This article is written to let you know that God is RIGHTEOUS, and the RIGHTEOUS GOD provides freely a way how a sinner can be justified before God by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
Nowadays the world is devoid of righteousness, and since people do not have an idea of what righteousness is, the word ‘righteousness’ becomes archaic, and you hardly hear people talk about righteousness, and rarely you read anything about righteousness. The word “righteousness” has disappeared from the vocabulary of most people on earth.
Righteousness is relevant to the contemporary society, the article is written so that you may know that God is righteous and He likes people who do justice.
The modern history of China has been the history of abuse, mistreatment, oppression, persecution, and injustice since the infamous Opium Wars. At first China was oppressed and wronged by white Europeans who claimed to be Christians. Later by the pagan Japanese in the war of aggression for 14 years. If you want to count one by one the atrocity and brutality committed by the Japanese military, only God knows how many trillions. And since the end of World War II, China has been preeminently oppressed and wronged by Americans who also claim to be Christians. There is a judgment day. The righteous God will settle accounts with Europeans, Japanese, and Americans who committed all the evil deeds.
“May the LORD repay the evildoer in proportion to his evil.”
“For the LORD is a God of retribution, He will fully repay.”
I. GOD IS RIGHTEOUS
Psa 11:7, “For the LORD is righteous, He loves righteousness; the upright will see His face.”
The Lord is righteous as different from false gods. If the Lord is righteous ONLY, then there is no hope for the world, no hope for sinners of the world. Thank God, the Lord is not only righteous, the Lord is also good, compassionate and gracious, just and upright, etc.
God is not old-fashioned. God is not out-dated. God is never obsolete. As God was, God is, and God is to come so is righteousness.
Exo 9:27, “Then Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron, and said to them, “I have sinned this time; the LORD is the righteous one, and I and my people are the wicked ones.”
The Pharaoh had to admit, the LORD is the righteous ONE, the Pharaoh and his people are the wicked ones.
However bad the Pharaoh was, the world leaders are worse because none has admitted their wickedness.
Exo 15:3, “The LORD is a Warrior; the LORD is His name.”
People know Alexander, Napoleon, Genghis Khan, George Washington, Robert E. Lee, George Patton, Julius Caesar, etc. were warriors. Have you ever thought that the Lord is a Warrior?
Psa 68:17, “The chariots of God are myriads, thousands upon thousands; the Lord is among them as at Sinai, in holiness.”
Here is an interesting and pertinent historical account:
2Ki 6:11-17, “Now the heart of the king of Aram was enraged over this matter; and he called his servants and said to them, “Will you not tell me which of us is for the king of Israel?” One of his servants said, “No, my lord, the king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.”
So he said, “Go and see where he is, so that I may send men and take him.” And it was told to him, saying, “Behold, he is in Dothan.” So he sent horses and chariots and a substantial army there, and they came by night and surrounded the city. Now when the attendant of the man of God had risen early and gone out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was circling the city. And his servant said to him, “This is hopeless, my master! What are we to do?”
And he said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are greater than those who are with them.”
Then Elisha prayed and said, “LORD, please, open his eyes so that he may see.” And the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”
The horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha were greater than the horses and chariots and a substantial army of the king of Aram, the enemy.
People may say horses and chariots are obsolete, we now have nuclear weapons. Don’t forget the horses and chariots of God are horses and chariots of fire. The horses and chariots of fire can fly in the sky. I have not seen one, but I know there is nothing impossible with God. It is futile for mankind to fight against God. Read a little further, you will learn all kinds of weapons of God. Weapons of war are common; have you ever heard of the Weapons of God’s indignation? Do you know anything about the Weapons of righteousness? Do you know divinely powerful weapons for the destruction of the wicked?
American leaders think America is nuclear power and the strongest military might in the world. Do you know God has armies, the Heavenly armies?
Isa 9:19, “By the wrath of the LORD of armies the land is burned, and the people are like fuel for the fire;
No one spares his brother.”
Isa 13:13, “Therefore I will make the Heavens tremble,
And the earth will be shaken from its place
At the fury of the LORD of armies
In the day of His burning anger.”
Isa 14:24, “The LORD of armies has sworn, saying, “Certainly, just as I have intended, so it has happened, and just as I have planned, so it will stand.”
No armed forces can fight against the Lord of armies.
You may ask what are the weapons of the Lord of armies?
Isa 29:6, “From the LORD of armies you will be punished with thunder and earthquake and loud noise,
With whirlwind and tempest and the flame of a consuming fire.”
Exo 9:23, “So Moses reached out with his staff toward the sky, and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and fire ran down to the earth. And the LORD rained hail on the land of Egypt.”
Historically, God sent thunder and hail, and fire ran down to the land of Egypt.
Exo 19:16, “So it came about on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunder and lightning flashes and a thick cloud over the mountain and a very loud trumpet sound, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled.”
How all the people were trembled because of thunder and lightning flashes.
Exo 19:19, “When the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him with thunder.”
God can answer people with thunder.
Exo 20:18, “And all the people were watching and hearing the thunder and the lightning flashes, and the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it all, they trembled and stood at a distance.”
Almost all people have been watching and hearing the thunder and the lightning flashes. The Jewish people trembled and stood at a distance.
Job 37:5, “God thunders wondrously with His voice,
Doing great things which we do not comprehend.”
We do not comprehend how God thunders wondrously with His voice and doing great things.
1Sa 7:10, “Now Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, and the Philistines advanced to battle Israel. But the LORD thundered with a great thunder on that day against the Philistines and confused them, so that they were struck down before Israel.”
Historically, the Lord thundered with a great thunder against the Philistines and confused them, so that they were struck down before Israel. Today the Lord can still use a great thunder to confuse the greatest military in the world and strike them down.
Job 26:14, “Behold, these are the fringes of His ways;
And how faint a word we hear of Him!
But His mighty thunder, who can understand?”
Who can understand God’s mighty thunder.
Psa 77:18, “The sound of Your thunder was in the whirlwind; the lightning lit up the world;
The earth trembled and shook.”
The earth trembles and shakes because the sound of God’s thunder is in the whirlwind; the lightning lights up the world.
Isa 29:6, “From the LORD of armies you will be punished with thunder and earthquake and loud noise, With whirlwind and tempest and the flame of a consuming fire.”
The weapons of the Lord of armies are awesome: thunder, earthquake, loud noise, whirlwind, tempest, and the flame of a consuming fire.
Can the military of U.S., NATO, QUAD, AUKUS, UK, EU, Australia and Islamic State stand against the weapons of the Lord of armies?
According to https://www.weather.gov/safety/lightning-science-thunder
“Thunder is the sound caused by a nearby flash of lightning and can be heard for a distance of only about 10 miles from the lightning strike. The sound of thunder should serve as a warning to anyone outside that they are within striking distance of the storm and need to get to a safe place immediately!
Thunder is created when lightning passes through the air. The lightning discharge heats the air rapidly and causes it to expand. The temperature of the air in the lightning channel may reach as high as 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit, 5 times hotter than the surface of the sun. Immediately after the flash, the air cools and contracts quickly. This rapid expansion and contraction creates the sound wave that we hear as thunder.
Although a lightning discharge usually strikes just one spot on the ground, it travels many miles through the air. When you listen to thunder, you’ll first hear the thunder created by that portion of the lightning channel that is nearest you. As you continue to listen, you’ll hear the sound created from the portions of the channel farther and farther away. Typically, a sharp crack or click will indicate that the lightning channel passed nearby. If the thunder sounds more like a rumble, the lightning was at least several miles away. The loud boom that you sometimes hear is created by the main lightning channel as it reaches the ground.
Since you see lightning immediately and it takes the sound of thunder about 5 seconds to travel a mile, you can calculate the distance between you and the lightning. If you count the number of seconds between the flash of lightning and the sound of thunder, and then divide by 5, you’ll get the distance in miles to the lightning: 5 seconds = 1 mile, 15 seconds = 3 miles, 0 seconds = very close.
Keep in mind that you should be in a safe place while counting. Remember, if you can hear thunder, chances are that you’re within striking distance of the storm. You don’t want to get struck by the next flash of lightning.”
Rev 19:6, “Then I heard something like the voice of a great multitude and like the sound of many waters, and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, saying,
“Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.”
When the Lord our God, the Almighty reigns, even the sound of mighty peals of thunder speak.
According to https://ourworldindata.org/the-worlds-deadliest-earthquakes
“What have been the most deadly earthquakes in human history? In the visualization below we have mapped the top 10 rankings of known earthquakes which resulted in the largest number of deaths.1 This ranking is based on mortality estimates from the NOAA’s National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC).2
This ranking is also summarized in table form.
The most deadly earthquake in history was in Shaanxi, China in 1556. It’s estimated to have killed 830,000 people. This is more than twice that of the second most fatal: the recent Port-au-Prince earthquake in Haiti in 2010. It’s reported that 316,000 people died as a result.3”
According to https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-loudest-sound-in-the-world-would-kill-you-on-the-spot/
“Sound is mechanical. A sound is a shove — just a little one, a tap on the tightly stretched membrane of your ear drum. The louder the sound, the heavier the knock. If a sound is loud enough, it can rip a hole in your ear drum. If a sound is loud enough, it can plow into you like a linebacker and knock you flat on your butt. When the shock wave from a bomb levels a house, that’s sound tearing apart bricks and splintering glass. Sound can kill you.”
Cambridge English Dictionary defines whirlwind as
“a tall, spinning column of air that moves across the surface of the land or sea.”
2Ki 2:11, “And as they were walking along and talking, behold, a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and they separated the two of them. Then Elijah went up by a whirlwind to Heaven.”
Historically, Elijah in a chariot of fire with horse of fire went up by a whirlwind to Heaven.
Psa 77:18, “The sound of Your thunder was in the whirlwind; the lightning lit up the world;
The earth trembled and shook.”
When the sound of God’s thunder was in the whirlwind; the lightning lit up the world; the earth trembled and shook.
Isa 66:15, “For behold, the LORD will come in fire,
And His chariots like the whirlwind,
To render His anger with fury,
And His rebuke with flames of fire.”
According to https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/whirlwind/
“When two currents from opposite directions meet, a circular motion results called a whirlwind. On the sea this takes up small particles of water from the sea and condenses some of the moisture in the clouds above, forming a great funnel-shaped column. They are quite common off the coast of Syria. Considerable damage might be done to a small ship overtaken by them. In the desert sand is taken up in the same way, causing terrible sandstorms which are greatly dreaded by caravans. Most of the references in the Bible do not necessarily imply a circular motion, and the word “tempest” might be used in translation.”
