God is Just

God is Just

and cannot overlook sin

As “the Judge of all the earth” God will do what is just on judgment day (Genesis 18:25). Because He is just and cannot overlook a single sin and because He shows no partiality, He must judge every person by the same standard.

God's Standard

Romans 6:23 gives the standard by which God will judge every person.

The wages of sin is death.
For the wages of sin is death;

SIN
EARNS
DEATH
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What does this mean for each of us?

God's Judgment

Matthew 25:41 shows a picture of God judging the nations at the end of the world.

Then shall He say also unto them on the left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.'
Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:”

The Bible teaches that God does not wish “that any should perish” (II Peter 3:9). God prepared this eternal place of judgment for the devil and his angels. Yet in this verse we see people being cast into eternal punishment. Who are these people “on the left hand”?

Man's Destiny

Another picture of this same scene found in Revelation 21:8 sheds light on the subject.

But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

God's just nature demands that He hold us accountable for the specific sins that we have committed. How many murders does a man have to commit before he becomes a murderer? Only one. How many lies does a person have to tell before he becomes a liar? Only one, and we have all lied at least once. The Bible tells us that all liars will be condemned to this lake of fire.

You may be saying, “How could a loving God do this?” Imagine a judge presiding over a murder trial. Would justice be served if that judge chose to overlook the obvious guilt of the defendant and acquit a murderer? No!

Justice-Love fulcrum
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God is both loving and just

God's justice doesn't cause Him to ignore our problem

God's love doesn't cause Him to overlook our sin

Imagine a judge ...

Now suppose the guilty man was the judge's brother and he loved him. Would it be just if the judge chose to overlook his guilt and acquit him? No! Love does not undo the necessity for justice. God is loving, but because of His nature He is bound by justice. He must judge our sin. But God's love will not allow Him to ignore our doom.

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TRANSLATION

Death entered the world when mankind sinned in the Garden of Eden.

Genesis 2:17

But you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil [the first sin ever committed], for when you eat from it you will certainly die.

Proverbs 11:19

Whoever is steadfast in righteousness will live, but he who pursues evil will die.

Romans 5:12

Just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned.

Matthew 25:41 & 46

Then he will say to those on his left, "Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels."" ... And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.

Luke 16:19-26

There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he called out, "Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame." But Abraham said, "Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us."

Revelation 20:11–15

Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

Revelation 21:1–8

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. … And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.”… “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

Death entered the world when mankind sinned in the Garden of Eden.

Genesis 2:17

But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil [the first sin ever committed], thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

Proverbs 11:19

As righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death.

Romans 5:12

Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

Matthew 25:41 & 46

Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. … And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Luke 16:19-26

There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

Revelation 20:11–15

And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Revelation 21:1–8

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.