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The Holiness of God in Judgment and Punishment

The Holiness of God in Judgment and Punishment

The holiness of God is a fundamental attribute that underscores His character, particularly in His judgment and punishment. The biblical text emphasizes that God's holiness is incomparable [6]. It is exhibited in His character, name, words, works, and kingdom [6]. The Psalmist affirms that God is "glorious in holiness" and that His judgments are upright [5, 8].

The concept of God's holiness is closely tied to His justice. 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" [3]. This justice is not an optional product of His will but an unchangeable principle of His nature. God's legislative justice requires His rational creatures to conform to the moral law, while His rectoral or distributive justice deals with His accountable creatures accordingly [3].

In the context of judgment and punishment, God's holiness and justice are manifested in His righteous judgments. The Psalmist prays, "Judge me, O Lord my God, according to thy righteousness" [14], highlighting the desire for God's judgment to be in accordance with His righteous character. The Bible affirms that God's judgments are right and that He is righteous in all His ways [13].

The holiness of God in judgment is also reflected in His punishment of sin. According to Torrey's Topical Textbook, God's justice is exhibited in His government, judgments, and punishment of the wicked [2]. The prophet Isaiah declares that "the Lord is exalted in judgment, and the Holy God is sanctified in righteousness" [9]. This sanctification in righteousness underscores God's commitment to upholding His holy character in all His judgments.

The New Testament continues this theme, emphasizing that God's righteousness is revealed in the Gospel [16]. The apostle Paul writes that "the righteousness of God is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets" [10]. This righteousness is not only a characteristic of God's nature but also a gift to believers through faith in Jesus Christ.

In the view of Baptist/Reformed tradition, as represented by John Gill, God's righteousness is closely tied to His justifying righteousness, which is revealed in the Gospel [16]. This righteousness is not only a product of God's essential righteousness but also a result of Christ's obedience and sacrifice on behalf of His people.

The Nonconformist/Puritan tradition, as represented by Matthew Henry, emphasizes that God's word is righteousness and that it is an everlasting righteousness [12]. This understanding underscores the importance of God's word in guiding His judgments and punishments.

The Presbyterian tradition, as represented by Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, highlights that God's justifying righteousness is "alike adapted to our necessities and worthy of Himself" [10]. This perspective emphasizes the balance between God's justice and His mercy in His judgments.

In conclusion, the holiness of God in judgment and punishment is a complex and multifaceted concept that is deeply rooted in biblical teaching. It is characterized by God's incomparable holiness, His righteous judgments, and His commitment to upholding His holy character in all His ways. As the Psalmist affirms, "Rejoice in the Lord, ye righteous... and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness" [11].

SOURCES: [1] Torrey's Topical Textbook — TIER 1 (factual/linguistic) [2] Torrey's Topical Textbook — TIER 1 (factual/linguistic) [3] Easton's Bible Dictionary — TIER 1 (factual/linguistic) [4] Easton's Bible Dictionary — TIER 1 (factual/linguistic) [5] Psalms — TIER 1 (factual/linguistic) [6] Torrey's Topical Textbook — TIER 1 (factual/linguistic) [7] Torrey's Topical Textbook — TIER 1 (factual/linguistic) [8] Psalms — TIER 1 (factual/linguistic) [9] Isaiah — TIER 1 (factual/linguistic) [10] Romans (Presbyterian) — TIER 2 (interpretive) [11] Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) — TIER 2 (interpretive) [12] Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) — TIER 2 (interpretive) [13] Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) — TIER 2 (interpretive) [14] Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) — TIER 2 (interpretive) [15] Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) — TIER 2 (interpretive) [16] Romans (Baptist/Reformed) — TIER 2 (interpretive) [17] Romans (Baptist/Reformed) — TIER 2 (interpretive)

