There is no other teaching on earth that fully encapsulates the depths of justice than the gospel. It is only in the completed work of Jesus Christ on behalf of sinners that we find God’s commitment to be both “just” and the One who “justifies” sinners.
Observations & Conclusions:
- The gospel is the authoritative truth for Biblical Justice
- The gospel is where the retribution and restoration of mishpat are accomplished
What is the Gospel?
Objective Truth
A. Justice of Retribution – Jesus died for our sins
B. Justice of Restoration – Jesus rose from the dead
Subjective Truth
A. What has God done for me?
B. What is God doing for me? - The gospel is our only hope for justice
Application:
- Place your faith in the justice of Jesus
- Keep this faith plugged into every aspect of your life
- Become proficient in sharing the gospel as the truth that bears justice
Romans 1:16
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.”
Galatians 2:14
“When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all, “You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?”
1 Corinthians 15:3-5
“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve.”
1 Corinthians 15:3-5
“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance:
1. that Christ died for our sins
– according to the Scriptures
– that he was buried
2. that he was raised on the third day
– according to the Scriptures
– and that he appeared…”
Galatians 1:3-4
“Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father.”
Isaiah 53:4-6
“Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
1 Peter 2:24
“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”
1 Peter 1:3
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”
John 14:19
“Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.”
Acts 10:34-43
“Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross, but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
Acts 10:43
“All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
Acts 10:34-35
“Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.”
Galatians 2:11-13
“When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.”
1 Peter 1:17-21
“Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.”
Acts 10:42
“He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead.”