxic to our culture and incompatible with the biblical understanding of true justice.”
—Voddie Baucham
“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness:“ Genesis 1:26
2. Critical Race Theory
“If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: 9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.“ James 2:8–9
Quote: “No one has secret knowledge of another person’s heart.”
3. Liberal/Religious Social Justice
“But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.“ Galatians 1:8
“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.“ Colossians 2:8
PART 2: CONTINUED THIS EVENING AT 5 PM
2. Deployed Mercifully
“The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.” Psalm 103:8
A. Stand with Mercy
“Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;” Romans 12:9–10
“But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right,” Ezekiel 18:5
B. Stand with the Gospel
“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)” Ephesians 2:4–5
The Message of the Gospel Romans 6:23, John 3:16
The Mercy of the Gospel Romans 5:8, Matthew 16:26
Quote: “If we are not sharing the gospel, we are not practicing justice.”
3. Displayed Humbly
A. Humility before God
“But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” James 4:6
B. Humility before Others
“If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, 2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” Philippians 2:1–4
Quote: “The distinction with God’s servants should be that we humbly serve who we can, when we can.”
CONCLUSION
FINAL THOUGHTS ON JUSTICE FOR ALL
1. Justice Has Been Provided Romans 3:10–18, Ephesians 1:7, Romans 5:17–19, Romans 5:12, Romans 5:8–9
Quote: “Social justice has no cross. We have the cross of Christ—a symbol of God’s justice.”
2. Justice for All Will Come Isaiah 9:6–7
Quote: “Justice will not fully be known until the just One returns.”
