What is the…
Justice of God

that perfection of His nature, whereby He is infinitely righteous in Himself and in all He does, and that righteousness of His divine nature is exercised in His moral governing of Heaven and Earth

God imposes righteous laws on His creatures and executes His laws righteously.

Part of God’s nature

Justice is not an optional product of His will, but an unchangeable principle of His very nature.

1. His legislative justice is His requiring of His rational creatures conformity in all respects to the moral law.

2. His distributive justice as governor of men—justly distributing REWARDS and PUNISHMENTS to every one according to their merits or demerits, as accountable creatures made in the image of God and under the law.

   “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;
   steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.” —Psalm 89:14 ESV

3. His remunerative justice

   God generously distributes rich rewards to those who serve Him, as goodness, humble, righteousness, faithful and loving servants.

   “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” —James 1:12 ESV

   “Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.” —2 Timothy 4:8 ESV

4. In vindictive or punitive justice, he inflicts punishment on account of transgression (2 Thess. 1:6).

He cannot, as being infinitely righteous, do otherwise than regard and hate sin as intrinsically hateful and deserving of punishment. “He cannot deny himself” (2 Tim. 2:13). His essential and eternal righteousness immutably determines him to visit every sin as such with merited punishment.

“I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted
And justice for the poor.
Surely the righteous will give thanks to Your name;
The upright will dwell in Your presence.” —Psalm 140:12-13 NASB

God’s warning

God has strongly warned of his wrath toward those who are unjust and subvert justice.

For thus says the Lord to the house of Israel,

“Seek the Lord that you may live,
Or He will break forth like a fire…
And it will consume with none to quench it…
For those who turn justice into wormwood
And cast righteousness down to the earth.

He who made the Pleiades and Orion
And changes deep darkness into morning,
Who also darkens day into night,
Who calls for the waters of the sea
And pours them out on the surface of the earth,
The Lord is His name.
It is He who flashes forth with destruction upon the strong,
So that destruction comes upon the fortress.

They hate him who reproves in the gate,
And they abhor him who speaks with integrity.

Therefore because you impose heavy rent on the poor
And exact a tribute of grain from them,
Though you have built houses of well-hewn stone,
Yet you will not live in them;
You have planted pleasant vineyards, yet you will not drink their wine.

For I know your transgressions are many and your sins are great,
You who distress the righteous and accept bribes
And turn aside the poor in the gate.

…Seek good and not evil, that you may live;
And thus may the Lord God of hosts be with you,
Just as you have said!
Hate evil, love good,
And establish justice in the gate!

…I hate, I reject your festivals,
Nor do I delight in your solemn assemblies.
Even though you offer up to Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings,
I will not accept them;
And I will not even look at the peace offerings of your fatlings.
Take away from Me the noise of your songs;
I will not even listen to the sound of your harps.

But let justice roll down like waters
And righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”

—excerpts from Amos 5:6-24 NASB

More information

• What is THE FEAR OF THE LORD? and why is it so important? Answer
• What is the SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD? Answer
• Who is the JUST ONE? Answer
• What is the “ANGER of God”? Answer
• What is the “FURY” of God? Answer
• What is THE FINAL JUDGMENT? Answer
• eternal death
• Hell—Is there an actual place called “Hell”? Answer
• How can a God of love send anybody to Hell? Answer
• WHY is the world the way it is? (filled with oppression, death and cruelty) If God is all-knowing, all-powerful, and loving, would He really create a world like this? Answer
• What is SIN?
• fall of man
• Judgments of God
• What kind of world would you create? Answer

Frequently Asked Questions

• PAIN AND SUFFERING—Why does God allow innocent people to suffer? Answer
• How good is good enough? Answer
• What is “the unpardonable sin”? How does sin become “unforgivable”? Answer
• Is God biased? Is it fair to save only some? What about those who have never heard the gospel? Answer
• Will all mankind eventually be saved? Answer
• God’s sovereignty, election, and man’s free will—What does the Bible say? Answer
  Since God is the creator of the universe, He alone has the right to exercise authority. Why does He still allow sin to exist? What can we learn about free will and gracious election?
• Is God biased? Is it fair to save only some? What about those who have never heard the gospel? Answer
• Judgment and God’s nature and justice (includes Is God unfair in that Hitler and a dear old lady (who never accepted Jesus) will both go to Hell? / “God is all loving. He would never send me to Hell.” / “My god would never send anyone to Hell.”)
• Does Christianity need to develop a NEW gospel adapted to today’s world? Answer
• How can I be sure of my salvation? Answer
• Aren’t all religions basically the same and different ways to the same end? Why do Christians insist that one must believe in Christ alone to be saved? Answer
• How do I know what is right from wrong? Answer
• What advice do you have for new and growing Christians? Answer
• Eternal life—What does the Bible say about it? Answer
• Why does God allow innocent people to suffer? Answer
• What about the issue of suffering? Doesn’t this prove that there is no God and that we are on our own? Answer
• Does God feel our pain? Answer
• THE ORIGIN OF BAD—How did bad things come about? Answer

Relevant site sections

• Discover the good news that Jesus Christ offers
• Why is the world the way it is? If God is all-knowing, all-powerful, and loving, would He really create a world like this? (filled with oppression, suffering, death and cruelty) Answer
• The Bible is the world’s best selling book of all time. But for most, it remains a mystery. Now, discover for yourself the overwhelming message of HOPE that God brings to man—presented chronologically from the foundation of the world to our own time. Watch it on-line, full-length motion picture.
• Do you understand God’s Story? Take a multimedia journey through the Bible, from Creation to eternity. Hear and read an exciting summary of the Bible’s most important records, in chronological order.
• 
• Stumped about how to share your faith in Christ with others? Our EffectiveEvangelism.com site assists Christians in effectively reaching out to others with love and truth. Learn about the worldview of the people you meet, ways to share the gospel, read stories submitted by site users, and more.

God’s goodness, mercy, forgiveness and salvation

SHORT VIDEO EXCERPT—Despite what some churches teach, God’s love is NOT “unconditional.” Is it really Biblically accurate to say, “God hates the SIN, but loves the SINNER”? What are the ramifications of that belief?…

More information

• Goodness of God
• About LOVE—including God’s love
• What is justification?
• What is grace?
• mercy
• means of grace
• forgiveness of sin
• salvation
• Savior
• assurance of salvation
• Gospel
• redemption
• regeneration
• faith
• good works doctrine
• Creation