We see here that there is difference between the law of God's
justice,
which is telling us about punishment for the sin ("An eye for
an eye, a tooth for a tooth") and God's moral law which is not
telling
us anything about justice (punishing) but about the righteousness
(motives) of human heart ("Do not say I'll revenge for
evil", "Love
your enemies").
Some people try to deny the character of God's love trying to bring
it in conflict with God's justice. However, justice exists because
of God's love towards all dwellers of the universe. It exists just
lest the sin be immortalized and thereby the Order of eternal harmony
and welfare be imperiled.
Sin, which reigns in our hearts will be surely destroyed one day:
in this life - with our repentance or when the last Judgment comes
- together with us. Should sin be immortalized, it would be a
damnation
for both the good and the evil.
Some people in trying to deny God's justice claim that "Bible's
God is revengeful because He menaces man that he will be destroyed
unless he repents and accepts His principles".
If father warns his child not to put his finger into a plug, lest
it die, are we going to say that "father is revengeful because
he threats"?! Are we going to call a revengeful threat the
warning
whereby God reminds us through Moses law to put a fence around the
balcony lest someone fall down and die?!
"When you build a new house, you shall make a parapet for your
roof,
that you may not bring the guilt of blood upon your house, if any
one fall from it." (Deuteron. 22:8)
If God warns us of the consequences of breaking His law and an
eternal
destruction, it does not mean that "He threats us
revengefully" or
that "He hates us", but right that shows that he loves.
"Say to them, As I live, says the Lord God, I have no pleasure
in
the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and
live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways; for why will you die,
O house of Israel?" (Ezekiel 33:11)
Whether we see love or revengefulness in God's Word and His justice,
it reveals to a great extent whether we are driven by love or
revengefulness
when we condemn evil.
When Christ's pupils suggested that fire should fall down from heaven
and exterminate Samaritans who refused to offer hospitality to their
Teacher, then Jesus turned back, menaced them and said:
"'You do not know', he said, 'to what spirit you belong; for the
Son
of Man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save them.'"
(Luke
9:55-56)
One should condemn a sin but not a sinner too. The sinner should be
helped:
"You shall not go up and down as a slanderer among your people,
and
you shall not stand forth against the life of your neighbor: I am
the Lord. You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you
shall
reason with your neighbor, lest you bear sin because of him. You
shall
not take vengeance or bear any grudge against the sons of your own
people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the
Lord."
(Leviticus
19:16-18)
Let us note how God's word points to the difference between
condemnation
moved by the spirit of love and the condemnation representing a
pretext
for the hatred and revengefulness of one's own sinful heart.
It's obvious that it is a big temptation for a man to take God's
justice
in his hands and to excuse thereby his sinful acts. Now it is clear
to us why the manifestation of God's justice in form of civil law
on Earth was abolished when the Jews discarded Christ. As God's
"empire
is not from this world", man and his institutions are not
competent
anymore to represent God's justice on Earth. The judgement has been
left in God's hands exclusively.
Yet, God's justice, sometimes even before the last Judgment,
discovers
its character. God is not less rightful in the time of the New
Testament
than before. This shows us the example of Anania and Sephora. (Acts
5:1-11). And when, finally, sin and consequences of sin and
Satan is destroyed, then a song will be heard:
"The Lord has broken the staff of the wicked, the scepter of
rulers,
that smote the peoples in wrath with unceasing blows,
that ruled the nations in anger with unrelenting persecution.
The whole earth is at rest and quiet;
they break forth into singing.
The cypresses rejoice at you,
the cedars of Lebanon, saying,
'Since you were laid low,
no hewer comes up against us.'" (Isaiah 14:5-8)
