God requires justice to be evident in the lives of his people. Through justification, believers are granted the status of being righteous in his sight, and are called upon to live out that righteousness in their lives.
God's law demands justice
The law is written on the conscience
Romans 2:14–15 See also Genesis 20:5–6; Proverbs 20:27Isaiah 51:7 See also Ecclesiastes 8:5
Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. So they show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts either accusing or defending them
Listen to Me, you who know what is right, you people with My law in your hearts: Do not fear the scorn of men; do not be broken by their insults.
The law in the OT
Exodus 20:1–3; Deuteronomy 6:4–5 See also Exodus 20:4–17 parallel Deuteronomy 5:6–21; Psalm 119:1, Psalm 119:165 parallel Matthew 22:37–40
And God spoke all these words: “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no other gods before Me.
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is One. And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
The law in the NT
Matthew 5:17 See also Romans 7:7, Romans 7:12, Romans 7:22, Romans 13:10; 1 Timothy 1:8–11
Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them.
Justification is by faith
Romans 1:17 See also Habakkuk 2:4; Genesis 15:6; Romans 3:21–24, Romans 4:24–25, Romans 5:1, Romans 9:30; Galatians 3:6, Galatians 3:24; Philippians 3:9
For the gospel reveals the righteousness of God that comes by faith from start to finish, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
The marks of the just person
James 2:17 Although justification is by faith alone it is always to be accompanied by righteous behaviour. See also Matthew 25:34–36; Ephesians 2:10; 1 John 3:7, 1 John 3:9
So too, faith by itself, if it does not result in action, is dead.
Thinking justly
Psalm 1:2 See also Psalm 24:4, Psalm 40:8, Psalm 119:111–112; Matthew 5:8; Philippians 4:8
But his delight is in the Law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night.
Speaking justly
Psalm 141:3 See also Proverbs 4:24, Proverbs 8:6–8; Ephesians 4:25; 1 Peter 3:10
Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch at the door of my lips.
Behaving justly
Micah 6:8 See also Deuteronomy 6:25; Psalm 106:3; Proverbs 21:3; Isaiah 33:15–16; Acts 24:16
He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?
Examples of just people
Job 1:8 See also 2 Samuel 8:15; 1 Kings 3:11–12, 1 Kings 3:28; Luke 23:50–51; Acts 25:8, Acts 25:11
Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one on earth like him, a man who is blameless and upright, who fears God and shuns evil.”
The vindication of the just
2 Timothy 4:8 See also Psalm 86:17; Daniel 12:3; Revelation 7:9–17
From now on there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day — and not only to me, but to all who crave His appearing.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.