Understanding Divine Righteousness in Everyday Terms
What Does “God’s Justice” Really Mean?
God’s justice is a deep topic, but at its heart, it’s about what is right and fair according to God. For us as humans, what’s considered “righteous” is usually measured by laws and rules—like traffic laws, or laws against stealing. We live by these rules because they help us know what’s right and what’s wrong. But when it comes to God, the situation is entirely unique.
God’s Standard Is Not Like Ours
Humans live by rules set outside ourselves, but God does not. God has no law outside Himself. He is the standard. His nature—who He is—and His will—what He wants—are the measure of what’s right. In other words, something is right and good simply because God wants it or does it. There’s no “bigger rulebook” above God that tells Him what He should do.
Why Is This Important?
This idea is important because it reminds us that God is absolutely free and completely sovereign. Nothing forces God’s hand or makes Him act a certain way. His will is the ultimate reason behind everything that happens. Great thinkers from the past, like Calvin, Luther, and others, agreed: God’s will is the rule of justice. If God decides something, that alone makes it right.
Questions People Ask
It’s normal to wonder, “Why did God allow certain things to happen, like Adam’s fall or suffering in the world?” The answer, in this view, is that God’s will is the only reason needed. We might not understand or agree, and we certainly don’t see all the reasons, but God isn’t required to explain Himself to us. He doesn’t have to follow rules that humans set or even rules outside Himself—He is the rule.
God’s Justice and Human Justice
There’s a big difference between how we see justice and how God does. Human justice is all about fairness according to laws. But with God, “fairness” means whatever God decides, because He is perfect and cannot do wrong. Even if what God does seems strange or unfair to us, it is good and just, simply because God did it.
God’s Sovereignty: The Ultimate Authority
God is described in the Bible as the “potter,” and we are the clay. He shapes and molds everything as He sees fit. No one can hold God to account or say, “Why did you do this?” He acts for His own reasons, which may be beyond our understanding. Unlike anything or anyone else, God answers to no one.
When God Sets Rules for Us
While God Himself is not bound by rules, He does give us rules to follow—these tell us what is right for us. God, as the ruler and judge, expects justice from us according to the standards He sets. But He was not forced to make these rules; He created them freely.
Dealing With Difficult Questions
People often ask tough questions like, “Why do good people suffer?” or “Why are some born with advantages and others not?” These questions are hard, and sometimes there isn’t a clear answer that we as humans can understand. According to this teaching, the ultimate answer is: God’s will.
God’s plans and decisions may be mysterious, but believers find comfort in trusting that God is perfectly just, even if we can’t see how. In times of confusion, faith means trusting that God knows what He’s doing, and that His will is always good.
The Bottom Line
God’s justice is defined by His own will and nature. He is not measured by any standard outside himself, and what He chooses to do is just because He chooses it. This is a challenging idea, but it’s meant to give us confidence in God’s perfect character and His absolute freedom.
· God’s will is the rule of justice.
· He is not bound by anything outside Himself.
· What God does is right, simply because He does it.
· Our role is to trust, not to judge God’s actions by our own standards.
In short: God is the ultimate authority, and His justice is always true—even when it is beyond our understanding.
Minister A Francine Green
September 2025
afrancinegreen.com 