By Jeramie D. Sweet
Jehovah God has many attributes and characteristics. He is eternal, omniscient (all knowing), omnipresent (all encompassing), omnipotent (all powerful), loving, gracious, etc. But if there was a certain characteristic(s) regarding the qualities of God, that really sheds light into who He really is, it would have to be narrowed down to two areas, that of His righteousness and His holiness. It is my esteemed privilege this month to examine the righteousness of God.
To understand the righteousness of God is to understand His justice. For example, the Hebrew word from which we get “righteousness,” tsedaqah (tsed-awkaw'), can also be translated as “just” or “justice.” The same can be said in regard to how the word (righteousness) is used in its Greek form in the Septuagint as well as the New Testament. Taken from the Greek word dikaiosune, which is from the root word dikaios, and can mean, “integrity, virtue, purity of life, uprightness, correctness in thinking, feeling, and acting: in a closer sense, justice, or the virtue which gives each one his due” (Thayer). “In these translations the legal relationship of humans is transferred to God in an absolute sense as the Lawgiver and with the perfections of justice and righteousness” (W.E. Vine).
The fact that God is righteous points to the justice and fairness with which He judges all individuals. Righteousness indicates being separated from wickedness. It illustrates that all God does is right whether or not we think it is right in our own eyes.
Since this quality of God carries with it justness in judgment, we can know that when we do something that God says is wrong and do not repent, He will judge us justly and fairly, the same way He would anyone else, regardless of circumstances, race, or gender.
Perhaps there is no better place to study the righteousness of God than Paul’s treatise to the saints in Rome. Romans reveals so much regarding God and His righteousness. As a matter of fact, Paul describes that it is through the gospel that “the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith” (1:16-17). Come now and let us observe two areas in which God’s righteousness is demonstrated.
The righteousness of God is revealed....
IN HIS LOVE
The well of God’s righteousness runs deep, and what man has the mental capacity to measure its width, length, depth, and height? What puzzles this writer more than anything is the depth of God’s love, grace, and mercy. Paul affirms that those who are the faithful in Christ Jesus “stand in grace” (Rom. 5:2). He wrote to the church at Ephesus making supplication for them that they “know the love of Christ which passes knowledge, that they may be filled with all the fullness of God” (Eph. 3:19). Jesus said, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
The nature of the world and the nature of God stand diametrically opposed. It is written that the world follows after the “prince of the power of the air” (Satan), and is by nature (habit) made up of “children of wrath” (Eph. 2:2-3). The world and its lusts are said to be passing away (1 John 2:15-17). On the other hand, however, God is described as “having eyes too pure even to look upon sin” (Hab. 1:13), and that the sin of man separates him from God (Isaiah 59:1-2). Yet despite all of this, God is not willing that any should perish (John 3:16; 1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9). Thus, it was necessary according to His righteous nature, that He offer man an avenue by which he could be saved. Hence, it was necessary for Jesus Christ, the Son of God to die on the cruel cross of Calvary and be the demonstration of God’s love toward us (Rom. 5:8).
There is more to Christ’s death than just to say that He died for our sins. The significance of His death is much greater. Not that He died a martyr’s death or that he set a wonderful example for us, but its true value lies in his sacrifice for our sins. Paul described Jesus as being the “grace of God that brings salvation” by giving himself for us that he might “redeem us from every lawless deed” (Titus 2:11-14). The Bible teaches that Jesus himself was sinless, even though “tempted in all things as we are” (Heb. 4:15). He was the “righteous” or “just” one suffering for the unrighteous (1 Peter 3:18). Paul said concerning Jesus, “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us (Lit. “sin offering,” JDS), so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor. 5:21). He lovingly took our place to save us. Paul further explained that Christ died for our sins “according to the Scriptures” (1 Cor. 15:3). Peter said that, “He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed” (1 Peter 2:24).
Jesus died so that He could save and still be just and righteous. God made each person a free moral agent, free to choose right from wrong. And when man sinned, he became guilty before God and stood condemned. Now the only penalty for sin is “death” (Rom. 6:23), yet God loved man, but His holy character meant that he couldn’t allow man to get away with his sin. As we have already stated, sin stood as a barrier between God and man (Isaiah 59:1-2). And so God wanted reconciliation, that is “to make friends again,” with man and this He would accomplish through Jesus our Lord (Eph. 2:11-16; 3:10-11).
