“God will credit to him righteousness – for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.” (Romans 4:24)
We don’t have to look far to see injustice in the world especially during this year of paramount natural disasters and countless women rising up to tell their stories of sexual abuse. Many might question “Where is God?” in these events and “Why did He allow them?” “Isn’t He a just God?” Because unjust events occur does not compromise or diminish that God is a just God. In fact when we think about evil and suffering, the God who suffered unjustly through the death of His perfect Son, Jesus Christ affirms He can be trusted. No one knows the most horrific act of injustice like Jesus Christ.
The Biblical understanding of a judge is a person who has authority and who does what is good and right, refuting a modern viewpoint of a judge who is cold and acts unjustly. A judge first listens to the facts and then executes wisdom to discern the truth. Because of God’s omniscience, He can rightly discern the hearts of man. For “the Lord knows the thoughts of man” Psalm 94:11. Though it might look like evil people are prospering as the Psalmist cried out for justice in Ps. 73. Hundreds of passages in the Bible affirm the time of judgment for every person. “They will have to give an account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead” 1 Peter 4:5.
God’s perfection gives great comfort that He is perfect in judgment. He is the “I AM,” the Holy God, and the only true God, so we can 100% trust Him to act justly. He not only acts justly but is just. To act unjustly is impossible for a perfect God. The fact that our God is just gives us great comfort and assurance when we don’t see retribution currently for the wrongful acts committed against us. Without God’s final judgment we have no assurance that goodness prevails. In recent times we have seen goodness prevail specifically in the media regarding powerful men experiencing the consequences for sexual misconduct towards women in the workplace. Not everyone will experience this justice in their lifetime for evil acts committed against them, so if not now, God assures us that justice will prevail.
Justice is rooted in the gospel. Jesus gives us assurance that whoever believes in Him will not be condemned (John 5:24). We still have to give an account before the judgment seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10). “God will credit to him righteousness – for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead” (Romans 4:24). God imputes His righteousness through faith based on Jesus’ righteousness. Christ is your righteousness. What a relief that our righteousness is not dependent on our record. Our faith unites us with Jesus and when God looks at us He sees our union with Christ and sees the righteousness of Christ as our righteousness. The doctrine of final judgment gives us certainty that justice will prevail over all the wrongs in the past, present, and future.
– Mary Carmen