Isa 28:2, “Behold, the Lord has a strong and mighty agent; as a storm of hail, a tempest of destruction, like a storm of mighty overflowing waters,
He has thrown it down to the earth with His hand.”
Mark you, the Lord can send a tempest of destruction to wipe out Washington, D.C. in a moment.
Jer 30:23, “Behold, the tempest of the LORD!
Wrath has gone forth,
A sweeping tempest;
It will whirl upon the head of the wicked.”
Beware, a sweeping tempest will whirl upon the head of the wicked.
Gen 19:24, “Then the LORD rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah from the LORD out of Heaven.”
Historically, Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed by brimstone and fire rained out of Heaven.
Merriam-Webster defines brimstone as sulfur.
According to http://biblicalscholarship.com/whatisbrimstone.htm
“sulfur/sulphur”) is a lemon-yellow colored stone. Brimstone means, “burning stone” or, “the stone that burns.” At left is a picture of brimstones and powdered brimstone. When a plain brimstone (like those to the left) is exposed to the air, nothing happens–but if a match is put to it, it will burn in a peculiar way, like a liquid fire, and it emits noxious fumes. The stone melts like wax but the dripping is a peculiar thick fire, like a piece of wax on fire. As it burns, it has a rich, fluorescent-type deep colbalt bluish color (see below right). It is an interesting, sticky, “acidy”-type burning fire. The little drops burn for some time. Ancient peoples sometimes used brimstone as a type of match.”
Exo 3:2, “Then the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire from the midst of a bush; and he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, yet the bush was not being consumed.”
The blazing fire of the Lord was most unusual, the bush was burning with fire, yet the bush was not being consumed.
Exo 13:21, “And the LORD was going before them in a pillar of cloud by day to lead them on the way, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light, so that they might travel by day and by night.”
The good Lord led the children of Israel and was going before them in a pillar of cloud by day, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light, so that they might travel by day and by night to the Promised Land.
Exo 14:24, “But at the morning watch, the LORD looked down on the army of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and cloud, and brought the army of the Egyptians into confusion.”
The Lord just looked down on the army of the Egyptians and brought the army of the Egyptians into confusion. If the Lord just looks down on the arrogant Western military exercises in Asia and Europe, the Western military would be brought into confusion.
Exo 24:17, “And to the eyes of the sons of Israel, the appearance of the glory of the LORD was like a consuming fire on the mountain top.”
God is the Spirit. The appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a consuming fire.
Lev 10:1-2, “Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took their respective firepans, and after putting fire in them, placed incense on the fire and offered strange fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them. And fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD.
Strange in Hebrew is zûr which means estrange; different; another; foreign; loathsome; profane; unholy; – which occurs 77 times in the Old Testament.
I do not know exactly what strange fire here means. It seems to be like a different gospel. You cannot worship God according to your way. The sons of Aaron offered strange fire which God has not commanded them. Fire came out from the presence the Lord and consumed them, and so they died. We should never offend God like Cain.
Deu 4:24, “For the LORD your God is a Consuming Fire, a jealous God.”
It is no joking matter, God is a Consuming Fire. God cannot tolerate other gods, other gospel, strange fire.
1Ki 19:11-12, “So He said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD was passing by! And a great and powerful wind was tearing out the mountains and breaking the rocks in pieces before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake, a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire, a sound of a gentle blowing.”
It is important to know that wind, earthquake, and fire are weapons of God; but God is not in the wind, not in the earthquake, and not in the fire. Those who believe in wind, earthquake, and fire are pantheists, and pantheists are not Christians.
2Ki 1:9-15, “Then the king sent to him a captain of fifty with his fifty men. And he went up to him, and behold, he was sitting on the top of the hill. And he said to him, “You man of God, the king says, ‘Come down.’” But Elijah replied to the captain of fifty, “If I am a man of God, may fire come down from Heaven and consume you and your fifty.” Then fire came down from Heaven and consumed him and his fifty men. So the king again sent to him another captain of fifty with his fifty men. And he said to him, “You man of God, this is what the king says: ‘Come down quickly!’” But Elijah replied to them, “If I am a man of God, may fire come down from Heaven and consume you and your fifty.” Then the fire of God came down from Heaven and consumed him and his fifty men. So the king again sent the captain of a third fifty with his fifty men. When the third captain of fifty went up, he came and bowed down on his knees before Elijah, and begged him and said to him, “You man of God, please let my life and the lives of these fifty servants of yours be precious in your sight. Behold, fire came down from Heaven and consumed the first two captains of fifty with their fifties; but now let my life be precious in your sight.”
And the angel of the LORD said to Elijah, “Go down with him; do not be afraid of him.” So he got up and went down with him to the king.”
A bad king does not care about the lives of his soldiers. The third captain was wise not to repeat the tragedy of the previous two captains. American and Western leaders are not wise, for they keep repeating the tragedies of war and military intervention.
1Ki 18:21, “Then Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long are you going to struggle with the two choices? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people did not answer him so much as a word. Then Elijah said to the people, “I alone am left as a prophet of the LORD, while Baal’s prophets are 450 men. Now have them give us two oxen; and have them choose the one ox for themselves and cut it up, and place it on the wood, but put no fire under it; and I will prepare the other ox and lay it on the wood, and I will not put a fire under it.
Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the LORD; and the God who answers by fire, He is God.” And all the people replied, “That is a good idea.” So Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose the one ox for yourselves and prepare it first, since there are many of you, and call on the name of your god, but put no fire under the ox.” Then they took the ox which was given them and they prepared it, and they called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no voice and no one answered. And they limped about the altar which they had made. And at noon Elijah ridiculed them and said, “Call out with a loud voice, since he is a god; undoubtedly he is attending to business, or is on the way, or is on a journey. Perhaps he is asleep, and will awaken.” So they cried out with a loud voice, and cut themselves according to their custom with swords and lances until blood gushed out on them.
When midday was past, they raved until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice; but there was no voice, no one answered, and no one paid attention.
Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come forward to me.” So all the people came forward to him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD which had been torn down. Then Elijah took twelve stones, corresponding to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the Word of the LORD had come, saying, “Israel shall be your name.” And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD; and he made a trench around the altar, large enough to hold two measures of seed. Then he laid out the wood, and he cut the ox in pieces and placed it on the wood.
And he said, “Fill four large jars with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood.” And he said, “Do it a second time,” so they did it a second time. Then he said, “Do it a third time,” so they did it a third time. The water flowed around the altar, and he also filled the trench with water. Then at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet approached and said, “LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, today let it be known that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your word. Answer me, LORD, answer me, so that this people may know that You, LORD, are God, and that You have turned their heart back.” Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood, and the stones and the dust; and it licked up the water that was in the trench. When all the people saw this, they fell on their faces; and they said, “The LORD, He is God; the LORD, He is God!” Then Elijah said to them, “Seize the prophets of Baal; do not let one of them escape.” So they seized them; and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slaughtered them there. When all the people saw this, they fell on their faces; and they said, “The LORD, He is God; the LORD, He is God!”
Then Elijah said to them, “Seize the prophets of Baal; do not let one of them escape.” So they seized them; and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slaughtered them there.”
The showdown between Elijah and the 450 prophets of the false god Baal cited in the Scriptures above demonstrates the power of the true God, who is a Consuming Fire.
Nah 1:6, “Who can stand before His indignation?
Who can endure the burning of His anger?
His wrath gushes forth like fire,
And the rocks are broken up by Him.”
Who can stand before the indignation, anger, and wrath of God, even the rocks are broken up.
Mat 13:4-42, “The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His Kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness, and they will throw them into the Furnace of Fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
At the end of the world, the Lord will send forth His angels to throw those who commit lawlessness into the Furnace of Fire where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Those who commit lawlessness are stumbling blocks.
Mat 25:41,“Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, you accursed people, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels.”
Hell is the eternal fire.
Mar 9:43, “And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed, than, having your two hands, to go into Hell, into the unquenchable fire.”
Hell is the unquenchable fire.
2Pe 3:7, “But by His Word the present Heavens and Earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly people.”
2Pe 3:10-13, “But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will melt with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the Day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! But according to His promise we are looking for New Heavens and a New Earth, in which righteousness dwells.”
The present heavens and earth will be burned up. The elements will melt with intense heat.
According to: https://www.americanelements.com/meltingpoint.html“Melting points of common materials
Melting point of steel: 1425-1540 °C / 2600-2800 °F
Melting point of gold: 1064 °C / 1947.5 °F
Melting point of copper: 1084 °C / 1983 °F
Melting point of iron: 1538 °C / 2800 °F
Melting point of lead: 327.5 °C / 621 °F
Melting point of silver: 961 °C / 1761 °F”
According to: https://atomicarchive.com/science/effects/thermal-radiation.html
“A primary form of energy from a nuclear explosion is thermal radiation. Initially, most of this energy goes into heating the bomb materials and the air in the vicinity of the blast. Temperatures of a nuclear explosion reach those in the interior of the sun, about 100,000,000° Celsius, and produce a brilliant fireball.”
Rev 20:14-15, “Then Death and Hades were thrown into the Lake of Fire. This is the second death, the Lake of Fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the Lake of Fire.”
The final place for the devil, his agents, and the wicked and unbelievers is called the Lake of Fire, eternal fire.
It is high time that the American military, NATO, QUAD, AUKUS, EU, UK, Australia, imperial Japan and Islamic State surrender to the LORD of armies.
Isa 51:15,“For I am the LORD your God, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar (in modern terminology it is called tsunami) (the LORD of armies is His name).’
When the Almighty God, who is a Warrior, wages war on the enemies with thunders, earthquakes, loud noises, tornadoes, great storms, disasters, flames of consuming fire, wormwood, poisoned water, sword, famine, plague (I believe COVID-19 is a plague sent from God to punish the world), rottenness, locusts, terror and tsunamis, weapons of God’s indignation — what nation and people can stand them? Can America, UK, EU, NATO, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Japan, India, Islamic States, etc. stand the weapons of God?
Jer 9:15, “therefore this is what the LORD of armies, the God of Israel says: “Behold, I will feed this people wormwood; and I will give them poisoned water to drink.”
Jer 11:22, “therefore, this is what the LORD of armies says: “Behold, I am going to punish them! The young men will die by the sword, their sons and daughters will die by famine.”