Sources

  1. 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”
  2. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Justice of God, The — Is a part of his character -- De 32:4; Isa 45:21. Declared to be Plenteous. -- Job 37:23. Incomparable. -- Job 4:1. Incorruptible. -- De 10:17; 2Ch 19:7. Impartial. -- 2Ch 19:7; Jer 32:19. Unfailing. -- Zep 3:5. Undeviating. -- Job 8:3; 34:12. Without respect of persons. -- Ro 2:11; Col 3:25; 1Pe 1:17. The habitation of his throne. -- Ps 89:14. Not to be sinned against -- Jer 50:7. Denied by the ungodly -- Eze 33:17,20. Exhibited in Forgiving sins. -- 1Jo 1:9. Redemption. -- Ro 3:26. His government. -- Ps 9:4; Jer 9:24. His judgments. -- Ge 18:2”
  3. 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”
  4. 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.)”
  5. Psalms “Dominus judicat populos. Judica me, Domine, secundum justitiam meam, et secundum innocentiam meam super me. -- Psalms 7:9”
  6. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Holiness of God, The — Is incomparable -- Ex 15:11; 1Sa 2:2. Exhibited in his Character. -- Ps 22:3; Joh 17:11. Name. -- Isa 57:15; Lu 1:49. Words. -- Ps 60:6; Jer 23:9. Works. -- Ps 145:17. Kingdom. -- Ps 47:8; Mt 13:41; Re 21:27; 1Co 6:9,10. Is pledged for the fulfilment of His promises. -- Ps 89:35. His judgments. -- Am 4:2. Saints are commanded to imitate -- Le 11:44; 1Pe 1:15,16. Saints should praise -- Ps 30:4. Should produce reverential fear -- Re 15:4. Requires holy service -- Jos 24:19; Ps 93:5. Heavenly hosts adore -- Isa 6:3; Re 4:8. Should be magnified --”
  7. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Judgment, The — Predicted in the Old Testament -- 1Ch 16:33; Ps 9:7; 96:13; Ec 3:17. A first principle of the gospel -- Heb 6:2. A day appointed for -- Ac 17:31; Ro 2:16. Time of, unknown to us -- Mr 13:32. Called the Day of wrath. -- Ro 2:5; Re 6:17. Revelation of the righteous judgment of God. -- Ro 2:5. Day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. -- 2Pe 3:7. Day of destruction. -- Job 21:30. Judgment of the great day. -- Jude 1:6. Shall be administered by Christ -- Joh 5:22,27; Ac 10:42; Ro 14:10; 2Co 5:10. Saints shall sit with Christ in -- 1Co 6:2; Re 20:4. Sh”
  8. Psalms “Psalms 7:8 (BSB) — The LORD judges the peoples; vindicate me, O LORD, according to my righteousness and integrity.”
  9. Isaiah “Isaiah 5:16 (YLT) — And Jehovah of Hosts is high in judgment, And the Holy God sanctified in righteousness,”
  10. Romans (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Romans 3:21: GOD'S JUSTIFYING RIGHTEOUSNESS THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST, ALIKE ADAPTED TO OUR NECESSITIES AND WORTHY OF HIMSELF. (Rom 3:21-26) But now the righteousness of God--(See on Rom 1:17). without the law--that is, a righteousness to which our obedience to the law contributes nothing whatever (Rom 3:28; Gal 2:16). is manifested, being witnessed--attested. by the law and the prophets--the Old Testament Scriptures. Thus this justifying righteousness, though new, as only now fully disclosed, is an old righteousness, predicted and foreshadowed in the Ol”
  11. 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”
  12. Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 119:142: Observe, 1. That God's word is righteousness, and it is an everlasting righteousness. It is the rule of God's judgment, and it is consonant to his counsels from eternity and will direct his sentence for eternity. The word of God will judge us, it will judge us in righteousness, and by it our everlasting state will be determined. This should possess us with a very great reverence for the word of God that it is righteousness itself, the standard of righteousness, and it is everlasting in its rewards and punishments. 2. That God's word is a law, and that law is tr”
  13. Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 119:71: I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are right,.... His word, the doctrines and precepts of it, they are all consistent with the holiness and righteousness of God; and so are his judgments on wicked men, they are righteous, just, and true: God is righteous in all his ways, there is no unrighteousness in any dispensation of his; and such are his corrections of his own people, and which seem to be chiefly intended here and are so called, because they are done in judgment, with moderation and gentleness, in wisdom, and to answer the best purposes; and they are all right,”
  14. Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 35:24: Judge me, O Lord my God, according to thy righteousness,.... Either that righteousness of his, by which he justifies his people, which Christ has wrought out, God has accepted of, and imputes; and which, though revealed in the Gospel, was witnessed to by the law and prophets, and was known to the saints under the Old Testament, and particularly to David; see Rom 4:6; or the perfection of his justice, his essential righteousness displayed in all his works and actions, and in the government of the world; according to this the psalmist desired to be judged; not with res”
  15. Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 119:137: Here is, 1. The righteousness of God, the infinite rectitude and perfection of his nature. As he is what he is, so he is what he should be, and in every thing acts as becomes him; there is nothing wanting, nothing amiss, in God; his will is the eternal rule of equity, and he is righteous, for he does all according to it. 2. The righteousness of his government. He rules the world by his providence, according to the principles of justice, and never did, nor ever can do, any wrong to any of his creatures: Upright are thy judgments, the promises and threatenings an”
  16. 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”
  17. Romans (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Romans 11:22: Behold therefore the goodness, and severity of God,.... The consideration of both the grace and kindness of God to some, and his severity or strict justice towards others, is recommended by the apostle as very proper to abate pride, vain glory, and haughtiness of spirit; and to engage to humility, fear, care, and caution; on them which fell, severity: the Jews who stumbled at Christ and his Gospel, and fell by unbelief, God in strict justice and righteous judgment not only destroyed, as afterwards their nation, city, and temple, and scattered them abroad in the wor”
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