A thought on justice

The Bible tells us that we not only inherited a sinful nature from Adam, we have all sinned. Romans 5:12 says that sin entered the world through one man (Adam). Romans 3:23 says all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. The punishment for sin is spiritual death, eternal separation from God.

So God is just; he punishes all for sin.

He then extends mercy to some. If all receive what is justly due to them, they cannot complain. He may give mercy to whom he will. For example, a rich man must pay all his employees their just wage. If he does that he is just. If he decides to give a gift to someone else, he is free to do that. It is his money. It is God’s mercy to extend to whom he will. He himself expressed that as far back as with Moses in Exodus 33 when he said he will have mercy on whom he will have mercy. At that time he extended mercy to Israel. All of the rest of the world received justice.

Romans 1:18 et seq says the wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all godlessness…since what may be known about God is plain to them because God has made it plain to them. Then, in Romans 9:16, he says it does not depend on man’s desire or effort but on God’s mercy. Verse 18 then quotes then alludes to the Exodus passage. He even goes on to say God has the sovereign right to choose to show his wrath and make his power known in order to reveal his glory to the objects of his mercy.

We are entitled to justice. We who believe have received mercy. We rejoice and worship because we received mercy and relief from justice. Those who think they are entitled to mercy (which of course would make it not mercy but justice) to not experience joy and worship in salvation, because they wrongfully feel entitled to it.