According to: https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/worst-drought-famine
“The worst famine caused by drought was in northern China in 1876-79, when between 9 and 13 million people are estimated to have died after the rains failed for three consecutive years. At around the same time (1876-78), approximately 5 million Indians died when the monsoon failed in successive years.”
Jer 19:15, “This is what the LORD of armies, the God of Israel says: ‘Behold, I am going to bring on this city and all its towns the entire disaster that I have declared against it, because they have stiffened their necks so as not to listen to My words.’”
Jer 25:32, “This is what the LORD of armies says:
“Behold, evil is going out from nation to nation,
And a great storm is being stirred up from the remotest parts of the earth.”
Jer 29:17, “this is what the LORD of armies says: ‘Behold, I am sending upon them the sword, famine, and plague; and I will make them like rotten figs that cannot be eaten due to rottenness.”
Jer 31:35, “This is what the LORD says,
He who gives the sun for light by day and the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night,
Who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar—
The LORD of armies is His name:”
According to:
“A tsunami is a series of waves created when a body of water, such as an ocean, is rapidly displaced. Earthquakes, mass movements above or below water, volcanic eruptions and other underwater explosions, landslides, underwater earthquakes, large meteoroid or asteroid impacts and testing with nuclear weapons at sea all have the potential to generate a tsunami. The effects of a tsunami can range from unnoticeable to devastating.”
According to https://geology.com/records/biggest-tsunami.shtml
“World’s Tallest Tsunami
A tsunami with a record run-up height of 1720 feet occurred in Lituya Bay, Alaska
On the night of July 9, 1958, an earthquake along the Fairweather Fault in the Alaska Panhandle loosened about 40 million cubic yards (30.6 million cubic meters) of rock high above the northeastern shore of Lituya Bay. This mass of rock plunged from an altitude of approximately 3000 feet (914 meters) down into the waters of Gilbert Inlet (see map below). The impact force of the rockfall generated a local tsunami that crashed against the southwest shoreline of Gilbert Inlet.
The wave hit with such power that it swept completely over the spur of land that separates Gilbert Inlet from the main body of Lituya Bay. The wave then continued down the entire length of Lituya Bay, over La Chaussee Spit and into the Gulf of Alaska. The force of the wave removed all trees and vegetation from elevations as high as 1720 feet (524 meters) above sea level. Millions of trees were uprooted and swept away by the wave. This is the highest runup ever recorded for a tsunami.”
Jer 49:5, ““Behold, I am going to bring terror upon you,” Declares the Lord GOD of armies,
“From all directions around you;
And you will be driven away one after another,
With no one to gather the fugitives together.”
Jer 50:25, “The LORD has opened His armory
And has brought out the weapons of His indignation,
For it is a work of the Lord GOD of armies in the land
of the Chaldeans.”
No one has seen the armory of God and the weapons of His indignation.
Jer 51:14, “The LORD of armies has sworn by Himself:
“I will certainly fill you with a population like locusts,
And they will cry out with shouts of victory over you.”
According to https://www.worldatlas.com/
“According to Keith Cressman, the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization’s senior locust forecasting officer, (yes, that’s a job), enormous swarms of locusts can eat the same amount of food in one day as everyone in New York and California combined. Scientists in India claim that even a modest locust swarm can eat as much food as 35,000 people and travel an impressive 200 km in one day. Because of these realities, locusts in large numbers are able to eat farmers’ crops quickly, leaving little for helpless humans to harvest, live on, and sell.”
Mal 4:1, “For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and every evildoer will be chaff; and the day that is coming will set them ablaze,” says the LORD of armies, “so that it will leave them neither root nor branches.”
White and black supremacists are the most arrogant people in the world, they will be chaff.
Rev 19:14, “And the armies which are in Heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses.”
I believe the word “armies” should be translated the military. The American and European military are no match with the military of Heaven. Jesus Christ is the Commander-in-Chief of the Heavenly Military.
The Lord is Righteous, that is why the Lord is a Warrior. God is at war with unrighteousness. God will punish the wrongdoing of the unrighteous.
Isa 26:21, “For behold, the LORD is about to come out from His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their wrongdoing; and the earth will reveal her bloodshed and will no longer cover her slain.”
Jer 12:12, “On all the bare heights in the wilderness
destroyers have come, for the sword of the Lord is devouring from one end of the land even to the other; there is no peace for anyone.”
Jer 33:11, “the voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the groom and the voice of the bride, the voice of those who say, “Give thanks to the LORD of armies, for the LORD is good, for His mercy is everlasting,” as they bring a thanksgiving offering into the house of the LORD. For I will restore the fortunes of the land as they were at first,’ says the LORD.”
Hos 12:5, “And the LORD, the God of armies,
The LORD is His name.”
1Pe 3:12, “FOR THE EYES OF THE LORD ARE TOWARD THE RIGHTEOUS, AND HIS EARS ATTEND TO THEIR PRAYER, BUT THE FACE OF THE LORD IS AGAINST EVILDOERS.”
Hag 2:6, “For this is what the LORD of armies says: ‘Once more in a little while, I am going to shake the Heavens and the earth, the sea also and the dry land.”
Zec 7:9, “This is what the LORD of armies has said: ‘Dispense true justice and practice kindness and compassion each to his brother.”
Because the power of the Lord is unlimited, He IS WHO HE IS, to rule and control the universe.
1Co 7:25, “Now concerning virgins, I have no command of the Lord, but I am offering direction as one who by the mercy of the Lord is trustworthy.”
Thanks God, the Lord is not only righteous, the Lord is trustworthy. It is good to trust the Lord.
2Co 3:17, “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”
God is the Spirit, so He is not restricted by time and space, and anything else.
1Ki 8:60, “so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God; there is no one else.”
The Lord is the only God, there is no one else.
Psa 10:16, “The LORD is King forever and ever;
Nations have perished from His land.”
The Lord is King means He has authority, and His authority is absolute and supreme. A righteous man rarely becomes a national or world leader. Being righteous without authority does not go far.
Psa 25:8, “The LORD is good and upright;
Therefore He instructs sinners in the way.”
Psa 92:15, “To declare that the LORD is just;
He is my rock, and there is no malice in Him.”
The Lord is just means God is fair. There is no malice in God.
Psa 100:5, “For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting and His faithfulness is to all generations.”
The Lord is good and so evil does not have sovereignty. The conflict of good and evil is under the control and power of God.
Psa 103:8, “The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
Slow to anger and abounding in mercy.”
Psa 113:4, “The LORD is high above all nations;
His glory is above the Heavens.”
The Lord is high above all nations means the Lord has absolutely sovereignty over all nations. His glory is above the Heavens means the Lord rules the universe.
Psa 135:5, “For I know that the LORD is great
And that our Lord is above all gods.”
Smallness and powerlessness do not have a chance. The Lord is our great God and Savior.
Psa 138:6, “For the LORD is exalted,
Yet He looks after the lowly,
But He knows the haughty from afar.”
The Lord is exalted and so He administer justice.
Isa 30:18, “Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you, and therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the LORD is a God of justice;
How blessed are all those who long for Him.”
The righteous God is also gracious and compassionate. The Lord is a God of justice.
Jer 10:10, “But the LORD is the true God;
He is the living God and the everlasting King.
The earth quakes at His wrath, and the nations cannot endure His indignation.”
1Th 4:6, “and that no one violate the rights and take advantage of his brother or sister in the matter, because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also told you previously and solemnly warned you.”
The righteous and great God is the avenger of their evil deeds, those who violate the rights and take advantage of the weak. In a capitalistic society, the rich and powerful (for example, banks, doctors, and hospitals, etc.) often violate the rights and take advantage of those who are weak and helpless.
2Th 3:3, “But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.”
Psa 11:7, “For the LORD is righteous, He loves righteousness; the upright will see His face.”
Because the Lord is righteous and He loves righteousness, so God treats the righteous differently from the wicked.
Gen 18:23, “Abraham approached and said, “Will You indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?”
God is able to sweep away wicked nations and wicked peoples. God does not deal with the wicked the same He deals with the righteous. God makes a distinction, not discrimination. The Righteous God could not spare Sodom and Gomorrah because even at the plea of Abraham, there could not be found ten righteous men.
1Co 8:6, “yet for us there is only One God, the Father, from whom are all things, and we exist for Him; and One Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.”
This Scripture summarized Biblical Theology. Christianity believes there is only One God, the Father, who is the Creator of all things; children of God exist for God. The Bible teaches there is only One Lord, Jesus Christ, by Whom are all things, and we Christians exist through Jesus Christ.
The word “for” has several meanings. For can be used as a function word to indicate purpose: Children of God exist for God. For can be used as a function word to indicate an intended goal: Children of God exist for the glory of God. For is also used because of: Children of God exist because of God.
Psa 62:5, “My soul, wait in silence for God alone,
For my hope is from Him.”
My soul waits in silence for God alone, because my hope is from Him.
Act 22:3,“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated under Gamaliel, strictly according to the Law of our fathers, being zealous for God just as you all are today.”
Saul was zealous for God in persecuting Christians but not in accordance with knowledge. Islamic terrorists are zealous for God because they want to have sex with many virgins in Paradise.
Rom 6:13, “and do not go on presenting the parts of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those who are alive from the dead, and your body’s parts as instruments
of righteousness for God.”
Prostitutes sell their bodies as instruments of unrighteousness for money and for their pimps. Christians present themselves to God, and their bodies as instruments of righteousness for God.
2Co 9:7, “Each one must do just as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
This is the principle of Christian giving: each one must do just as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. Some churches in America require members to pledge 10% of their income, or they will not receive them.
Gal 2:19, “For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live for God.”
Christians are not under the Law, so that they might live for God.
1Th 4:7, “For God has not called us for impurity, but in sanctification.”
God has not called Christians for impurity as some religion does, but in sanctification.
1Th 5:9, “For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
The false teacher John Calvin taught that God has destined some people for wrath. The Bible makes it clear that everyone can obtain salvation only through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Heb 6:18, “so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to hold firmly to the hope set before us.”
Heb 13:4, “Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.”
Jas 1:13, “No one is to say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.”
God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. It is Satan who tempts people.
Heb 13:16, “And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”
God is pleased with such sacrifices as doing good and sharing.
1Pe 2:16, “Act as free people, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bond-servants of God.”
Christians are free people, but free people do not use freedom as a covering for evil. Western powers use freedom of navigation as a cover to spy and violate the territorial waters of China and Russia.
1Pe 2:19, “For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person endures grief when suffering unjustly.”
It finds favor with God, if the sake of conscience toward God, a Christian endures grief when suffering unjustly.
