Don Stewart :: In What Specific Ways Does God Deal Righteously with Humanity?

The Bible declares that God is righteous. In addition, it declares that He has dealt righteously toward humanity in the following ways.

1. He Clears The Innocent And Judges The Guilty

The Lord enacts His justice by clearing the innocent and judging the guilty.

But with righteousness he will judge the poor, and decide with fairness for the afflicted of the earth; and he will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips He will slay the wicked (Isaiah 11:4).

2. He Pardons Those Who Confess

God pardons those who confess their sin.

Deliver me from bloodshed, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your deliverance (Psalm 51:14).

John wrote.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

The writer to the Hebrews said.

God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them (Hebrews 6:10).

He chastises His people when they sin.

You only have I chosen of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your sins (Amos 3:2).

He saves His people from trouble. Isaiah wrote.

They will say of me, 'In the LORD alone are righteousness and strength.' All who have raged against him will come to him and be put to shame. But in the LORD all the descendants of Israel will be found righteous and will exult (Isaiah 45:24,25).

Isaiah also recorded God saying.

I am bringing my righteousness near, it is not far away; and my salvation will not be delayed. I will grant salvation to Zion, my splendor to Israel (Isaiah 46:13).

The Lord gives His servants victory. After the final victory over evil, God will live with His people in a new heaven and new earth where righteousness dwells.

But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness (2 Peter 3:13).

6. He Provides Righteousness Through Jesus Christ

God not only deals righteously with His people, He requires righteousness from them. The righteousness that God gives believers is through the Person of Jesus Christ.

However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, their faith is credited as righteousness (Romans 4:5).

The righteousness of God, with respect to salvation, is that righteousness that is credited to every believer.

Even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction (Romans 3:22).

Since Christ Himself is righteous He makes righteous before God all those who trust in Him

But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption (1 Corinthians 1:30).

Paul also wrote.

He made him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Consequently all believers have been declared righteous through Christ.

Summary

God has dealt righteously with humanity in a number of specific ways. He righteously clears the innocent but judges the guilty. God pardons those who confess and punishes the ones that sin. He delivers His people from trouble and gives victory to those who trust Him. Finally He provides His righteousness for those who believe in Jesus Christ. These are some of righteous ways in which a holy God deals with sinful humanity.