Now someone might suggest that God just reaches down and pardons man as a father who overlooks the mistakes of his son. But God is not a man (John 4:24), and this couldn’t be because it is not in keeping with His righteousness. God could not govern all men and just simply pardon people. He only pardons in accordance with His righteous nature. Merely pardoning might lead mankind to have disrespect for the law and the Lawgiver. The justice of law must be upheld. So God faced the problem of being just, on the one hand, and being merciful, on the other. God wanted to find a way to satisfy His justice/righteousness without destroying man altogether. What could satisfy that justice? Well, a lamb couldn’t, because animal blood was not a sufficient offering as the Hebrews writer affirms that “It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins” (Heb. 10:4). So Jesus volunteered to be clothed with human flesh (John 1:14; Col. 2:9) and to die in man’s place. In light of this truth, the Hebrews writer quoting from the Psalms, says, “Sacrifice and offering You (God) have not desired, but a body You have prepared for Me” (Heb. 10:5). Jesus came to earth, took on a body in the flesh, and died for our sins, so that God could save man, therefore showing His mercy; and yet being just by “punishing” Jesus on the cross. Paul writes, “God displayed Him publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (Romans 3:25-26). Now by punishing Jesus, God could be just and the justifier for those who would believe in Him. What a shame it would be for anybody to neglect so great a salvation offered at such a great price!
I heard a preacher once tell a story to help illustrate what God did with Jesus. It was the story of King Zaleucus of Locris, (circa. 500 B.C.). King Zaleucas had a problem. He had a law that decreed the loss of two eyes for the sin of adultery. Well, you can imagine the overwhelming emotions that came into the heart of this king when he learned that his own son would be brought before him guilty of breaking the law. Well, the king wanted to grant mercy to his son, but justice demanded that the king respect his own law. Now how could he blind his own son? He was vexed in his heart! At last, the king found a way to be just and merciful at the same time. He decided to put out one of the eyes of his son and one of his own. Nobody could ever accuse this king of being unjust. He knew that by taking the punishment on himself, that he could still have respect for his law and save his son’s eyesight. And so in like manner, God took our punishment in the death of His Son. Can anybody ever think of accusing God of not being righteous, just, or fair?
IN HIS WRATH
In Romans chapter one, Paul illustrates how the Gentiles hated God. They did not Honor, Acknowledge, or Thank Him, and they Exchanged the glory of God for their own lusts and desires (1:21). In verse 18 Paul says in response to the Gentile’s sinful lifestyle, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness…” While the love of God should never be undermined, mankind must also be aware that Jehovah is a God of wrath.
The expression “wrath of God” is found 12 times in the text of the American Standard Version of 1901 (ASV); and seems to be a major theme in the book of Romans. In the original language, there are three terms translated “wrath.” The term parorgizo is found in Ephesians 6:4 and means “to anger alongside, i.e., enrage” (Strong’s). Fathers are not to provoke their children to “anger.” The word thumos, found in Luke 4:28 denotes “passion, angry heat” (Thayer). After Jesus had spoken, all they in the synagogue were filled with “angry passion.” The most common Greek word translated “wrath” is orge. It is found 36 times in the New Testament (11 times in Romans) and is defined as, “violent passion, justifiable abhorrence; by implication punishment” (Strong’s).
The Lord’s wrath is not inflicted impetuously or “on a whim.” Rather, history has repeatedly revealed that God exercises “much long suffering” toward those deserving of punishment (Rom. 9:22). This writer cannot help but think of the longsuffering of God toward mankind during the days of Noah (1 Peter 3:20; cf. Gen. 6:3), Sodom (Gen. 18:26-19:29), and Israel (Neh. 9:17).
However time and again, the word of God has also shown that once God’s patience has run its course, His anger will be revealed upon those deserving of it. Paul wrote that Jehovah God is indeed “willing to show his wrath and to make His power known” (Rom. 9:22). With the exception of eight souls, God’s wrath came “raining down” and washed the entire human race from the face of the earth (1 Peter 3:20). Sodom, along with Gomorrah became examples of God’s wrath and was turned into ashes due to their impenitent iniquity (2 Peter 2:6). Israel and Judah were subjugated into Assyrian and Babylonian captivity respectively because of their abominations before God. The examples are virtually endless.
Ultimately, it will be the wrath of heaven that will be justly and righteously administered. Paul speaks of the “day of wrath” when the righteous judgment of God who will render to each one “wages” according to his deeds (Rom. 2:5-6; 6:23). Abraham expressed assurance in the fact that God does not punish indiscriminately, but to the contrary when he said, “Far be it from You to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Gen. 18:25). When Jesus finally makes war on His enemies, he will do so in righteousness (Rev. 19:11). He will tread the winepress of the fierceness (thumos) of the wrath (orge) of God, the Almighty. Like unmixed and undiluted wine, God’s anger will be at full strength on all who rebel against Him and His righteousness. The whole duty of man is to “fear God and keep His commandments” for He (God) will “bring every work into judgment…” (Ecc. 12:13-14). Those who become subject to the wrath of God will be wholly and entirely deserving of that fate.
Again we ask the question, “Can anybody ever think of accusing God of not being righteous, just, or fair?” Can anyone look at the cross and think that because God is patient with us that He doesn’t mean what He says in His law? Can anyone look at the cross and think that God is not loving or good to us? God is loving toward those who will believe in Him and serve Him. Yet at the same time, God is also fair to those who reject Him for as the scripture says, “…it is because of these things (insubordination) that the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience” (Eph. 5:6). May God help us to always be faithful to Him.