1Pe 3:17, “For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.”
If God should will it so, it is better that you suffer for doing what is right than for doing what is wrong. So be alert, there are those who suffer for doing what is right.
1Pe 4:2, “so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human lusts, but for the will of God.”
The peoples of the world live in the flesh for human lusts that is money, power, and sex. Blessed are Christians who live for the will of God.
1Jo 2:2, “and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”
The irresponsible false teacher John Calvin clearly denied the Word of God by teaching that Jesus Christ died for the elect only. The Bible makes it clear Jesus Christ Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
You do not need to trust any theologian, but you must trust the Word of God.
1Jo 3:8, “the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.”
Sin originates from the devil. The one who practices sin is of the devil. Those who lie, kill, and rob are children of the devil. The devil has been sinning from the beginning. The Son of God, Jesus Christ, appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. The Chinese have a false belief:
道高一尺, 魔高一丈.
The way of good is one chi (尺 chi=foot) , the way of evil is one zhang (丈 zhang=10 feet). The translation is: The good way is one foot high, the evil way is ten feet tall. The Chinese unit of length; where 10 chi (尺) equals 1 zhang (丈). In other words, the Chinese wrongly believe the way of the devil is higher than the way of God. The Son of God, Jesus Christ appeared to destroy the works of the devil.
Rev 18:5, “for her sins have piled up as high as Heaven, and God has remembered her offenses.”
God has remembered the offenses of a certain nation for her sins have piled up as high as Heaven.
The word “from” has the meanings to indicate the origin or source; of 1Co 8:6:
1Jo 4:7, “Beloved, let’s love one another; for love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.”
Those who lie, kill, and rob do not know God. For love is from God.
Mat 3:7, “But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You
offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?”
Offspring of vipers better flee from the wrath to come now!
Mat 6:13, “And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.’
Christians pray, God deliver us from evil.
Mat 11:29, “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS.”
Christians are to learn from Christ.
Mat 13:49, “So it will be at the end of the world: the angels will come forth and remove the wicked from among the righteous.”
Although the wicked rule the world now, at the end of the world, the angels will come forth and remove the wicked from among the righteous.
Mat 25:34, “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”
God has prepared the Kingdom for His children from the foundation of the world.
Mar 1:11, “and a voice came from the Heavens: “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”
The divinity of Jesus Christ was confirmed by a Voice came from the Heavens.
Jhn 6:46, “Not that anyone has seen the Father, except the One who is from God; He has seen the Father.”
JESUS Christ was the ONE who is from God.
Rom 1:17, “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written: “BUT THE RIGHTEOUS ONE WILL LIVE BY FAITH.”
False theologians and teachers do not know that in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith.
Rom 1:18, “For the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of people who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.”
Do you know who are the ungodly and unrighteous people who suppress the truth in unrighteousness?
Rom 8:35, “Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or trouble, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?”
Nothing will separate Christians from the love of Christ.
Rom 14:23, “But the one who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin.”
1Co 1:30, “But it is due to Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us Wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption.”
Jesus Christ is our Wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.
1Co 11:12, “For as the woman originated from the man, so also the man has his birth through the woman; and all things originate from God.”
1Ti 1:5, “But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from a sincere faith.”
The Christian love is from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from a sincere faith. Western leaders and politicians prove themselves lack of a pure heart, a good conscience, and sincere faith.
2Ti 3:13, “But evil people and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.”
The state of the world is not getting better, but from bad to worse.
Jas 3:17, “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy, and good fruits, impartial, free of hypocrisy.”
This Scripture defines what is the wisdom from above.
The word “by” has the meanings of through or through the medium of; according to; inconformity with; etc. of 1Co 8:6:
1Pe 2:15, “For such is the will of God, that by doing right you silence the ignorance of foolish people.”
Act 18:28, “for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, demonstrating by the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.”
Jesus is the Christ is powerfully demonstrated by the Scriptures.
Rom 1:4, “who was declared the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness by the resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Jesus Christ our Lord was declared the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness by the resurrection from the dead.
Rom 3:24, “being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.”
Believers are justified as a gift by the grace of God through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus. There is no redemption outside of Jesus.
Rom 5:1, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Christians having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Rom 5:9, “Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.”
Christians having now been justified by the precious blood of Jesus, we shall be saved also from the wrath of God through Jesus Christ.
Rom 15:13, “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Christians are bound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Rom 15:16, “to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, ministering as a priest the Gospel of God, so that my offering of the Gentiles may become acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.”
Christians are sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
Gal 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.’
Christians live by faith in the Son of God.
Gal 5:16, “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.”
Christians walk by the Spirit and will not carry out the desires of the flesh.
Lastly, “through” has the meanings by way of; by means of; because of; etc. of 1Co 8:6:
Mat 7:13, “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.”
Jesus says the way of salvation is through the narrow gate. The world of the people go by broad way that leads to destruction.
Jhn 1:17, “For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”
This Scripture summarizes the difference between the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Law of Moses represents the Old Testament, the Law does not save anyone. Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the Son of God and Savior of the world, this is the truth. Sinners can be saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
Jhn 3:17, “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but so that the world might be saved through Him.”
God did not want to judge the world, for God so loved the world that the world might be saved through Jesus Christ.
Act 10:43, “All the prophets testify of Him, that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.”
All the Old Testament prophets testify of Jesus Christ that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.
Rom 2:16, “on the day when, according to my Gospel, God will judge the secrets of mankind through Christ Jesus.”
Jesus Christ is the Judge of the living and the dead, who will judge the secrets of mankind.
Rom 3:22, “but it is the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction.”
God says there is no distinction. The righteousness of God is through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe. The false teacher John Calvin contradicted the Word of God by saying God saves the elect only. All those who believe in Jesus Christ will be saved.
Rom 3:24, “being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.”
The redemption accomplished by Jesus Christ is able to justify all who believe in Jesus’ name as a gift of the grace of God.
Rom 5:1, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Christians having been justified by faith, we also have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Rom 5:21, “so that, as sin reigned in death, so also grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Just as sin reigned in death, so also through Jesus Christ grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life.
Rom 8:11, “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.”
The Spirit of the Lord dwells in believers will also transform our mortal bodies into glorious, spiritual and immortal bodies when Jesus returns.
2Co 1:5, “For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.”
Christ will give Christians abundant comfort.
2Co 8:9, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.”
Christians through the poverty of Christ might become rich.
Gal 1:12, “For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.”
In fact, the Gospel, the whole Christian Faith, is not from man, but received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.
Phl 4:13, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”
Christians can do all things through Jesus Christ who strengthens us.
2Th 2:13, “But we should always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.”
God has chosen His children from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. People who have no faith in the truth will never obtain salvation of God.
Heb 10:10, “By this will, we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all time.”
By the will of God, believers have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ on the cross once for all time. It is finished.
1Pe 1:23, “for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable, but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring Word of God.”
Christians have been born again through the living and enduring Word of God.
Jde 1:25, “to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority before all time and now and forever. Amen.”
Through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority to the only God our Savior, before all time and now and forever. Amen.
The great but unlucky Chinese leader Sun Yet Sen’s borrowing from Lincoln’s government of the people, by the people, and for the people — had a hard time of translating into Chinese. The Chinese language is disadvantaged without the powerful equivalents, “of”, “by” and “for”.
II. SOME GODLY MEN ARE RIGHTEOUS
Gen 6:9, “These are the records of the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God.”
God is the measurement of everything. God set up the standard of righteousness or morality. God decides who is righteous or who is not, for God knows everyone and the secrets of everyone. God has records that register every evil thought, word, and deed of every man and woman in this world. God can play back for whatever a man or woman thought, said, and did and when and where so that no one can deny the evidence. Righteous in Hebrew is ṣadîq which means just; lawful; law-abiding; upright; right; correct; right in law; acting in accord with divine and moral law; virtuous; – which occurs 206 times in the Old Testament.
Self-righteous is useless in the sight of God.
It is most remarkable that Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Blameless in Hebrew is tāmîm which means without blemish; perfect; sound; without spot; upright; sincere; wholesome; having integrity; in accord with truth and fact; undefiled; – which occurs 91 times in the Old Testament.
The reason Noah was righteous and blameless was Noah walked with God. No one who is crooked and wicked can walk with God. The reason that world leaders and politicians walk in the darkness because they have rejected the Light. They walk in the futility of their minds. Although they think they are smart, yet they do not walk as wise people. They lie, kill, destroy, and rob; and do not practice the truth.
Gen 7:1, “Then the LORD said to Noah, “Enter the ark, you and all your household, for you alone I have seen to be righteous before Me in this generation.”
God saved the household of Noah, for he was alone that God had seen to be righteous before Him in this generation. A Catholic theologian mistook the Ark to be the symbol of the church. The Catholic church, and any church cannot save anyone. Christ is the Ark, if you enter by faith you are saved in Christ. The flood represents the judgment of God. Jesus says, Mar 16:16, “The one who has believed and has been baptized will be saved; but the one who has not believed will be condemned.”
Gen 15:6, “Then he believed in the Lord; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.”
Note: The Hebrew word for reckon is chashab which means to think, plan, esteem, consider, make a judgment, count, value, regard, take to be; – it occurs 124 times in the Old Testament. Abraham believed in God and God counted him as righteousness. To be justified is to be counted by God as righteousness. So a man is justified by faith in God. That was the old dispensation. Under the new dispensation, you believe in God and you must also believe in Christ in order to be justified. To be justified is to be counted as righteousness by God in Christ. All who believe in God as Abraham believed will also be justified.
Gen 18:19, “For I have chosen him, so that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice, so that the LORD may bring upon Abraham what He has spoken about him.”
In my opinion, Abraham was the most magnificent man in the history of the world and no wonder he holds a title “a friend of God.” Jas 2:23, “and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, ‘AND ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS,’ and he was called a friend of God.”
Once I was the instrument to bring the famous Dr. Harold Koontz to speak to our Management Club of a corporation. A supervisor told me he wanted to be a friend of Dr. Koontz. I told him frankly Dr. Koontz does not need any friend. A stupid theologian who had no fear of God in his heart suggested that every Christian to be a friend of God. It is already a great honor for me to be a slave of God, how dare I to become a friend of my God, the Holy ONE? No where in the Bible suggests a believer to become a friend of God. In history only Abraham was called a friend of God. Have you not read about Moses and the burning bush?
