Cultivating a Deeper Understanding of God's Sovereignty Holiness Justice

A deeper understanding of God's sovereignty, holiness, and justice is cultivated through diligent study, prayer, and a commitment to living out Christian graces ^[7]. This pursuit involves not merely intellectual assent but an experiential knowledge of God ^[11]. The Apostle Paul prayed that believers might "comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth" of God's love, implying a profound and expansive understanding ^[4]. Similarly, he desired that hearts would be comforted and knit together in love, gaining "all riches of the full assurance of understanding, that they may know the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ" ^[3].

God's holiness is central to His nature. It is attributed to Him in the highest sense (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 15:4) ^[1]. This holiness is not merely an attribute but an unchangeable principle of His very being ^[6]. Believers are called to reflect this holiness, being consecrated to God's service and conforming to His will (Romans 6:19, 22; Ephesians 1:4; 1 Peter 1:15) ^[1]. Personal holiness is a gradual process, requiring watchfulness, prayer, and perseverance (1 Corinthians 1:30; 2 Corinthians 7:1) ^[1]. John Gill notes that believers should "give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness," recognizing both God's essential holiness and the holiness of Christ's nature and life, which is imputed to His people for justification ^[16].

The justice of God is an inherent perfection of His nature, by which He is infinitely righteous in Himself and in all His actions ^[6]. This divine righteousness is exercised in His moral governance, where He imposes righteous laws and executes them righteously ^[6]. Justice is not an arbitrary act of His will but an unchangeable principle of His nature ^[6]. God's legislative justice requires His rational creatures to conform to the moral law, while His rectoral or distributive justice concerns His dealings with accountable creatures ^[6]. The psalmist describes God's righteousness as "very high," "abundant," "beyond computation," and "everlasting" (Psalm 71:19, 48:10, 71:15, 119:142) ^[5]. It is the "habitation of his throne" (Psalm 97:2) ^[5]. Christ acknowledged God's righteousness (John 17:25), and angels acknowledge it (Revelation 16:5) ^[5].

Understanding righteousness and justice also involves practical application. Proverbs 1:3 indicates that wisdom leads to "insightful instruction, righteousness and justice and equity" ^[2]. John Gill explains that the Gospel leads individuals to understand and practice justice, teaching them to live "soberly, righteously, and godly" (Titus 2:11) ^[13]. The law of God is founded upon "the strictest rules of justice and equity," and understanding these "righteous judgments" enables sincere praise ^[10]. Jesus' teachings, particularly in the Sermon on the Mount, reveal the true intent of the law, uncovering sin at a deeper level than mere external actions ^[15].

Cultivating a deeper understanding of these divine attributes requires humility, as God regards and hears the humble (Psalm 138:6; Isaiah 66:2) ^[8]. Humility is necessary for serving God (Micah 6:8) and is exemplified by Christ Himself (Matthew 11:29; Philippians 2:5-8) ^[8]. Such understanding is a gift of grace, enabling believers to keep God's law spiritually, from a principle of love and gratitude ^[12]. Josephus suggests that contemplating God's operations and divine nature allows humans to imitate the "best of all patterns" ^[9]. This pursuit not only draws the wicked to God through fear of judgment but also helps the faithful advance in piety and true obedience ^[14].

