God's Righteousness vs. God's Justice

 

God's Righteousness vs. God's Justice

Rev 15:3 "Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, King of the nations!"

Ps 9:8 "He judges the world in righteousness and governs the peoples with justice"

Ps 89:14 "Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne"

 

Comparison Item	God's Righteousness	God's Justice
Basic Definition	God's being in His fair and righteous actions	God's administration of judgment according to His standards
Nature & Characteristics	Related to God's outward actions, ways, behaviors, and activities	Related to God's judgment, management, and governance
Core Concept	Everything God does is righteous	God executes judgment according to just standards
Theological Meaning	God's upright character manifested in all His actions	God's attribute of administering judgment according to His standards
Essential Expression	God's being manifested in His actions	God's principle of governance and discipline
Scope Coverage	Encompasses all of God's external works	Focuses on God's judgment and governance
Focus Difference	Emphasizes the correctness of God's actions	Emphasizes the fairness of God's judgment
Mode of Expression	Manifested through all of God's works	Manifested through judgment and governance
Relationship with Believers	Becomes the foundation for believers' experience of Christ	Becomes the reason for believers' fear of God
Temporal Aspect	Continuously manifested in all of God's actions	Manifested at specific moments of judgment
Redemption Work Example	God sent Christ to save the world (John 3:16)	God must judge sin (Rom 3:26)
Forgiveness Action Example	God faithfully forgives those who confess (1 John 1:9)	God justly requires atonement (Rom 3:25)
Daily Providence Example	God's good arrangement in all things	God's retribution and punishment for evil
End-times Judgment Example	God saves the righteous into eternal life	God judges the wicked to bear punishment
Faith Foundation Application	Our experience of Christ is based upon this	Our confidence in God's judgment
Life Practice Application	Pursuing uprightness before God	Fearing God's governance and judgment
Character Formation Application	Imitating God's righteousness to become righteous	Using God's justice as the standard for conduct
Gospel Proclamation Application	God's righteousness is the foundation of the gospel	God's justice reveals the necessity of salvation
Related Scripture	Rom 1:16-17 "I am not ashamed of the gospel... For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed" John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son" 1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins"	Deut 32:4 "He is the Rock, His works are perfect, and all His ways are just" Rom 3:26 "He did this to demonstrate His righteousness... so as to be just and the one who justifies" Rev 16:7 "Yes, Lord God Almighty, true and just are Your judgments" Matt 25:31-46 The parable of the final judgment
Four Aspects of Righteousness 1	Righteousness according to God's just requirements (Matt 5:20): Being right with people and things before God	Must exceed the righteousness of scribes and Pharisees, reaching God's just and strict standards
Four Aspects of Righteousness 2	Christ's outward manifestation (2 Cor 3:8-9): As the manifestation of Christ living in us as the Spirit	As righteousness of God's image (Eph 4:24, Col 3:10), the ministry of righteousness is the ministry of the Lord's image
Four Aspects of Righteousness 3	Matter of God's kingdom (Matt 6:33): God's kingdom is righteousness	Related to God's administration, management, and governance, righteousness relates to God's sovereign rule
Four Aspects of Righteousness 4	Being right with God in our being (2 Cor 5:21): The inner man is transparent like crystal	In God's mind and will, becoming the righteousness of God in Christ
Throne Foundation	Righteousness and justice are the foundation of God's throne (Ps 89:14)	God's justice makes His throne firm and unshakeable
Believer's Experience	Our experience of Christ is based on the foundation of God's righteousness	This foundation is God's justice, which is the unshakeable foundation of God's throne
Ministry Characteristics	The ministry of righteousness brings glory, increasingly full of glory (2 Cor 3:8-9)	The ministry of condemnation has glory, but the ministry of justification has greater glory
Relationship with Holiness	Holiness relates to God's inner nature	Justice relates to God's outward actions, ways, behaviors, and activities
Mode of Manifestation	God has demonstrated His righteousness by forgiving our sins	Thus God proved that He is just
Solid Foundation	Now God's righteousness is our solid foundation	The foundation is not our zeal or victory, but God's justice
Summary Points	Emphasizes God's upright character manifested in all His actions, encompassing all of God's works	Emphasizes God's administration of judgment according to His standards, focusing on judgment and management

  

Conclusion: 

Both God's righteousness and God's justice are inseparable attributes that together form the foundation of God's throne. God's righteousness emphasizes His upright character manifested in all His actions, while God's justice focuses on His fair administration of judgment according to His standards. In practical application, these two aspects complement each other and cannot be neglected. The believer's experience and growth are built upon this dual foundation.

  

*Please refer to the 2025 Memorial Day Blending Conference. General Topic: Preparation of the Bride. Chapter 5: Righteousness of the Bride.