Act 7:30-33, “After forty years had passed, an angel appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in the flame of a burning thorn bush. “When Moses saw saw it, he was astonished at the sight; and as he approached to look more closely, the voice of the Lord came:
‘I AM THE GOD OF YOUR FATHERS, THE GOD OF OF ABRAHAM, AND ISAAC, AND JACOB.’ Moses shook with fear and did not dare to look closely. “But the LORD said to him, ‘REMOVE YOUR SANDALS FROM YOUR FEET, FOR THE PLACE ON WHICH YOU ARE STANDING IS HOLY GROUND.”
Eze 18:5, “But if a man is righteous and practices justice and righteousness.”
The Word of God defines a righteous man: a righteous man practices justice and righteousness.
Pro 15:29, “The LORD is far from the wicked, But He hears the prayer
of the righteous.”
The Lord is far from the wicked, and the wicked are far from God. The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD.
1Co 8:6, “yet for us there is only one God, the Father, from whom are all things, and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.”
It is wonderful the Bible tells us, there is only ONE GOD, the Father, and we exist for Him. There is ONE LORD, Jesus Christ, and we exist trough Him. Through the Scriptures cited we have learned the meanings “of” “for” and “through.”
2Co 6:15-18,”Or what harmony does Christ have with Belial, or what does a believer share with an unbeliever? Or what agreement does the temple of God have with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said,
“I WILL DWELL AMONG THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM;
AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.
“Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE,” says the Lord. Come out from a Satanic church and separate from those false brothers. “AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; And I will welcome you. “And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me,” Says the Lord Almighty.”
2Ti 4:8, “in the future there is reserved 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 also to all who have loved His appearing.”
Rev 1:8, “I AM the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “Who is and Who was and Who is to come, the Almighty.”
The eternal God is expressed as Who is and Who was and Who is to come, the Almighty.
Rev 4:8, “And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say, “HOLY, HOLY, HOLY IS THE LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY, Who was and Who is and Who is to come.”
Day and night is an expression which means all the time, because there is no night in the Holy City. There is heavenly calendar, we do not know yet how it counts the time toward eternity.
III. THE MEANING OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
Amo 5:15, “Hate evil, love good, and establish justice in the gate!
Perhaps the LORD God of armies Will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.”
I personally think “righteousness” is an abstract concept, while “justice” is something concrete. Justice is righteousness in action. For example, the terrorist who killed many was caught, he was found guilty and executed. When the terrorist is executed, we say justice is served. It is righteousness for a terrorist to be punished with death penalty.
Theodore Roosevelt said, “Justice consists not in being neutral between right and wrong, but in finding out the right and upholding it, wherever found, against the wrong.”
There is no neutrality between right and wrong. Justice is always against the wrong. Those who are for the wrong are unrighteous. Justice is not action in accordance with the requirement of some law. Cain was wrong in killing Abel even though there was no law existent at that time. God determines what is right and wrong. For that reason God gave Moses the Ten Commandments. The Ten Commandments are the basis of all human and civil and criminal laws. The law brings the knowledge of sin or wrong doing. The only way to get justice is to do the commandment of God. Whatever God says is right. When God says some act is wrong, it is wrong. When God says some act is right, it is right. There are no wise rulers in the world to determine what is justice. God is just, and never be impartial. God is the measure of everything. Man by nature is corrupt and sinful can never be impartial. The criminal justice system of America, not only it does not deter crime, but encourages crooks and criminals and enriches lawyers, judges, law enforcement and the court.
There are no distributive justice, procedural justice, and retributive justice.
There are many who confuse justice with equality. Equality means equal treatment under law, equal opportunity, and equal right. Equality does not mean equal abilities, means and resources. An uneducated black janitor cannot make equal income with an educated white professional. To do so is not equality, but injustice. When an uneducated black janitor makes equal wages with an uneducated white janitor, that is equality and justice. Unequal qualifications can never make equal wages. A yellow carpenter cannot make equal income with a white surgeon because the qualifications of a surgeon are not equal with the qualifications of a carpenter, race has nothing to do with the qualifications. The popular call for equal income for all is stupid, wrong and unjust. Equal job for equal pay is equality and justice. A poor man and rich man are never equal, race has nothing to do with it. A rich man who can afford it lives in a nice neighborhood. A poor man who cannot afford it lives in a bad neighborhood. That is equality and justice. For a poor man to live in a nice neighborhood paid by the government is inequality and injustice. The illegal migrants do not have the right to enter the rich countries so that they can live on welfare happily hereafter. The backward and unproductive nations cannot expect to live in luxury. It is equality and justice for everyone to get what they earn. You cannot get something for nothing. There are peoples such as unproductive illegal migrants, etc. who think they are entitled to something, and want to get something for nothing.
There is no such a thing called racial equality. There is no intra-racial equality. For example, within a race there are tall and short people, big and small people, smart and stupid people, etc. If a job that requires a big and strong person, small persons would not do. Of course there is no inter-racial equality, because there are more varieties among the races. If a black man is the fastest, he is likely to join track and field. A big girl is disadvantageous to join the Gymnastics. However, racial equality is possible if it means simply race is not considered or taken into account when it applies to college, employment, etc. For example, a black man told me he got into a reputable American medical school with just GPA of 2.0 and there are many Chinese students with GPA of 4.0 cannot get into a medical school. This is not racial equality, it is sheer racial discrimination. For example, Angela Merkel is the most outstanding female German Chancellor in history. For her historical example makes the future female German Chancellors possible, and gender is not considered anymore. In many Asian nations, there is still no gender equality.
When a white and a black are not treated equally under the law, it is inequality and injustice. For example, when using so-called due process of law, a white man committed a rape is acquitted, while a black man who committed a rape is found guilty. Or when a rich man committed a rape is acquitted, while a poor man who committed a rape is found guilty. If you are innocent, no law, no procedure, no prosecutor, no jury, no court can convict you. If you are guilty of crime, no law, no procedure, no prosecutor, no jury, no court can acquit you. This is justice. This is equality.
According to https://www.rainn.org/articles/what-expect-criminal-justice-system
“Out of every 1000 instances of rape, only 13 cases get referred to a prosecutor, and only 7 cases will lead to a felony conviction.1 No matter the final outcome, reporting increases the likelihood that the perpetrator will face consequences.”
This is only one examples of gross injustice of American criminal justice system. In addition, the city or town should never pay for the defense of a crook or criminal. A poor city or town can be bankrupted by a crowd of crooks and criminals. That is only one aspect how the American criminal justice system encourages crooks and criminals and enriches defense lawyers, etc. I oppose the jury system. The American jury system should be abolished and replaced by three independent judges. The verdict of the majority judges stand. Of course there is appeal, and also judges can be condemned for partiality and injustice. Justice implies evenhandedness.
There is no such a thing called distributive justice although it is a legitimate concern that all members of society should have a “fair share” of the benefits and resources available. Many mistake and misunderstand Equity and Equality. Equity means everyone should be on the equal footing to receive fairly to one’s contributions to a society. When a Filipino accountant of equal qualifications receives less pay than a white account that is not equity, it is inequality or injustice. It is not equality when everyone gets the same amount of wages regardless of their qualifications. As in America the executives pay the same tax rate as their secretaries, that is inequality and injustice. The rich should pay a higher rate of income than the poor. If the corporate policy is twelve holidays with pay, it is equality and justice that the lowest pay employees receive the same benefits as the highest pay executives.
There is no such a thing called procedural justice whether criminal or civil. A white rapist will be sentenced the same as a black rapist. Of course the judge will take into account of the variety of behavior. A black rapist who committed bodily harm in addition to rape to a victim will receive longer sentence than white rapist who did not commit any addition violence.
What evidence is admitted applies to all criminals and victims. An evidence is an evidence even though it is not obtained by legal means. Rules and regulations apply to all equally and fairly. Defense lawyers under no circumstances can present fake evidence. A defense lawyer or prosecutor who presents fake evidence shall be censored and punished by law. A judge who admitted a fake evidence shall be censored and punished by law. No one can manipulate the legal process to benefit their side.
There is no such a thing called retributive justice. Even death penalty is not retributive justice because the penalty cannot bring back the person murdered. Justice is to punish the wrong doer according to their crime, not revenge. Punishment must fit the crime. Stealing a chicken is not the same as the fraudulent and predatory practices which involve millions of dollars as many doctors and hospitals do. The killing of a dog is not the same as the murder of a man. The rape of an adult is not the same as the rape of a child. A terrorist cannot be treated as a common criminal. There is nothing wrong to consider punishment as a deterrence. Punishment that does not deter crime is a failure in criminal justice system.
Deu 25:1-2, “If there is a dispute between people and they go to court, and the judges decide their case, and they declare the righteous innocent and pronounce the wicked guilty, then it shall be if the wicked person deserves to be beaten, the judge shall then make him lie down and have him beaten in his presence with the number of lashes according to his wrongful act.”
One measure that can completely change the American criminal justice system is the beating of the wicked person with the number of lashes according to his wrongful act and saving taxpayers billions of dollars annually. Right now crooks and criminals have no fear of the punishment in America. For example, if a rapist deserves 50 lashes, I am confident after the 50 lashes in addition to imprisonment, the criminal will learn his lesson and not to repeat the crime in the future. Death penalty was instituted by God,
Gen 9:6, “Whoever sheds human blood, By man his blood shall be shed,
For in the image of God He made mankind.”
Too bad some nations that claim to be Christian have abolished death penalty in violation of the law of God.
According to https://www.americanactionforum.org/research/the-economic-costs-of-the-u-s-criminal-justice-system/#ixzz77AByrSlM
“THE ECONOMIC COSTS OF THE U.S. CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
Tara O’Neill Hayes
Executive Summary
- · The United States spends nearly $300 billion annually to police communities and incarcerate 2.2 million people.
- · The societal costs of incarceration—lost earnings, adverse health effects, and the damage to the families of the incarcerated—are estimated at up to three times the direct costs, bringing the total burden of our criminal justice system to $1.2 trillion.
- · The outcomes of this expense are only a marginal reduction in crime, reduced earnings for the convicted, and a high likelihood of formerly incarcerated individuals returning to prison.
- · The value citizens place on the small increases in deterrence is difficult to quantify, but as a matter of logic it must be substantial to merit incurring the measured costs.”
History proves that God rarely delivers instant justice.
Except the case of Korah:
Num 16:20-50, “Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, “Separate yourselves from among this congregation, so that I may consume them instantly.”
But they fell on their faces and said, “God, the God of the spirits of humanity, when one person sins, will You be angry with the entire congregation?” Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the congregation, saying, ‘Get away from the areas around the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.’”
