Can Justice and Mercy Work Together?

Scripture: Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne. Unfailing love and truth walk before you as attendants. Psalm 89:14

The Bible tells us great things about God. It makes us love and worship Him. At other times, God can seem very strict. God is perfect, and we are sinners. Is it possible for God to overlook our imperfections and at the same time remain perfectly just (fair)?

What is God’s justice?

God created people for His glory. (Isaiah 43:7) His Law was meant to set His people apart from everyone else. (Deuteronomy 28:1) Those laws reflected His own nature, and He wants to make people like Him. In the past, those serving Him directly owned no permanent property. Yet all their needs were met. There was enough for the poor and the widows and orphans. Like God’s love, justice was for everyone equally. But people could not resist breaking the Law to gain advantage over one another.

A just judge defends the disadvantaged and punishes the guilty: “the Lord loves justice” (Psalm 37:28). Because the Law shows how God is, sin is a personal offense to God. (Psalm 51:4) He vows not to simply excuse the guilty. (Exodus 34:7) Those who die in their sins will be separated from Him forever. But we have hope...

What is God’s mercy?

God “does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent” (2 Peter 3:9)! The Law no one could live up to showed people the perfection of God when He became Man: Jesus. The Book of Romans describes God’s mercy: “everyone has sinned ... yet God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe Jesus sacrificed His life” (Romans 3:23,25). In this way God remains “fair and just, and he declares sinners to be right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.” (Romans 3:26)

“What should I do?”

Titus 3:5 says, “he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.” That means good deeds will not earn God's mercy or favor. Jesus said “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” (John 6:28-29) Justice and mercy come together perfectly in Jesus. God did not excuse sin: he paid for it. When you accept Jesus and follow Him, you will receive God's mercy. Click here to learn how to follow Jesus.

Great is God’s Faithfulness

Scripture: “My heart is confident in you, O God; no wonder I can sing your praises with all my heart!” Psalm 108:1

Faithfulness is defined as: “constant; true to one’s word or promise”. This defines Our God! “The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; My God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.” Psalm 18:2

A Firm Foundation

“Who but our God is a solid rock?” (Psalm 18:31). God has not changed. In a world where everything is rapidly and constantly changing, God is like a solid, unchanging rock that we can stand on. God’s word is true and we can count on it because it is based in His faithful character. “The grass withers and the flowers fade but the word of our God stands forever.” (Isaiah 40:8) God does not make mistakes or change his mind. He is not swayed by public opinion. God is a firm foundation.

An Unfailing Love

“If we are unfaithful, He remains faithful, for he cannot deny who He is!” (2 Timothy 2:13) God’s love for us is unfailing because of His faithful character. “Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds.” (Psalm 36:5)

An Anchor in the Storm

Clouds come and go, swept along by the wind. But the Bible says we must look beyond the clouds and see how consistent the stars, sun and moon are. We know the sun will rise in the east every morning and set in the west every evening. In the same way we can count on God to be true to His promises. When the storm clouds crowd in and doubts flood our minds, we must cling to the firm truth that God is Faithful! It will be an anchor to hold us steady through the rough seas of this life.

“So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary.” (Hebrews 6:18-19).

God is Beyond Our Understanding

Scripture: “Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways! For who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to give him advice? And who has given him so much that he needs to pay it back? For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.” Romans 11:33-36

God revealed a lot about himself in the Bible. Yet, because we are human, there is a lot we can not understand about God because He lives outside of the natural world. For a person to know God completely in this life is like an ant learning arithmetic. It’s just not possible. God is “transcendent,” meaning above and beyond our understanding. Here are some results of knowing that God is transcendent.

1. It Leads Us To Worship

Think about the made-up Greek or Roman “gods.” Along with super-powers, they also had many human-like flaws. They were envious, angry, and they committed adultery and murder. These so-called “gods” were not worthy of worship. In contrast, Paul ends today’s passage with worship: “All glory to him forever! Amen!” (Romans 11:36) God is totally wise and powerful and has no needs; He alone is worthy of our praise.

2. It Humbles Us

When we are tempted to think we can tell God how to run the world, we should read Isaiah 55:8-9:

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”

We all wish there wasn’t so much suffering or evil in the world – or in our own lives. Yet from Genesis to Revelation, and especially at the Cross, God takes situations meant for evil and turns them around to benefit us and accomplish his purposes. We must trust God to do the same in our world today, knowing that we will someday praise him for it.

3. It Gives Hope for the Future

1 Corinthians 13:12 says, “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known” This season, of being unable to understand God, will soon come to an end. We will live with God in Heaven, all sin will be completely removed from us, and we will know God in a much greater way than we do today; face to face. Wonder and praise will fill our hearts at that moment – and as we spend eternity getting to know even more about God.

Pray this week

Lord, Thank you that you and your ways are so far above me. Help me to trust in you and your plan every day, and to worship you for your greatness.

How to Listen for God’s Guidance

What are some ways God guides us in His will?

Scripture: “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105

All people long for direction and purpose in life. As Christians, we can ask the Lord to guide us; we do not have to live without purpose. What are some ways God guides us in His will? How should we be listening for His leading?

Get Quiet with God and Examine Your Desires

Hearing God’s guidance begins with our minds and hearts. The Bible reminds us to “be still” (Psalm 46:10) as we listen for His leading, and to “be transformed by the renewal of your mind” (Romans 12:2). The Scriptures are full of prayers you can use to ask God to focus on Him, such as: “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!” (Psalm 139:23). Genuinely seek the Lord and “ask our generous God” (James 1:5) to put your thoughts in line with His desires for you.

Ask Yourself: Would Jesus Think This Way?

It’s easier to hear God when your thoughts are in line with His. Choosing God as the ruler of your thoughts is important. Jesus said, “whatever is in your heart determines what you say” (Matthew 12:34). We must also put God as the ruler of what we say, because “The tongue can speak words that bring life or death” (Proverbs 18:21). Again, we can look to Scripture for prayers that God will guide our words: “Let the words of my mouth be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord” (Psalm 19:14). Seek God’s guidance for what you say; think carefully before you speak, making sure each idea is in line with God’s teaching.

Let God’s Word Guide You

Thinking and speaking God’s word helps us live it out! The Bible promises that you can “seek His will in all you do” (Proverbs 3:6) and depend on Him to guide your paths. As you seek God’s guidance for your actions, pray back to God the requests found in the Psalms: “Lead me, O Lord, in Your righteousness”; “Teach me Your way, O Lord”; “Teach me to do Your will, my God!” (Psalms 5:8, 86:11,143:10). God can build up your life so that depending on His leading is second nature!