Relationship Between God's Justice and Holiness and Righteousness
Relationship Between God's Justice and Holiness and Righteousness
God's justice, holiness, and righteousness are intricately connected attributes that are fundamental to understanding His nature and character. The biblical concept of God's justice is closely tied to His righteousness, which is a perfection of His nature [2]. According to Easton's Bible Dictionary, God's justice is "that perfection of his nature whereby he is infinitely righteous in himself and in all he does" [2]. This righteousness is not an optional product of His will but an unchangeable principle of His nature.
The Psalms frequently highlight the connection between God's justice and righteousness. Psalm 85:10 states, "Mercy and truth meet together; Righteousness and peace have kissed each other" [4]. This verse illustrates the harmony between God's attributes, where righteousness and justice are closely aligned with His loving devotion and faithfulness. Similarly, Psalm 33:5 affirms that "The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of His loving devotion" [5].
The righteousness of God is also a central theme in the New Testament, particularly in the Pauline epistles. Romans 3:21 declares that "the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it" [6]. This verse underscores that God's righteousness is revealed through faith in Jesus Christ, demonstrating that His justice is not merely punitive but also redemptive.
The relationship between God's justice and holiness is also significant. Holiness is often associated with God's separateness and purity, while justice relates to His actions in maintaining righteousness. The two are interconnected, as God's holiness demands justice, and His justice is an expression of His holiness. Torrey's Topical Textbook notes that God's righteousness is "part of his character" and is described as being "very high," "abundant," and "everlasting" [3].
In the context of salvation, God's justice and righteousness are crucial. According to Reformed theologian John Calvin, God's righteousness is the basis for justification, where believers are declared righteous through faith in Christ [7]. This understanding is echoed in the writings of John Gill, who explains that the "righteousness of God" refers to the righteousness wrought out by Christ, which is imputed to believers [8].
The biblical emphasis on God's justice and righteousness serves as a foundation for trust and confidence in His character. As Job 8:3 rhetorically asks, "Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert righteousness?" [1], affirming God's unwavering commitment to justice and righteousness.
Sources
- Job “Job 8:3 (Rotherham) — Should, GOD, pervert justice? Or, the Almighty, pervert righteousness?”
- 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: 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”
- Psalms “Mercy and truth meet together. Righteousness and peace have kissed each other. -- Psalms 85:10”
- Psalms “Psalms 33:5 (BSB) — The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of His loving devotion.”
- Romans “Romans 3:21 (Geneva1599) — But nowe is the righteousnesse, of God made manifest without the Lawe, hauing witnes of the Lawe and of the Prophets,”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Isaiah, Vol. 2, section 53.2: 64:7 66:24 Jeremiah 4:31 5:8 5:28 7:4 7:4 9:1 10:23 10:24 10:24 11:21 17:1 17:5 18:16 19:6 19:8 22:24 22:28 25:9 25:13 25:18 28:10 28:11 30:11 31:15 43:2 48:2 50:11 Lamentations 1:7 2:5 2:8 3:29 Ezekiel 15:3 16:26 20:11 20:24 20:25 26:2 26:14 37:1 43:15 43:15 47:11 Daniel 5:28 5:30 5:31 7:10 7:17 8:20 Hosea 1:7 6:4 8:14 9:6 13:3 Joel 1:13 2:13 2:23 2:28 Amos 1:3 3:6 4:1 4:1 5:10 5:19 8:11 Micah 1:3 1:11 2:11 7:9 7:16 Nahum 3:8 Habakkuk 2:1 2:1 2:1 2:2 3:2 3:2 3:13 Zechariah 9:14 13:4 14:3 Malachi 1:4 1:11 4:2 Matthew 2:14 3:12 3:12 3:12 3:12 ”
- Romans (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Romans 1:17: For therein is the righteousness of God revealed,.... By "the righteousness of God", is not meant the essential righteousness of God, the rectitude of his nature, his righteousness in fulfilling his promises, and his punitive justice, which though revealed in the Gospel, yet not peculiar to it; nor the righteousness by which Christ himself is righteous, either as God, or as Mediator; but that righteousness which he wrought out by obeying the precepts, and bearing the penalty of the law in the room of his people, and by which they are justified in the sight of God: and”