Then Moses arose and went to Dathan and Abiram, with the elders of Israel following him, and he spoke to the congregation, saying, “Get away now from the tents of these wicked men, and do not touch anything that belongs to them, or you will be swept away in all their sin!” So they moved away from the areas around the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram; and Dathan and Abiram came out and stood at the entrances of their tents, along with their wives, their sons, and their little ones. Then Moses said, “By this you shall know that the LORD has sent me to do all
these deeds; for it is not my doing. “If these men die the death of all
mankind, or if they suffer the fate of all mankind, then the LORD has not sent me. “But if the LORD brings about an entirely new thing and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them with everything that is theirs, and they descend alive into Sheol, then you will know that these men have been disrespectful to the LORD.” And as he finished speaking all these words, the ground that was under them split open; and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them, their households, and all the people who belonged to Korah with all their possessions. So they and all
that belonged to them went down alive to Sheol; and the earth closed over them, and they perished from the midst of the assembly. Then all Israel who were around them fled at their outcry, for they said, “The earth might swallow us!” Fire also came out from the LORD and consumed the 250 men who were offering the incense. Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Tell Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, that he shall pick up the censers from the midst of the burned area, because they are holy; and you are to scatter the burning coals further away.
“As for the censers of these men who have sinned at the cost of their own lives, have them made into hammered sheets as plating for the altar, since they did present them before the LORD and they are holy; and they shall serve as a sign to the sons of Israel.”
So the priest Eleazar took the bronze censers which the men who were burned had offered, and they hammered them out as plating for the altar, as a reminder to the sons of Israel so that no layman, anyone who was not of the descendants of Aaron, would approach to burn incense before the LORD; then he would not become like Korah and his group—just as the LORD had spoken to him through Moses. But on the next day all the congregation of the sons of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron, saying, “You are the ones who have caused the death of the LORD’S people!” It came about, however, when the congregation had assembled against Moses and Aaron, that they turned toward the tent of meeting, and behold, the cloud covered it and the glory of the LORD appeared.
Then Moses and Aaron came to the front of the tent of meeting, and the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Get away from among this congregation so that I may consume them instantly.” Then they fell on their faces.
And Moses said to Aaron, “Take your censer and put fire in it from the altar, and place incense on it; then bring it quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them, for wrath has gone out from the LORD, the plague has begun!” Then Aaron took it just as Moses had spoken, and he ran into the midst of the assembly; and behold, the plague had begun among the people. So he put on the incense and made atonement for the people. And he took his stand between the dead and the living, so that the plague was brought to a halt. But those who died by the plague were 14,700 in number, besides those who died on account of Korah. Then Aaron returned to Moses at the entrance of the tent of meeting, for the plague had been brought to a halt.”
God is just and never shows partiality or favoritism. All people must follow in the “paths of justice.”
IV. THE TWO GROUPS
God determines the two groups of people without discrimination: the children of God and the children of the devil; the righteous and the unrighteous. Although the Righteous God makes the determination, individuals may have a choice.
1. Children of God.
Jhn 1:12, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.”
No matter who, each and everyone who receives Jesus Christ as His Lord and Savior, God gives them the right to become children of God, to those who believe in the name of Jesus.
Rom 8:16-17, “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children,
heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.”
The proof that you are a child of must be testified by the Holy Spirit with our spirit. Being children of God, we are also heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ. If Christians indeed suffer with Christ, we may also be glorified with Christ when He returns.
Rom 8:21, “that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.”
What the children of God are now no different from the people of the world. The day is coming when Christians shall be set free from slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.
Eph 5:8, “for you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light.”
Children of God were once darkness, but now we are light in the Lord; so we must walk as children of light.
Phl 2:15, “so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world.”
We live now in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, so children of God must prove themselves to be blameless and innocent, among people of the world the children of God appear as lights in the world.
1Jo 3:2, “Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.”
Now the outward appearance of the children of God does not appear as yet what will be. When Jesus Christ comes in power and glory, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.
1Jo 5:2, “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and follow His commandments.”
You can know for sure, those who love God and follow His commandments also love the children of God.
3Jo 1:4, “I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.”
The children of God are also walking in the truth
Mat 5:9, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.”
In Heaven, all the children (sons and daughters) of God are called sons of God, because there will be no gender, like angels.
Luk 6:35, “But love your enemies and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil people.”
Sons of the Most High are children of God.
Luk 16:8, “And his master complimented the unrighteous manager because he had acted shrewdly; for the sons of this world are more shrews in relation to their own kind than the sons of light.”
Don’t you see the sons of this world such as people of Washington, Wall Street, and Hollywood and the military-industrial-security complex are more shrewd in relation to their own kind than the sons of light, the children of God? These people own and rule the world.
Jhn 12:36, “While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light.” These things Jesus proclaimed, and He went away and hid Himself from them.”
Jesus is the Light of the world, believe in Jesus so that you may become sons of Light. Sons of Light are children of God.
Rom 8:14, “For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons and daughters of God.”
Sons and daughters of God are led by the Spirit of God. The children of the devil do not have the Holy Spirit in them.
Rom 8:19, “For the eagerly awaiting creation waits for the revealing of the sons and daughters of God.”
The sons and daughters of God are waiting for the second coming of Jesus Christ so that they may have the redemption of the body.
Rom 9:26, “AND IT SHALL BE THAT IN THE PLACE WHERE IT WAS SAID TO THEM, ‘YOU ARE NOT MY PEOPLE,’ THERE THEY SHALL BE CALLED SONS OF THE LIVING GOD.”
Children of God are also called sons of the Living God.
Gal 3:26, “For you are all sons and daughters of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”
Through faith in Christ Jesus all believers become sons and daughters of God.
1Th 5:5, “for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness.”
Children of God are also sons of light and sons of day. Remember, there will be no night in Heaven.
2. Children of the devil.
1Jo 3:10, “By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother and sister.”
To identify the children of God and the children of the devil is an obvious matter. The children of the devil practice sin and they do not practice righteousness. The children of God practice righteousness and love his brother and sister (which means members of the household of God).
Eph 2:3, “Among them we too all previously lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the rest.”
Children of the devil are by nature children of wrath. The wrath of God is upon them.
2Pe 2:14, “having eyes full of adultery that never cease from sin, enticing unstable souls, having hearts trained in greed, accursed children.”
Do you know any group who are having hearts trained in greed than Washington, Wall Street, and Hollywood executives, the military-industrial-security complex? The children of the devil are accursed children.
Mat 13:38, “and the field is the world; and as for the good seed, these are the sons of the Kingdom; and the weeds are the sons of the evil one.”
The sons of the Kingdom are children of God. The sons of the evil one are children of the devil.
Eph 2:2, “in which you previously walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.”
The sons of disobedience are children of the devil who walk according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, and of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.
Eph 5:6, “See that no one deceives you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.”
The wrath of God comes upon the children of the devil.
V. WHAT IS JUSTICE
The concept of righteousness is related closely to justice. A man who is righteous practices justice.
Gen 18:19, “For I have chosen him, so that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice, so that the LORD may bring upon Abraham what He has spoken about him.”
By doing righteousness and justice is the way of the Lord. It is most significantly that God put righteousness and justice on the same level. Righteousness and justice and like two legs and they go together. The way of the Lord is doing righteousness and justice. The way of the Lord is righteousness and justice. A man cannot be doing righteousness and not doing justice. A man who is doing justice must also be doing righteousness. It is God who chose Abraham, but Abraham may command his children and his household to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice. God will bring upon Abraham what He has promised, at the same time Abraham and his children must keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice.
Righteousness in Hebrew is ṣᵊḏāqâ which means righteousness of God’s attribute; truthfulness; ethically right; rightness; rectitude; morally virtue; morally right; uprightness; – which occurs 159 times in the Old Testament. Justice in Hebrew is mišpāṭ which means judgment; right cause; right manner; order; execution of judgment; proper fitting; just discretion; right measure; using laws fairly; correctness; – which occurs 424 times in the Old Testament. We need understanding and wisdom to know the difference between righteousness and justice. Righteousness is keeping what is right in thinking, justice is keeping what is right in doing. So justice is doing righteousness or justice is righteousness in action.
Gen 42:22, “Reuben answered them, saying, “Did I not tell you, ‘Do not sin against the boy‘; and you would not listen? Now justice for his blood is required.”
Ruben was telling his brothers not to sin against Joseph. Now Joseph is the Prime Minister of Egypt, so Ruben thought justice for Joseph’s blood is required. You did something unrighteous in the past, justice would catch up with you for the blood required.
Exo 23:2, “You shall not follow the crowd in doing evil, nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to join together with a crowd in order to pervert justice.”
To follow the crowd in doing evil is to pervert justice. So do not think the majority of people are for justice.
Deu 16:19, “You shall not distort justice, you shall not show partiality; and you shall not accept a bribe, because a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and distorts the words of the righteous.”
Distort in Hebrew is nāṭâ which means to stretch out; bend down; pervert; turn aside; hold out; thrust aside; thrust away; let down; overthrow; cause to yield; bring down; defeat; – which occurs 216 times in the Old Testament. God hates the wicked who pervert justice.
Thousands of years have passed. To show partiality is to distort justice. For that reason, Affirmative Action must be abolished because it distorts justice. Whenever a group is shown special treatment, all other groups suffer injustice. Bribery is a means to corrupt the officials, and a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and distorts the words of the righteous.
Deu 33:21, “Then he selected the choicest part for himself, for there the ruler’s portion was reserved;
And he came with the leaders of the people;
He executed the justice of the LORD,
And His ordinances with Israel.”
The leaders of the people and the ruler must execute the justice of the Lord according to His ordinances.
Ordinances in Hebrew is mišpāṭ which means lawful
order; legal custom; judgment; authoritative decree; a law set forth by divine order; – which occurs 424 times in the Old Testament.
1Sa 8:3, “His sons, however, did not walk in his ways but turned aside after dishonest gain, and they took bribes and perverted justice.” Sons of Samuel did not walk in his ways, they turned aside after dishonest gain, and they took bribes and perverted justice. It is always the way: people who turn aside after dishonest gain will take bribes and pervert justice.
2Sa 8:15, “So David reigned over all Israel; and David administered justice and righteousness for all his people.”
David was good king. It seems the Scripture is saying, a good king administers justice and righteousness for all his people. In certain countries, the rich can get justice and righteousness because they can afford high-priced lawyers. Do you know any country which is administering justice and righteousness for all its citizens? Justice is not possible to be administered without righteousness, and righteousness is not possible without justice.
