https://odb.org/MY/2022/03/14/justice-and-jesus
Even in ancient times during the time of Micah, the LORD God had emphasised the need to temper righteousness with justice and mercy. Religious adherence to the law was necessary to maintain the people’s relationship with God and yet it is meaningless if there is no justice and mercy. God Himself was just and merciful.
When Jesus came onto the scene, He rebuked the Pharisees and Sadducees for their religious adherence to the law with no regard for justice and mercy. Their emphasis was on the external acts and omissions when Jesus spoke about what’s more important is what’s inside them. Although men (and women) can’t see, God can. So one could know the law very well, is very pious on the outside fulfilling all his or her religious obligations and yet harbour evil, hatred, revenge, spite, resentment and unforgiveness inside.
Jesus liberated us by dying on the cross for our sins. He broke the veil at the Temple into two. He fulfilled the law and put the law into our hearts. So we are now justified by faith in Christ and not by law. Our righteousness is by our faith in God covered by the blood of the Lamb. Jesus also brought righteousness to mankind as a whole, to us Gentiles at the far ends of the world, no longer restricting it to the tribes and people of Israel and Judah.
Yet the age old issue of externals have reared its head again even in our present church age. People are still impressed by our outward religious credentials, churches still adore our seminary achievements, congregations are still obsessed by labels like prophet, apostle, evangelist and reverend. Have you heard someone being introduced as teacher X or singer Y or helper Z or encourager A or edifier B or counselor C or usher D?
Righteousness must always be tempered with justice and mercy, love and compassion, grace. The church must not be like the world. We cannot be obsessed with the externals. In fact, if we can claim to be righteous and yet cruel and cunning and conniving and manipulative – are we even righteous in the first place? Righteousness and evil cannot reside and co-exist in the same person. We cannot be righteous and yet not just and merciful, gracious, compassionate and kind. Righteousness in the Spirit must be accompanied by the Fruit of the Spirit. There are just no two ways about it.
Ronnie's Thoughts 