Proverbs 28:5. Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the Lord understand it completely.
Do you understand justice? Let’s try to understand it today.
In the Old Testament the concepts of righteousness and justice were inextricably linked. The psalmist says that, together, righteousness and justice are the foundations of God’s throne (Psalm 89:14).
Yesterday we said that righteousness is knowing what is right and then doing it. To be righteous is to live in right relationship with God, man, and all of creation. In the Old Testament, righteousness is something we do (in Christ it becomes something we are), and justice also is something we do.
Micah 6:8. Do justice, love kindness, walk humbly with your God.
To do justice is to restore righteousness. Justice is taking something that is unrighteous and making it right again. This can be done in one of two ways: punitive justice, or restorative justice. Punitive justice makes things right by punishing crimes, removing the wicked, or even conquering an evil nation. Restorative justice makes things right by helping the poor and needy, caring for widows and orphans, removing obstacles to success, providing opportunities, or forgiving debts.
God uses both. The cross of Christ was both.
On the cross Christ was punished (punitive justice) to pay for the sins of mankind, so that we might be reconciled to God. The punitive justice of the cross makes possible the restorative justice of the cross. Because of Christ’s penal substitutionary atonement (Jesus punished in our place to pay for our sins), all creation can now be restored to God and renewed in Christ – restorative justice making everything righteous again. However, those who refuse to accept God’s restorative justice will face his punitive justice.
Accept Christ, receive restorative justice. Reject Christ, receive punitive justice.
Why would God punish people’s sins if they reject Jesus? Does God just want to punish people in Hell because he’s a vindictive monster, a cruel master, a torturous egomaniac? The cross would argue against this. The truth is that God’s punitive justice is not just about himself. God’s punitive justice is always about accomplishing his restorative justice for his people. God’s passive and active discipline, in this life, is meant to bring mankind back to himself (restorative justice). God’s eternal punishment of sin, separation from him and his church, is meant to ensure that those who love and trust God will never be plagued by evil again (also restorative justice).
The world around us loves the idea of justice. And that’s good. But usually the world defines justice as giving someone what they deserve. Good people get good things; bad people get bad things. That’s justice. But it’s not restorative justice. Justice that tries to help a person stop doing evil, and start doing good. We might also call it discipline, or, in church, we call it discipleship. Evil men have no time for this process of restorative justice, choosing to quickly accuse, condemn, and cancel social sinners.
This is not the way of Christ. In Christ we can understand justice completely. In Christ we know what it’s like to deserve condemnation, but receive grace instead. We know what it’s like to be restored rather than punished. The question is, do we know how to DO restorative justice? Not just punitive justice, but justice that always seeks to restore the sinner, reconcile the rebel, and rescue the perishing?
You: Do you understand justice? Do you DO justice?
You in Christ: In what way is union with Christ restorative justice?
Christ in you: What restorative justice is Christ in you calling you to do today?
Pray: Father, thank you for your restorative justice in my life. May I receive your discipline and do your discipleship as part of doing justice.
To Live is Christ 