1Ki 3:11, “And God said to him, “Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked for yourself a long life, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have you asked for the lives of your enemies, but have asked for yourself discernment to understand justice.”
Justice is not something easy to understand. According to the Word of God, man needs discernment to understand justice.
Discernment in Hebrew is bîn which means to understand; consider; perceive; regard; know with the mind; distinguish; have discernment, insight, and understanding; to be able to grasp and understand; – which occurs 171 times in the Old Testament.
1Ki 3:28, “When all Israel heard about the judgment which the king had handed down, they feared the king, because they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to administer justice.”
This was King Solomon’s most famous case that won him world fame, the fear of his subjects, and they saw the wisdom of God was in him to administer justice. To administer justice one needs the wisdom of God. Interestingly, whether a man has wisdom of God or not people can see.
1Ki 10:9, “Blessed be the LORD your God who delighted in you to put you on the throne of Israel; because the LORD loves Israel forever, He made you king, to do justice and righteousness.”
The job of a king is to do justice and righteousness. Do you know any government in the world which is to do justice and righteousness? Many world leaders and politicians the first thing they do is to enrich themselves and their supporters or special interest, and to get national debt as high as they could so that they can build strong military defense and expand their influence and interest in the world.
1Ch 18:14, “So David reigned over all Israel; and he administered justice and righteousness for all his people.”
King David was the greatest King of Israel, because he was a righteous king. David reigned over all Israel; and he administered justice and righteousness for all his people. Justice and righteousness go together, just like a man walks with two legs. It is not possible to have justice without righteousness; it is also not possible to have righteousness without justice. Any good government must administer justice and righteousness. For all the people: justice and righteousness must be for all the people. In America if you are rich and powerful, you can get justice; for the rest is a mockery of justice. When justice is administered for a few, all suffer injustice.
2Ch 9:8, “Blessed be the LORD your God who delighted in you, setting you on His throne as king for the LORD your God; because your God loved Israel, establishing them forever, He made you king over them, to carry out justice and righteousness.”
Because God loved Israel, God delighted in king David to carry out justice and righteousness. God also likes any government that carries out justice and righteousness.
Job 8:3, “Does God pervert justice?
Or does the Almighty pervert what is right?”
To pervert justice is to pervert what is right.
Job 19:7, “Behold, I cry, ‘Violence!’ but I get no answer;
I shout for help, but there is no justice.”
Where can you get help in this world. There is no justice anywhere in this world.
Job 29:14, “I put on righteousness, and it clothed me;
My justice was like a robe and a headband.”
Justice is like a robe and a headband.
Job 32:9, “The abundant in years may not be wise,
Nor may elders understand justice.”
How bad can it be when the old are not wise, nor elders understand justice?
Job 34:12, “God certainly will not act wickedly,
And the Almighty will not pervert justice.”
To act wickedly is to pervert justice.
Job 35:2, “Do you think this is in accordance with justice? Do you say, ‘My righteousness is more than God’s’?”
God’s righteousness requires all things done in accordance with justice.
Job 36:6, “He does not keep the wicked alive,
But gives justice to the afflicted.”
A corrupt and crook criminal justice system keeps the wicked alive; God gives justice to the afflicted.
Psa 33:5, “He loves righteousness and justice;
The earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.”
The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord because He loves righteousness and justice.
Psa 37:28, “For the LORD loves justice
And does not abandon His godly ones;
They are protected forever,
But the descendants of the wicked will be eliminated.”
Because the Lord loves justice, His godly ones are protected forever; but the descendants of the wicked will be eliminated.
Psa 37:30, “The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom,
And his tongue speaks justice.”
Psa 89:14, “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne;
Mercy and truth go before You.”
The foundation of God’s throne are righteousness and justice; mercy and truth go before God.
Psa 97:2, “Clouds and thick darkness surround Him;
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.”
Psa 106:3, “How blessed are those who maintain justice, who practice righteousness at all times!”
How blessed are those who maintain justice! Those who maintain justice, practice righteousness at all times.
Psa 111:7, “The works of His hands are truth and justice; all His precepts are trustworthy.”
Psa 119:121, “Ayin
I have done justice and righteousness;
Do not leave me to my oppressors.”
According to: https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/bnb/psalms-119.html
“the Hebrew letter Ayin (ע ‛) – a letter which cannot well be represented in the English alphabet, as there is, in fact, no letter in our language exactly corresponding with it. It would be best represented probably by what are called “breathings” in Greek.”
Oppressors do not do justice and righteousness.
Pro 1:3, “To receive instruction in wise behavior,
Righteousness, justice, and integrity.”
Wise behavior includes righteousness, justice, and integrity. There is no wise behavior in the world because there are no righteousness, justice, and integrity anywhere in the world.
Pro 2:8, “Guarding the paths of justice,
And He watches over the way of His godly ones.”
The Lord guards the paths of justice, and He watches over the way of His godly ones.
VI. HOW DOES GOD JUSTIFY MEN
From Paul to Luther, and all Christians of all generations, view of justification is by faith alone. Faith is the trust in the mercy of God through Christ, and justification is the declaring righteous of those who believe in Christ, which is followed by a practice of righteousness and justice.
Justification passively means not coming into judgment.
Jhn 5:24, “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.”
Note: The Greek word for judgment is krisis which means sentence of condemnation, condemnation and punishment; – it occurs 48 times in the New Testament. Jesus defines justification as not coming into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. Those who believe in Christ will not come into judgment but receive eternal life. To be justified is not coming into judgment. Those who have been justified will not be condemned or come into judgment. To be justified is a part of the process to be saved. To be saved is to have eternal life and have passed out of death into life.
Justification has active and passive meanings: Actively God counts a person (believer) as righteousness. Passively God does not impute iniquity to a man (believer). There is no way a man can justify himself actively or passively.
In fact sinful men could never be righteous before the Holy and Mighty God. If God is only Righteous, then there is no hope for mankind. But God is also Compassionate, the Lord gives grace to the needy.
Justification actively denotes “the act of pronouncing righteous, justification, acquittal;” its precise meaning is determined by that of the verb dikaioo , “to justify” which means “to count as righteous”, it is used 8 times in Galatians. In Rom 4:25 the phrase “for our justification,” or “because of our justification” means all that was necessary on God’s part for our “justification” had been effected and completed in the death of Christ. On this account or for this reason He was raised from the dead. The propitiation being perfect and complete, His resurrection was the confirmation. In Rom 5:18 ,“justification of life” means “justification which results in life.” That God “justifies” the believing sinner on the ground of Christ’s substitutionary death, involves His free gift of life.
Rom 4:8, “BLESSED IS THE MAN WHOSE SIN THE LORD WILL NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT.”
God will not take into account the past sins of the man who repents and believes in Jesus Christ, the Redeemer and Savior of the world. Because Jesus Christ died for the sins of all who come to Him for forgiveness of sins.
Gen 18:24-26, “Suppose there are fifty righteous people within the city; will You indeed sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous who are in it? Far be it from You to do such a thing, to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth deal justly?” So the LORD said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare the entire place on their account.”
Gen 18:28, “Suppose the fifty righteous are lacking lacking five, will You destroy the entire city because of five?” And He said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.”
Gen 18:29-33, “And he spoke to Him yet again and said, “Suppose forty are found there?” And He said, “I will not do it on account of the forty.” Then he said, “Oh may the Lord not be angry, and I shall speak; suppose thirty are found there?” And He said, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.” And he said, “Now behold, I have ventured to speak to the Lord; suppose twenty are found there?” And He said, “I will not destroy it on account of the twenty.” Then he said, “Oh may the Lord not be angry, and I shall speak only this once: suppose ten are found there?” And He said, “I will not destroy it on account of the ten.”
As soon as He had finished speaking to Abraham the LORD departed, and Abraham returned to his place.”
Sadly, there were not even ten righteous. How Abraham pleaded was most moving. God was most compassionate. God finally had to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah.
Exo 9:27, “Then Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron, and said to them, “I have sinned this time; the LORD is the righteous one, and I and my people are the wicked ones.”
Even Pharaoh had to confess that the Lord is the righteous one, and Pharaoh and his people are the wicked ones.
Exo 23:7, “Keep far from a false charge, and do not kill the innocent or the righteous, for I will not acquit the guilty.”
The Lord will not acquit the guilty. A corrupt and crooked criminal justice system acquits the guilty.
Deu 4:8, “Or what great nation is there that has statutes and judgments as righteous as this whole Law which I am setting before you today?”
There is no great nation on earth that has statues and judgments as righteous as the whole Mosaic Law. However, no man can justify by the work of the Law.
Deu 16:18, “You shall appoint for yourself judges and officers in all your towns which the LORD your God is giving you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment.”
The job of judges and officers is to judge the people with righteous judgment.
Deu 16:19, “You shall not distort justice, you shall not show partiality; and you shall not accept a bribe, because a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and distorts the words of the righteous.”
Judges and officers shall not distort justice and show partiality. They shall not accept a bribed, because a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and distorts the words of the righteous. A judge and officer who distorts justice by accepting a bride should be executed for public to know the importance of justice.
Deu 25:1, “If there is a dispute between people and they go to court, and the judges decide their case, and they declare the righteous innocent and pronounce the wicked guilty.”
The judges decide and declare the righteous innocent and pronounce the wicked guilty. However, in American, if you have a dream team of lawyers, you can get the guilty acquitted.
Deu 32:4, “The Rock! His work is perfect, for all His
ways are just; the God of faithfulness and without injustice, Righteous and Just is He.”
God is the Rock of justice. His work is perfect, for all His ways are just; the God of faithfulness and without injustice, Righteous and Just is He.
Jdg 5:11, “At the sound of those who distribute water among the watering places, there they will recount the
righteous deeds of the LORD, the righteous deeds for His peasantry in Israel. Then the people of the LORD went down to the gates.”
Some of the righteous deeds of the Lord are written in the Holy Scriptures. No one knows all the righteous deeds of the Lord, maybe not even the angels. It is good that the righteous recount the righteous deeds of the Lord.
1Sa 12:7, “Now then, take your stand, so that I may enter into judgment with you before the LORD concerning all the righteous acts of the LORD that He did for you and your fathers.”
I think it is good if some Jewish historian would undertake a great project of systematic gathering and compiling all the righteous act of the Lord that He did for patriarch Abraham and all children of Israel.
1Sa 24:17, “And he said to David, “You are more righteous than I; for you have dealt well with me, while I have dealt maliciously with you.”
