Demonstrating God's Sovereignty and Justice in Non-Believers' Lives
God's sovereignty and justice are demonstrated in the lives of non-believers through various means, including the universal proclamation of the Gospel and the ultimate judgment of all humanity. The concept of God's righteousness is foundational, described as part of His character, abundant, everlasting, and the habitation of His throne [2]. This righteousness is revealed through His testimonies, commandments, judgments, word, and ways [2].
The Gospel, which declares God's salvation, is sent to the Gentiles, including non-believers, as a publication of the salvation God planned from eternity and accomplished through Christ [9]. This proclamation is a demonstration of God's power, as it is through the Gospel that His "holy arm" is made bare in the eyes of all nations, leading to the conversion of many souls [11]. Even those who do not believe are exposed to the message of the Kingdom of God and the teachings concerning Jesus Christ [1].
God's justice is evident in His requirement of a sacrifice for sin, refusing to grant salvation in any other way, while His mercy is shown in providing that very sacrifice [4]. This means that while God is just, He is also the justifier of those who believe in Jesus [4]. Justification, a forensic term, is the judicial act of God by which He pardons the sins of those who believe in Christ and accounts them as righteous [3]. This justification is "from all things," meaning from the guilt of all transgressions against God, which could not be achieved by the Mosaic Law [7].
The works of God, particularly those of the Messiah, are an invitation to all people to "come and see" [8]. These works include miraculous deeds, the preaching of the Gospel, and the ultimate work of redemption and salvation [8]. Even in the context of non-believers, God's righteous government is illustrated, as others beyond the existing time and people will be brought to acknowledge and worship God [5]. Christianity is ultimately destined to rule over all, and the kingdom of Christ will come, demonstrating His power over the nations [6]. The equality of all Christians as "brethren" underscores that all believers, regardless of their worldly status, derive their glory from their union with Christ, the "Lord of glory" [10].
Sources
- Acts “preaching the Kingdom of God, and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, without hindrance. -- Acts 28:31”
- 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: Justification — A forensic term, opposed to condemnation. As regards its nature, it is the judicial act of God, by which he pardons all the sins of those who believe in Christ, and accounts, accepts, and treats them as righteous in the eye of the law, i.e., as conformed to all its demands. In addition to the pardon (q.v.) of sin, justification declares that all the claims of the law are satisfied in respect of the justified. It is the act of a judge and not of a sovereign. The law is not relaxed or set aside, but is declared to be fulfilled in the strictest sense; an”
- Romans (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Romans 3:26: To declare, I say, at this time - To manifest now, by the dispensation of the Gospel, his righteousness, his infinite mercy; and to manifest it in such a way, that he might still appear to be the just God, and yet the justifier, the pardoner, of him who believeth in Jesus. Here we learn that God designed to give the most evident displays both of his justice and mercy. Of his justice, in requiring a sacrifice, and absolutely refusing to give salvation to a lost world in any other way; and of his mercy, in providing The sacrifice which his justice required. Thus, beca”
- Psalms (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Psalms 22:27: His case illustrates God's righteous government. Beyond the existing time and people, others shall be brought to acknowledge and worship God; the fat ones, or the rich as well as the poor, the helpless who cannot keep themselves alive, shall together unite in celebrating God's delivering power, and transmit to unborn people the records of His grace.”
- Revelation (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Revelation 2:26: Power over the nations - Every witness of Christ has power to confute and confound all the false doctrines and maxims of the nations of the world, for Christianity shall at last rule over all; the kingdom of Christ will come, and the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our God and of his Christ.”
- Acts (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Acts 13:39: And by him - On his account, and through him, all that believe in his Divine mission, and the end for which he has been manifested, namely, to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself, are justified from all things, from the guilt of all transgressions committed against God; from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses; because it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling the unclean, or any other rite or service of this kind, could take away sin from the soul, cancel its guilt in the conscience, or make an aton”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 66:5: Come and see the works of God,.... Of the Messiah, God manifest in the flesh; those divine works which he did when here on earth; his miraculous works, which were proofs of his deity and Messiahship; his preaching the Gospel, in so divine a manner as never man did; his works of obedience to the law, which were pure and perfect; the everlasting righteousness he wrought out for the justification of his people; and the great work of redemption and salvation finished by him, which none but God could ever have effected. This is an invitation to the inhabitants of all lands”
- Acts (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Acts 28:28: Be it known therefore unto you,.... Unbelievers and despisers, take this along with you at parting, and do not say you were never acquainted with it: that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles; meaning the Gospel, which is a publication and declaration of that salvation, which God contrived from all eternity; made provision for, and secured in the covenant of grace; which he appointed, called, and sent Christ to effect, in the fulness of time; and which he has accomplished, by his obedience, sufferings, and death; even a full, complete, spiritual, and eterna”
- James (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on James 2 (introduction): THE SIN OF RESPECT OF PERSONS: DEAD, UNWORKING FAITH SAVES NO MAN. (Jam. 2:1-26) brethren--The equality of all Christians as "brethren," forms the groundwork of the admonition. the faith of . . . Christ--that is, the Christian faith. James grounds Christian practice on Christian faith. the Lord of glory--So Co1 2:8. As all believers, alike rich and poor, derive all their glory from their union with Him, "the Lord of glory," not from external advantages of worldly fortune, the sin in question is peculiarly inconsistent with His "faith." ”
- Isaiah (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Isaiah 52:10: The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations,.... Revealed his Gospel, which is a system of holy doctrines, and is the power of God unto salvation, openly, in the sight of all men, and given it a general spread all the world over; and with it has exerted his almighty power, in the marvellous conversion of multitudes of souls everywhere, in which his holiness, as well as his power, is displayed: or else Christ is here meant, who is the power of God; by whom he has made the world, and upholds it; by whom he has redeemed his people, and saved them”