Third Lesson of the Quarter: The Holiness of God Part 3: Holiness and Justice (Fairness)

 The Holiness of God Part 3: Holiness and Justice (Fairness)

This is Part 3 of a series on the Holiness of God. Each week we will study a different aspect of God’s holiness. When you have completed the series, you may experience a change in how you worship, speak, and pray.

Leviticus 10: 1-3: “And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which he commanded them not. And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord. Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the Lord spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace.”

I studied and received a law degree from the College of William and Mary located in Williamsburg, VA. One of the subjects we learned was cruel and unusual punishment as set forth in the United States Constitution. Since man is corrupt we need to guard against such punishments. However, the LORD is perfect and is perfectly just. God will demonstrate His holiness through His judgments. In this study we will look at Nadab and Abihu, Uzzah the Kohathite, and Ananias and Sapphira. As we study, be ready to answer the questions:

1. Where was the most violent expression of God’s wrath, Old or New Testament?

2. What is the real mystery about God’s wrath?

3. Does God ever give injustice to anyone?

4. What is most surprising about God’s wrath?

Answers:

1. The most violent expression of God’s wrath is found in the New Testament. It is in the cross. If anyone could complain about injustice, it would be the Lord Jesus Christ. He was 100% innocent, yet He was punished by His Father as a substitute for our sins. He paid our price. When you are thinking about the wrath of God, think about the cross.

2. The mystery is not that God would display His wrath in the exercise of Divine judgment, but rather that He tolerates our continuous rebellion against Him. We should not be surprised about His wrath, but rather about His mercy. 

3. God never gives injustice to anyone. To some He gives grace and mercy and to others they get justice. However, no one gets injustice. God sends grace to the hearts of His people and they respond with faith and repentance. They get mercy. Others do not and they get justice.

4. The most surprising thing about God’s wrath is that He doesn’t express it to everyone. Every sin we commit is an act directly challenging God’s authority. Our sins tell God that we have moral rights that fall outside the scope of His authority. I’m surprised He does not cast us all into hell.

What do we know about the sin of Nadab and Abihu? They sinned by offering “strange fire.” God had not told them to do that. Also, we can assume from God’s Words to Moses that they had not “sanctified” God. They failed to regard Him as holy. This should cause you to stop and think about the next time you are worshiping God corporately. Are the church leaders giving the occasion the proper respect? I remember being at a conference in the 1980s and the worship team included two people dressed up as Daffy Duck and Bugs Bunny. They were dancing around having a good time. I suggest to you that it was “strange fire” and we are fortunate that God did not reveal His wrath.  We as believers need to take worship very seriously. Why? Because the LORD God does!

The story of Uzzah and the Ark of the Covenant is found in 2 Samuel 6: 1-7. As the ark was being transported, the oxen pulling the cart stumbled, and a man named Uzzah took hold of the ark. God’s anger burned against Uzzah and He struck him down and he died. What was Uzzah’s offense? In attempting to stabilize the Ark and keep it from falling to the ground, he assumed that his hands were less polluted than the dirt of the ground. The earth was not defiled. It was Uzzah that broke the law of God (Numbers 4:15; they were taught not to touch the holy things of God). 

In Acts 5, Ananias and Sapphira were struck dead in a worship service because they lied to the Holy Spirit about the money they received from the sale of their property. They wanted everyone to believe that they were giving all the sale proceeds from the sale of their land, but they kept back some for themselves. The testimony of the entire church was at stake and God brought forth His wrath on those that had lied to Him. The questions I ask, I know that this happens much in our day, why has God stopped releasing His wrath? Could it be that the modern church is so corrupt that God has “given them over” and will await the final judgment to act in accordance with His holiness and righteousness? However, the point is that God takes worship very seriously. 

The preachers in the early church in America preached messages that included an emphasis on God’s wrath and the sinfulness of man. The following are some quotes from Jonathan Edwards’ “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God:”

1. There is no want of power in God to cast wicked men into hell at any moment. Men’s hands cannot be strong when God rises up. ...

2. They deserve to be cast into hell; so that divine justice never stands in the way, it makes no objection against God’s using his power at any moment to ...

3. They are already under a sentence of condemnation to hell. ...

4. They are now the objects of that very same anger and wrath of God, that is expressed in the torments of hell….

As we conclude this study, remember that God’s wrath is real. The fact that He withholds that wrath from us is not an excuse to sin. Know that God takes sin very seriously. God does not give “cruel and unusual punishment.” We deserve punishment for our rebellion and some will receive that punishment. They will receive justice from God. To those of us who have made the Lord Jesus Christ the Lord of our lives, we will receive mercy and grace. However, no one receives injustice from God.

 

Prayer

1. Praise God for grace and mercy that He extends to sinners.

2. Confess and repent that you sometimes presume His grace and mercy. 

3. Thank Him that He sent His Son the Lord Jesus Christ to die for your sins.

4. Ask God to help you see more and more of His grace in your life.