Is God Unfair and Unjust?
Is God unfair and unjust?
As we celebrate this week the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. we are reminded of the issue of fairness, equality and justice. We have experienced, seen or heard of many instances of unfairness and lack of justice to individuals or groups of people in our society and in various parts of the world. Is God fair and just in his dealings with people? The fact that such question can be raised is evidence that we have an idea of what fairness and justice is. Where did we get our ideas of fairness and justice and if from God, would the one who established the standard for justice be unjust in his dealings with humans? What about God’s decision to choose/elect some and not all for salvation? Is that fair? Let’s read Romans 9.
Romans 9: 6-24
6It is not as though God's word had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. 7Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham's children. On the contrary, "It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned."[b] 8In other words, it is not the natural children who are God's children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham's offspring. 9For this was how the promise was stated: "At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son."[c]
10Not only that, but Rebekah's children had one and the same father, our father Isaac. 11Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God's purpose in election might stand: 12not by works but by him who calls—she was told, "The older will serve the younger."[d] 13Just as it is written: "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated."[e]
14What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! 15For he says to Moses,
"I will have mercy on whom I have mercy,
and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion."[f] 16It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy. 17For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: "I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth."[g] 18Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.
19One of you will say to me: "Then why does God still blame us? For who resists his will?" 20But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? "Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, 'Why did you make me like this?' "[h] 21Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?
22What if God, choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath—prepared for destruction? 23What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory— 24even us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?
Apostle Paul has helped us answer the question of whether God is unjust in his dealings with humans. Before we can understand this, we need to go back and remind ourselves that “22This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” (Romans 3:22-24). Because humanity is under condemnation without Christ for sin, God is just is demanding death for sin. He has met his own standard of justice by ensuring that there was penalty for sin which His Son paid for mankind.
Since God has met the requirements for justice, anything else (election and reprobation) He does with humans is no longer based on justice. God says, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." Why? So that God can show his wrath and power and make the riches of His glory known (verses 17, 22-24).
Where does this leave you and me if we have been chosen by God for salvation? It leads us to a life of gratitude and thanksgiving for His grace and mercy on our lives.
What about those who have not believed in Jesus? We are obligated to tell them about the gospel “because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.” (Romans 1:17). “For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."[f] 14How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news. Romans 10:12-15.
We have been “sent”. We willingly obey and go to preach the gospel out of our love for the God who has called us by His mercy and grace. The truth is that we do not know who among the “yet- to- believe” whom God has chosen for salvation, therefore we must preach to all. God knows who belongs to him and I am satisfied with that knowledge. God is sovereign and He is not answerable to humans but he is loving, patient, kind and forgiving among His many characters.
What do you think? Is God unjust? Are there things in your life that seems God has not been fair to you? Remember, God does not owe us anything.
May the Lord help us understand His election of us, and help us live for His glory, Amen.
PS. On God’s purpose in election and calling, check out other passages such as Ephesians 1:4-5, Romans 8: 29-33; 11: 5,7, 28;16:13; Colossians 3:12; 1 Thessalonians 1:4; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; and Titus 1:1.
As we celebrate this week the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. we are reminded of the issue of fairness, equality and justice. We have experienced, seen or heard of many instances of unfairness and lack of justice to individuals or groups of people in our society and in various parts of the world. Is God fair and just in his dealings with people? The fact that such question can be raised is evidence that we have an idea of what fairness and justice is. Where did we get our ideas of fairness and justice and if from God, would the one who established the standard for justice be unjust in his dealings with humans? What about God’s decision to choose/elect some and not all for salvation? Is that fair? Let’s read Romans 9.
Romans 9: 6-24
6It is not as though God's word had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. 7Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham's children. On the contrary, "It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned."[b] 8In other words, it is not the natural children who are God's children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham's offspring. 9For this was how the promise was stated: "At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son."[c]
10Not only that, but Rebekah's children had one and the same father, our father Isaac. 11Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God's purpose in election might stand: 12not by works but by him who calls—she was told, "The older will serve the younger."[d] 13Just as it is written: "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated."[e]
14What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! 15For he says to Moses,
"I will have mercy on whom I have mercy,
and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion."[f] 16It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy. 17For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: "I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth."[g] 18Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.
19One of you will say to me: "Then why does God still blame us? For who resists his will?" 20But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? "Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, 'Why did you make me like this?' "[h] 21Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?
22What if God, choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath—prepared for destruction? 23What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory— 24even us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?
Apostle Paul has helped us answer the question of whether God is unjust in his dealings with humans. Before we can understand this, we need to go back and remind ourselves that “22This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” (Romans 3:22-24). Because humanity is under condemnation without Christ for sin, God is just is demanding death for sin. He has met his own standard of justice by ensuring that there was penalty for sin which His Son paid for mankind.
Since God has met the requirements for justice, anything else (election and reprobation) He does with humans is no longer based on justice. God says, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." Why? So that God can show his wrath and power and make the riches of His glory known (verses 17, 22-24).
Where does this leave you and me if we have been chosen by God for salvation? It leads us to a life of gratitude and thanksgiving for His grace and mercy on our lives.
What about those who have not believed in Jesus? We are obligated to tell them about the gospel “because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.” (Romans 1:17). “For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."[f] 14How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news. Romans 10:12-15.
We have been “sent”. We willingly obey and go to preach the gospel out of our love for the God who has called us by His mercy and grace. The truth is that we do not know who among the “yet- to- believe” whom God has chosen for salvation, therefore we must preach to all. God knows who belongs to him and I am satisfied with that knowledge. God is sovereign and He is not answerable to humans but he is loving, patient, kind and forgiving among His many characters.
What do you think? Is God unjust? Are there things in your life that seems God has not been fair to you? Remember, God does not owe us anything.
May the Lord help us understand His election of us, and help us live for His glory, Amen.
PS. On God’s purpose in election and calling, check out other passages such as Ephesians 1:4-5, Romans 8: 29-33; 11: 5,7, 28;16:13; Colossians 3:12; 1 Thessalonians 1:4; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; and Titus 1:1.
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