Justice

Title:  O Lord, God of Israel, there is No One Like You Text:  I Kings 8:21ff How So?

• Makes covenants with people… I Kings 8:23 but also….
  • Genesis 15, Exodus 19, Jeremiah 31:31-34
• Makes His dwelling with them…
  • Psalm 8:3-4, Deuteronomy 4:7, John 1:14; 14:15-21
• Different from the gods around who were cold, impersonal, distant and fake! – I Kings 18:27ff, Isaiah 44:15

What does the covenant entail?

• Back to I Kings 8
  • Recognition of our failing
  • Calling on the Lord

He is faithful to answer – Psalm 121 Title:  Let Justice Roll Down like a River…. Title text:  Amos 5:24; Main text:  Isaiah 58

• He acts in Justice and Righteousness! – Romans 3:21-27
• Context is always in terms of those in need! – Matthew 25:34-36, James 1:27
• Psalm 50:1-6, I Corinthians 11:17-33

 Title:  How Much More…. Becoming like God in His Justice Texts:  John 10:22-39, Psalm 82 Jesus defines Himself in John 10:34

• The Context – Jesus is defending Himself against unbelief.
• The Method – How much more? Common technique….
• The Point – Jesus truly is God.

What is the lesser? – Psalm 82

• God calls men “gods” – v. 6
• A defining characteristic of “Godness” is justice
• God pronounces his judgement – Since they are not acting like, it they are demoted to mortality

The Greater is proven right by His actions!

• Does what the Father does – John 10:37
• Contrast v. 38

What this means for us….

• Act in justice – Psalm 82:2-4
• We become his and gain eternal life (contrast with mortality) – Romans 2:7

Title:  Acting out Justice (God’s action against spiritual oppression to create community) Text:  Various Against gods

• The gods of other nations are demonic in nature
• They tear apart society
• They dehumanize
  • Deuteronomy 12:31, 32:17,
• In His justice, God passes judgement on them
  • Numbers 33:3-4, I Kings 18
  • Exodus 33:1-4
• Ethical concern – Exodus 23:9

Against demons

• Same song, different verse – still dehumanizing, still tearing apart community
  • Luke 8:34-35, Luke 9:42
  • Luke 11:15

Rulers, authorities, and powers in the heavenly realms….

• In Christ, our spiritual place is realized…. Eph. 2:6
• The battle is brought to the spiritual realm!
  • 18:18, Ephesians 3:6-11, 14-21, 6:10-12

Title: Acting in Justice Text:  James 2 Clarification – Justice and Righteousness are the same word in NT Greek How?

• Remember what we’ve been given….
• 12, Matthew 18:22-35
• Favoritism has no place in the church!
• 1-4, 8-11, Exodus 23:1-9
• See clearly….
• 5-7, 1:5-8, 22-25
• Justice is action!
• 14-26

Title:  Speaking Justice (Talking it Out) Talk….

• Check your motives – James 3:3-12
• Be gentle – Proverbs 15:1 Philippians 4:5
• Recognize God is in the mix – Matthew 18:15; Philippians 2:12-13

Listen….

• Don’t jump to conclusions – II Samuel 16:1-4, 19:24-28
• Don’t think you understand perfectly – James 1:19, Proverbs 29:20, Proverbs 18:17

Be willing to get vulnerable

• You will hear things you don’t like – Galatians 2:11-14, II Peter 3:15
• It can/will hurt! Philippians 2:3-8

Assume the best

• Trust people are speaking the truth in love – Ephesians 4:15, 29
• Think the best of each other – Philippians 4:8-9

Title:  Doing Justice Text:  Ephesians 4:1-16 Love is the motivator – justice is the outcome.

• Walk v. 1 (Translated far too often as a passive “live.” Walking is active.)
• Look out of yourself v. 2
• Strive for unity v. 3-6
• Recognize diversity of gifts v. 7-13; Luke 7:35
• Reach maturity v. 14-16; I Cor. 13:11

 Title:  Justice – Kingdom Business Text:  Matthew 28:16-20 If it is only in the Kingdom true justice is found, what are we doing about it?

• We know more than just justice is at stake – Romans 1:16-17
• World is all too willing to use God’s Kingdom for its own ends – Matthew 11:12
• What the world offers can never satisfy – I Corinthians 3:3, John 14:27, 16:33, Ephesians 2:2, I John 2:15-17
• We are commissioned to not judge those outside the church – I Corinthians 5:12, John 3:16-21, I Corinthians 11:19
• We are commissioned to make disciples! Matthew 28:16-20