Is there no one that trusts the Judge of all the earth to do right?
Some think God is wrong to damn certain men who are highly esteemed. Others think God is wrong to save certain men who are considered the filth of the earth.
Even some Christians who trust in God’s judgment of salvation harbor doubts as to whether God’s judgment will be just for all.
“What about children?”
“What about those who have never heard?”
“What about the good-intentioned?”
“How can he save someone that has done such evil?”
“What about the handicapped, ignorant, and unborn?”
If there is one thing the gospel of Christ reveals it is the righteousness of God (Rom 1:17). God will do right, why would we think any different?
God’s Righteous Wrath
Firstly, it is revealed that God is right to pour out his wrath upon all men.
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;” – Rom 1:18
Paul spends nearly three chapters explaining God’s righteous judgment that the entire world is guilty before God and is without excuse.
It may be evident to most that the basest and openly evil people of society are worthy of judgment, but it is not as clear that even the law enforcers of this world fall short of God’s righteous standard.
“Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.” – Rom 3:19
There is not one that escapes the righteous judgment of God against sin and evil (Rom 3:9-11).
God is Right to Judge
Judgment seems a very hideous idea for those of us who see the good in kindness and love. However, without judgment sin is overlooked and acquiesced. For truth to stand their must be judgment.
“But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.” – Rom 2:2
Nevertheless a judge must be righteous in order for his judgment to stand. An unrighteous judge has no basis from which to condemn.
Those who accuse God of unrighteousness in judgment do so while confessing to their own imperfection (Rom 2:1).
“Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man) God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world?” – Rom 3:5-6
How can unrighteous man judge whether or not God is righteous? If God were a liar then he could not judge the world, but he is not a man that he should lie (Num 23:19).
“…let God be true, but every man a liar;…” – Rom 3:4
The Lord is righteous, and as Judge of the earth, he will always do right.
God is Righteous to Forgive
It may be objected that if God is a righteous judge, and all the world is guilty, then how could God be lenient or show mercy to those who sin?
In the Old Testament there were numerous examples of the longsuffering and mercy of God to forgive sinners. Animals could not take away sin. Where is the justice?
Romans 3:25 explains that Christ is the “propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past”. It was the sinless sacrifice of Christ that verified the righteousness of God when he forgave men their sins in time past. If Christ had not died, God would’ve been unrighteous to forgive.
As it is, God is always right.
God is Righteous to Save Sinners
While all are guilty and none of our deeds can justify us before God, the gospel also revealed that God is righteous to save sinners by faith.
The God that must condemn all men by his own righteousness has now revealed how that same righteousness enables him to save any man.
“Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe:” – Romans 3:22
Since we cannot boast of our works before a righteous God to save, God can only deliver salvation by grace through faith (Eph 2:8).
“Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:” – Rom 3:24
Redemption, justification, and atonement are all accomplished by Christ through his death and resurrection (Rom 3:24). What was once required by man for salvation has been achieved by that one man, the Lord Jesus Christ.
God is now able to righteously save sinners graciously and by faith alone without works for Christ’s sake (Rom 4:5, 5:8).
If someone guilty before God claims faith in Christ’s atoning work, then a righteous God must save them. Without faith God is right to judge them in his displeasure (Heb 11:6).
By faith in the gospel, God is beholden to his own righteousness to save sinners for Christ’s sake.
Conclusion
There is no end to the accusations and doubts that sinful humanity has against a righteous God. All of them fall short because God’s righteousness has been revealed from faith to faith, and witnessed by the all of scripture.
As a result of the gospel of Christ those that believe can find comfort in the same righteousness that condemns us. Do not let anyone imply that God’s judgment is not just, fair, or true. God is always right; it is man that has been proven wrong.
“Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” – Gen 18:25
He always has and he always will.
Article Index Published: November 3, 2012
Last Modified: January 15, 2018