King Saul admitted that David was more righteous than he; for David had dealt well with Saul, while Saul had dealt maliciously with David. Over the years, Europeans, Americans and Japanese have dealt maliciously with China with oppression and injustice. Just the wickedness and malice and brutalities of Japanese toward the Chinese in the 14 years of war of aggression alone, only God can have the undeniable records. Sooner or later, God will eliminate the wicked from the earth.
1Ki 8:32, “then hear in Heaven and act and judge Your servants, condemning the wicked by bringing his way on his own head, and acquitting the righteous by giving him according to his righteousness.”
The wicked are wrong thinking God does not hear and does not act. The LORD condemns the wicked by bringing his way on his own head, and acquitting the righteous by giving him according to his righteousness.
2Ch 6:23, “then hear from Heaven and take action and judge Your servants, punishing the wicked by bringing his way on his own head, and justifying the righteous by repaying him according to his righteousness.”
God will hear from Heaven and take action. The action of God is to punish the wicked by bringing his way on his own head, and justifying the righteous by repaying him according to righteousness.
Ezr 9:15, “LORD God of Israel, You are righteous, for we have been left an escaped remnant, as it is this day; behold, we are before You in our guilt, for no one can stand before You because of this.”
Even the rebellious Israelites must admit the Lord God of Israel is righteous. Every man and woman stands before God in our guilt, for no one can stand before God because of sins.
Neh 9:8, “You found his heart faithful before You, and made a covenant with him to give him the land of the Canaanite, of the Hittite and the Amorite, of the Perizzite, the Jebusite, and the Girgashite—To give it to his descendants. And You have fulfilled Your promise, Because You are righteous.”
The Lord found the heart of Abraham faithful, to give him the land of the Canaanite, etc. and to his descendants. Now Palestinians, Arabs and Hamas want to rob the Jewish land. See how the Righteous God is going to deal with the enemies of Israel.
Neh 9:33, “However, You are righteous in everything that has happened to us; for You have dealt faithfully, but we have acted wickedly.”
Christians can say the same: God is righteous in everything that has happened to us; for God has dealt faithfully, but we have acted wickedly.
Job 4:17, “Can mankind be righteous before God?
Can a man be pure before his Maker?”
Now is the most important question of all honest men: Can mankind be righteous before God. Can a man be pure before his Maker.
The answer is absolutely no. No one is righteous before God. No man is pure before his Maker. God will condemn us, He will declare mankind guilty. A righteous man is full of shame, and conscious of his sins. A man who is born of a woman cannot be righteous before God. Man is righteous only in his own eyes. But there is a way: the way of salvation.
Job 25:4, “How then can mankind be righteous with God? Or how can anyone who is born of woman be pure?”
Scientists and philosophers cannot find the answer.
Psa 1:5, “Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.”
No one can stand in the judgment of God.
The Greek word for justify is dikaioō which means to render righteous, count as righteous, declare or pronounce one to be just or righteous; – it occurs 40 times in the New Testament. By rising from the dead Jesus had fulfilled the righteousness of God and through the righteousness of Christ a believer is justified or counted righteous before God as if he had never sinned. The deeds of man no matter how good cannot be counted as righteousness before God.
The justification of believers in Jesus Christ has nothing to do with Council of Trent, explanations of theologians or opinions of any man. It is not so much the development of the doctrine, it is the revelation of Jesus Christ. It is not Pauline, Petrine, Johannine and Jacobean doctrine. It is a Biblical doctrine of Christianity. The critical point of justification is before God; not before men, not before human court, not before any institution or organization.
Here are the main features of justification:
A. By His grace
Rom 3:24, “ being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.” Grace means undeserved divine favor. No human being is deserved the grace of God. So justification is only possible because God gives grace as a gift. God gives grace as a gift through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus. Redemption in Greek is exagorazō which means to ransom, buy off, buy up, of Christ freeing the elect from the dominion of the Mosaic Law at the price of His vicarious death; – it occurs 4 times in the New Testament. To be cursed is to be under a curse, which is liable to the appointed penalty of being cursed. Those who sin are under the curse of the law. A believer is saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ who died for sinners. By the substitutionary death of Jesus on the cross (redemption) a believer is redeemed and saved from condemnation.
Rom 4:16, “For this reason it is by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all.”
Rom 5:17, “For if by the offense of the one, death reigned through the one, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.”
Gal 2:21, “I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.”
B. Not by works
Act 13:39, “ and through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses.”
The Believer is freed from all things, including freed from the Law of Moses.
Rom 4:5, “But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness.”
Rom 3:20, “because by the works of the Law none of mankind will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes knowledge of sin.”
Rom 3:21, “But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets.”
Rom 3:28, “For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.”
The Bible maintains that a person is justified by faith apart from works of the Law. It is indisputable that justification is apart from works of the Law.
Gal 2:16, “nevertheless, knowing that a person is not justified by works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the Law; since by works of the Law no flesh will be justified.”
Gal 3:11, “Now, that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, “THE RIGHTEOUS ONE WILL LIVE BY FAITH.”
Rom 4:6, “just as David also speaks of the blessing of the person to whom God credits righteousness apart from works.”
The good news is the fact that God credits righteousness to all who believe in His Son Jesus Christ apart from works.
Gal 5:4, “You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by the Law; you have fallen from grace.”
If a person is seeking to be justified by the Law, he has fallen from grace.
C. By faith
Rom 3:28, “For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.”
The Bible maintains a person is justified by faith, apart from works of the Law.
Rom 4:13, “For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith.”
Justified by faith means through the righteousness of faith in Jesus Christ.
Gal 2:16, “ nevertheless, knowing that a person is not justified by works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the Law; since by works of the Law no flesh will be justified.”
Justified by faith in Christ means through faith in Christ Jesus a person is justified before God.
Gal 3:11, “Now, that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, “THE RIGHTEOUS ONE WILL LIVE BY FAITH.”
It is evident no one is justified by the Law before God; so all must be justified by faith.
Phl 3:9, “and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith.”
By faith, through faith means on the basis of faith.
D. Through faith in Christ Jesus
Rom 3:22, “ but it is the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction.”
There is no distinction whether you are president or pimp, prime minister or prostitute, Jewish or Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, the righteousness of God is obtained only through faith in Jesus Christ.
Rom 8:3, “ For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh.”
The Law could not save sinners, and could not justify sinners before God. God sent His own Son Jesus Christ as an offering for sin, in order to justify believers before God.
Rom 10:4, “For Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to everyone who believes.”
Christ is the end of the law means Christ has fulfilled the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. What we could not fulfill in the Law, the Lord Jesus Christ has fulfilled for all believers.
1Co 6:11, “Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.”
Believers who are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ through faith will have the Spirit of God dwelling in him.
Gal 2:16, “nevertheless, knowing that a person is not justified by works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the Law; since by works of the Law no flesh will be justified.”
No flesh means no human being can be justified by works of the Law. Jesus Christ in completing His redemption has fulfilled works of the Law. Now through faith, not works, a person who believes in Christ Jesus is justified by faith.
Rom 3:24, “ being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.” Redemption in Greek is apolytrōsis which means a releasing effected by payment of ransom, liberation procured by the payment of a ransom, deliverance; – it occurs only 10 times in the New Testament. Redemption is deliverance effected through the death of Christ on the cross for sinners from the retributive wrath of the Holy God and the penalty of sin. The redemption is only in Christ because Jesus died on the cross for sinners. Justification is a gift by God’s grace through the work of Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world. Redemption means to offset or compensate for our sins, Jesus Christ died on the cross for us; the Righteous for the unrighteous, the Sinless for the sinful, in order to pay the ransom so that we may obtain the forgiveness of sins; and to receive the righteousness of God as a gift to be justified before God. To be justified before God means God counts believers as if they have never sinned and by grace receive the righteousness of God in Christ.
Rom 4:25, “He who was delivered over because of our wrongdoings, and was raised because of our justification.”
To be justified through Christ means Jesus was crucified for our wrongdoings, and He was raised from the dead by the power of God for our justification.
Rom 5:9, “ Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.”
To be justified through Christ means to be justified by His blood. Jesus Christ paid by His blood to obtain the righteousness of God for all believers.
Rom 5:17, “ For if by the offense of the one, death reigned through the one, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.”
For a sinner to be justified before God, it is Jesus Christ who matters. Through Jesus Christ means by way of Jesus Christ, by means of Jesus Christ, because of Jesus Christ the grace of God and the gift of righteousness is given to all who believe in Jesus Christ.
1Co 1:30, “ But it is due to Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption.”
To be justified through Christ means Jesus who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption. Jesus is everything God requires.
2Co 5:21, “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin in our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
Justified through Christ means God made Christ who knew no sin to be sin in our behalf, so that we might become righteousness of God in Christ.
The blessings of Justification:
A. Will be saved.
Mar 16:16, “The one who has believed and has been baptized will be saved; but the one who has not believed will be condemned.”
Jhn 5:24, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the one who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.”
To be saved is to have passed out of death into life and has eternal life. The redemption of our bodies will take place when Jesus Christ returns to the earth.
B. No condemnation
Rom 8:1, “Therefore there is now no condemnation at all for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
C. Become children of God
Jhn 1:12, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.”
D. Would be made heirs
Tit 3:7, “so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
E. God will glorify
Rom 8:30, “ and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.”
IN CONCLUSION
You have learned God is Righteous. In history God has chosen some people so that God may show His grace and mercy on them. You have learned the meaning of righteousness. God divides the peoples of the world into two groups: the children of God and the children of the devil. No sinful man can be justified before God. If God is only Righteous, there will be no hope for mankind. This is the Gospel of Jesus Christ: God is also gracious and merciful. God so loved the world that He sent His only Son Jesus Christ from Heaven down to the earth to save sinners.
To justify men before God, God provided a plan of salvation. God made Jesus Christ the Sinless to be sin in our behalf. That means the Righteous Jesus to be a sin offering for all mankind so that the righteousness of God may be obtained by grace through faith in Jesus Christ to all who repent and believe in His name. Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins. By the power of God Jesus Christ rose from the dead for our justification. So now, not by work of the Law, not by good deed, not by merit even the chief sinner may be saved by grace and receive the eternal life to become heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven.
You know you cannot save yourself. No flesh, no human, can be justified before God by his good deeds or merit. God loves you and wants to give you the gift of righteousness freely. All you need to do is repent of your sins and accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.
Will you do it now? You may not have time.
Willie Wong Thought
Willie Wong
August 13, 2025
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