The Justice of God in Justifying the Unjust Through the Redemption That Is in Christ Jesus

 •  7 min. read  •  grade level: 7
“THERE is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.” (Eccl. 7:2020For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not. (Ecclesiastes 7:20).)
Such are the words uttered by the Spirit of God through Solomon, the wisest man that ever lived, and surely all men do well to take heed to them. Another servant of God, the apostle Paul, some thousand years or so afterward, corroborated this statement in similar language. “There is none righteous, no, not one; there is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are altogether become unprofitable: there is none that doeth, good, no, not one.” (Rom. 3:10-1210As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. (Romans 3:10‑12).)
The all-important question that we find in the book of Job, at once presents itself. If there be not a just man, but “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God,” “How then can man be justified with God?” It is a blessed point in a sinner’s history when he is brought sincerely and earnestly to ask this question. But thousands, instead of seeking the reply at once in God’s Word, deceived by Satan, and their own thoughts, having discovered that they are unfitted for the presence of a holy God, set to work to improve their condition, and justify themselves. The natural thought is, “If I am not just and good, I must be;” and they work, and do, and strive, and try—vainly seeking to establish their own righteousness, being ignorant of God’s. (Rom. 10:33For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. (Romans 10:3).) Oh, when will sinners learn that “all their righteousnesses are as filthy rags,” (Isa. 64:66But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. (Isaiah 64:6)), that whether they trust in their own righteousness, or go on in their wickedness, that both alike will lead them straight to hell?
Beloved reader, should you be one of that large class, who, shunning open wickedness, think that by your morality, honesty, religiousness, and such like, you will obtain the favor of God, pause, I pray you, this moment, and, in answer to the momentous question, “How then can man be justified with God?” listen to His own blessed reply in the 3rd of Romans, “Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood ... . to declare ... . at this time, His righteousness: that He might be just, and the justifier of him that believeth in Jesus.” (Rom. 3:24-2624Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. (Romans 3:24‑26).)
What precious words of comfort for a poor anxious, burdened sinner, vainly striving by his own efforts to extricate himself from sin and its consequences. “Justified freely by His grace;” justified, that is, cleared, freed, delivered, and that freely by God Himself, not on the ground of works of righteousness which we have done, (Titus 3:55Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; (Titus 3:5)), but by His grace, His undeserved favor, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Cease, then, self-righteous one, from your own vain efforts to save yourself. “It is God that justifieth;” God alone (Rom. 8:3333Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. (Romans 8:33)); you cannot justify yourself, —impossible! “Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.” (Jer. 13:2323Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil. (Jeremiah 13:23)).
God has made a gracious provision for your deep need; and has given His own dear Son as a propitiation for all. Redemption is found in Him alone, whose precious blood was shed on the cross in atonement for sin. All the claims of God, who is infinitely holy, have been perfectly met in the death of His own Beloved.
He now as a righteous, holy, and just God, is ready, willing, and waiting to justify all who believe. Precious, precious message of grace. “God is just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” How very simple; “believeth;” reader, dost thou believe? You must, if you would be saved, for, “He that believeth not shall be damned.” (Mark 16:1616He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. (Mark 16:16).) God has raised Him from the dead to His own right hand in glory, and the message of love and peace comes to you now— “Through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins, and by Him all that believe are justified from all things,” &c. (Acts 13:38, 3938Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. (Acts 13:38‑39).)
Cease, sinner, cease from your own works, cast your deadly doings down; it is “God that justifieth,” and “there is no God else,” saith He, “beside me; a just God and a Saviour: there is none beside me. Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth.” (Isa. 45:21, 2221Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the Lord? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me. 22Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. (Isaiah 45:21‑22)). “Being justified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Rom. 5:11Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (Romans 5:1).)
What a wondrous plan! Justice has had its course, and justice has been more than satisfied. Justice, stern justice, which once shut the sinner out from God, now brings him to God. (1 Peter 3:1818For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: (1 Peter 3:18).) The just stroke of divine judgment for sin fell upon the Holy and the Just One upon the cross of Calvary, and justice now stands arrayed on the sinner’s behalf to justify him from all things the moment he believes. The precious blood of Christ has atoned for sin; justice raised the Sin-bearer to the throne of glory, and all who believe, are justified in Him. Beloved reader, are you a true believer? Can you take your place among those who can say of Him, “Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification,” (Rom. 4:2525Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. (Romans 4:25)); and, as we get it also in Peter, “For Christ also once suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God.” (1 Peter 3:1818For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: (1 Peter 3:18).)
The sinner, justified by faith, becomes a child of God, and is called to walk worthy of Him in that blessed relationship, having no more to say to sin, which brought His Saviour to the cross; and by His works, the fruit of faith, is justified before men. (James 2:14-2614What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works. 19Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 24Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. (James 2:14‑26)).
But should he sin, God has made a gracious provision for this also; the Saviour is his Advocate. “If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous.” (1 John 2:11My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: (1 John 2:1).) And how comforting to find that the justice of God is still arrayed on his behalf; for, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:99If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9).)
In contrast with the blessed results flowing to the poor sinner, who, ceasing to justify himself, justifies God against himself, and is therefore justified by Him, let us notice in conclusion what He has said about the unjust, who refuse to be justified. “The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the Day of Judgment to be punished.” (1 Peter 1:99Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1:9).) The same Lord who justifies the believer, will judge the unbeliever, and punishment, eternal punishment, is his portion. (Matt. 25:4646And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. (Matthew 25:46).) “He that believeth not the Son, shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him.” (John 3:3636He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36).)
Oh! my reader, to which class do you belong, the just or unjust? The former, justified by God, walking a path which as the shining light, shineth more and more unto the perfect day, await that glorious moment, when the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, when the resurrection of the just (Luke 14:1414And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just. (Luke 14:14)) shall take place, and those who are alive and remain shall be changed. (1 Thess. 4:15-1815For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18Wherefore comfort one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:15‑18).) The latter, the unjust, neglecters and rejecters of the grace of God, pass swiftly on in their blindness and sin, to reap the fruits of their folly in eternal misery and despair.
Many speak of the mercy of God, and precious it is to know that He is merciful; but God is not calling upon sinners to trust in His mercy, but something far better even than that—we are invited to trust in the justice of God. Well may the apostle write, “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation.” (Heb. 2:33How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; (Hebrews 2:3).)
My reader, are you justified in the risen Christ?
E. H. C.