Theology Thursday
29 “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill. 30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”
Acts 17:29-31
We are doing a series on Biblical Theology. Tracing Biblical themes as they are revealed throughout the Bible and reach their ultimate expression in the person, work and effects of Jesus. Today, we are going to trace the theme of God’s justice.
After raising Adam out of the dust, God made a covenant with humanity. He offered us every good thing in the garden. There was everything they needed to fulfil humanity’s purpose to enjoy spreading the glory of God throughout the world. But there was another option in the form of a forbidden tree. To reject God’s purpose was to reject the gift of life and so the curse was death.
This is the justice of God. Pure justice is articulated in the law of Moses. An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But God’s justice for sinners is a little more nuanced than that because of grace.
The sin of the garden does lead to death. Humans become spiritually dead in their trespasses and sins. They now decay and eventually die of old age. But they don’t ‘die’ in the fullness of that word immediately. This is because God has delayed His justice.
Now, the question is, how can God delay His justice without being unjust? Answer; because God knows that Jesus will satisfy the just requirements of the law. Jesus will pay the price for sin in full and therefore God is not being unjust by delaying judgement.
Also, we might consider that justice will eventually fall on those who reject Christ in the form of hell. In the end this is the pattern introduced in Noah’s ark and in Sodom/Gomorrah. They point forward to a judgement that is to come on all humanity.
But the good news is that there is a way to escape the wrath of God. It is through Christ. By God’s mercy, through His delayed justice, just like Lot and his family, we can be rescued by the work of the Spirit in our hearts turning us to Christ’s work on the cross, taking the justice of God on our behalf.
For Today:
Pray:
Praise the Father for His Holiness, justness and grace. Give thanks for Jesus Chris that He took God’s right judgement for your sins. Ask God for His Holy Spirit to help you and others turn to Christ in thanksgiving.
Acts 17:29-31
We are doing a series on Biblical Theology. Tracing Biblical themes as they are revealed throughout the Bible and reach their ultimate expression in the person, work and effects of Jesus. Today, we are going to trace the theme of God’s justice.
After raising Adam out of the dust, God made a covenant with humanity. He offered us every good thing in the garden. There was everything they needed to fulfil humanity’s purpose to enjoy spreading the glory of God throughout the world. But there was another option in the form of a forbidden tree. To reject God’s purpose was to reject the gift of life and so the curse was death.
This is the justice of God. Pure justice is articulated in the law of Moses. An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But God’s justice for sinners is a little more nuanced than that because of grace.
The sin of the garden does lead to death. Humans become spiritually dead in their trespasses and sins. They now decay and eventually die of old age. But they don’t ‘die’ in the fullness of that word immediately. This is because God has delayed His justice.
Now, the question is, how can God delay His justice without being unjust? Answer; because God knows that Jesus will satisfy the just requirements of the law. Jesus will pay the price for sin in full and therefore God is not being unjust by delaying judgement.
Also, we might consider that justice will eventually fall on those who reject Christ in the form of hell. In the end this is the pattern introduced in Noah’s ark and in Sodom/Gomorrah. They point forward to a judgement that is to come on all humanity.
But the good news is that there is a way to escape the wrath of God. It is through Christ. By God’s mercy, through His delayed justice, just like Lot and his family, we can be rescued by the work of the Spirit in our hearts turning us to Christ’s work on the cross, taking the justice of God on our behalf.
For Today:
- Do you see the rightness of God’s justice?
- Do you see His grace in delaying judgement?
- Rejoice in Christ today that you have avoided God’s judgement for your sin.
Pray:
Praise the Father for His Holiness, justness and grace. Give thanks for Jesus Chris that He took God’s right judgement for your sins. Ask God for His Holy Spirit to help you and others turn to Christ in thanksgiving.
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