Sources

Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Holiness — In the highest sense belongs to God (Isa. 6:3; Rev. 15:4), and to Christians as consecrated to God's service, and in so far as they are conformed in all things to the will of God (Rom. 6:19, 22; Eph. 1:4; Titus 1:8; 1 Pet. 1:15). Personal holiness is a work of gradual development. It is carried on under many hindrances, hence the frequent admonitions to watchfulness, prayer, and perseverance (1 Cor. 1:30; 2 Cor. 7:1; Eph. 4:23, 24). (See [280]SANCTIFICATION.)”
Proverbs “Proverbs 1:3 (LEB) — to gain ⌞insightful instruction⌟, righteousness and justice and equity,”
Colossians “that their hearts may be comforted, they being knit together in love, and gaining all riches of the full assurance of understanding, that they may know the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, -- Colossians 2:2”
Ephesians “may be strengthened to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, -- Ephesians 3:18”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Righteousness of God, The — Is part of his character -- Ps 7:9; 116:5; 119:137. Described as Very high. -- Ps 71:19. Abundant. -- Ps 48:10. Beyond computation. -- Ps 71:15. Everlasting. -- Ps 119:142. Enduring for ever. -- Ps 111:3. The habitation of his throne. -- Ps 97:2. Christ acknowledged -- Joh 17:25. Christ committed his cause to -- 1Pe 2:23. Angels acknowledge -- Re 16:5. Exhibited in His testimonies. -- Ps 119:138,144. His commandments. -- De 4:8; Ps 119:172. His judgments. -- Ps 19:9; 119:7,62. His word. -- Ps 119:123. His ways. -- Ps 145:17. His acts. -- J”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Justice of God — That perfection of his nature whereby he is infinitely righteous in himself and in all he does, the righteousness of the divine nature exercised in his moral government. At first God imposes righteous laws on his creatures and executes them righteously. Justice is not an optional product of his will, but an unchangeable principle of his very nature. His legislative justice is his requiring of his rational creatures conformity in all respects to the moral law. His rectoral or distributive justice is his dealing with his accountable creatures according”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Diligence — Christ, an example -- Mr 1:35; Lu 2:49. Required by God in Seeking him. -- 1Ch 22:19; Heb 11:6. Obeying him. -- De 6:17; 11:13. Hearkening to him. -- Isa 55:2. Striving after perfection. -- Php 3:13,14. Cultivating Christian graces. -- 2Pe 1:5. Keeping the souls. -- De 4:9. Keeping the heart. -- Pr 4:23. Labours of love. -- Heb 6:10-12. Following every good work. -- 1Ti 5:10. Guarding against defilement. -- Heb 12:15. Seeking to be found spotless. -- 2Pe 3:14. Making our call, &c, sure. -- 2Pe 1:10. Self-examination. -- Ps 77:6. Lawful business. -- Pr 27:”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Humility — Necessary to the service of God -- Mic 6:8. Christ an example of -- Mt 11:29; Joh 13:14,15; Php 2:5-8. A characteristic of saints -- Ps 34:2. The who have Regarded by God. -- Ps 138:6; Isa 66:2. Heard by God. -- Ps 9:12; Isa 10:17. Enjoy the presence of God. -- Isa 57:15. Delivered by God. -- Job 22:29. Lifted up by God. -- Jas 4:10. Exalted by God. -- Lu 14:11; 18:14. Are greatest in Christ's kingdom. -- Mt 18:4; 20:26-28. Receive more grace. -- Pr 3:34; Jas 4:6. Upheld by honour. -- Pr 18:12; 29:23. Is before honour -- Pr 15:33. Leads to riches, honour, ”
Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 11, section 4: life well, and give laws to others, in the first place should consider the Divine nature; and, upon the contemplation of God's operations, should thereby imitate the best of all patterns, so far as it is possible for human nature to do, and to endeavor to follow after it: neither could the legislator himself have a right mind without such a contemplation; nor would any thing he should write tend to the promotion of virtue in his readers; I mean, unless they be taught first of all, that God is the Father and Lord of all things, a”
Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 119:6: I will praise thee with uprightness of heart,.... In the most sincere manner, in the most affectionate way, with the whole heart; sensible of great favours received, and great obligations laid under; see Psa 9:1; when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments; or, "the judgments of thy righteousness" (o): of the righteousness of God, declared in his righteous law; which is founded upon, and is according to, the strictest rules of justice and equity; and so are all the precepts of it: and of the righteousness of Christ, revealed in the Gospel; by which God appear”
Philippians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Philippians 3:10: That I may know him--experimentally. The aim of the "righteousness" just mentioned. This verse resumes, and more fully explains, "the excellency of the knowledge of Christ" (Phi 3:8). To know HIM is more than merely to know a doctrine about Him. Believers are brought not only to redemption, but to the Redeemer Himself. the power of his resurrection--assuring believers of their justification (Rom 4:25; Co1 15:17), and raising them up spiritually with Him, by virtue of their identification with Him in this, as in all the acts of His redeeming work”
Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 119:32: Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law,.... A spiritual understanding; an understanding of the law, the perfection, purity, holiness, and spirituality of it; an understanding of the Gospel, and of Christ and the things of Christ; from whom grace and strength are to be had for the due observance of the law, as in his hands; which understanding must be given, and is a gift of pure, free, rich grace, to such who have it; though they cannot keep the law perfectly, as no mere man can, yet will keep it spiritually, from a principle of love and gratitude, and with”
Proverbs (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Proverbs 2:9: Then shalt thou understand righteousness and judgment,.... This is another fruit and effect of the Gospel, and of a spiritual understanding of it; that besides the knowledge of God, and how to behave with reverence towards him, Pro 2:5; it leads men into a notion of doing that which is right and just among men; it gives them not only a theoretic but a practical understanding of justice, and a true judgment of what is right and wrong; or gives such an understanding thereof as that they practise it; for it teaches men to live soberly, righteously, and godly, Tit 2:11. ”
CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Genesis, Vol. 1 (Gen 1-23), section 22.19: that being thus constrained, they may sigh for the grace of Christ; but also to the end that the faithful themselves, who are already endued with the fear of God, may advance more and more in the pursuit of piety. For he wills that the destruction of Sodom should be recorded, both that the wicked may be drawn to God, by the fear of the same vengeance, and that they who have already begun to worship God, may be better formed to true obedience. Thus the Law avails, not only for the beginning of repentance, but also for our continua”
Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 5:27: 5:27-30 Jesus’ righteousness uncovers sin at a deeper level than the external; he reveals the true intent of the law.”
Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 97:12: Rejoice in the Lord, ye righteous,.... In the word of the Lord, as the Targum; in Christ, the essential Word, in his person, the greatness, glory, and fulness of it; in his righteousness, and in salvation by him, and that always; see Phi 4:4, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness; of his essential holiness, as a divine Person, in which he is glorious, and which appears in all that he has done; and of the holiness of his nature and life, as man and Mediator, which are imputed to his people for their justification; and at the remembrance of that holiness”

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