October 10, 2025 • 10 mins
Justice is more than a headline — it’s at the heart of who God is. This episode digs into how His justice isn’t just punishment but restoration, how the cross unites justice with mercy, and how believers can trust that God’s verdict will be final and good.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_00 (00:01):
You're listening to Coffee Break Theology, a King of
Kings podcast.
SPEAKER_01 (00:12):
Welcome back to Coffee Break Theology, where
theology isn't just for thelecture halls, but it's for the
living rooms, the break rooms,and the coffee shops.
SPEAKER_02 (00:22):
That's Greg.
I'm Marcus, and today we'retalking about justice, a word
that's everywhere in ourculture, but not always clearly
defined.
SPEAKER_01 (00:31):
Dude, this is such a buzzword.
Like politics talk about it,protests talk about it, even
pulpits are talking about it.
So I think the real questionthat matters is like, what does
God say about justice?
SPEAKER_02 (00:44):
And what does it mean from a Lutheran biblical
perspective?
It's it's not just a socialidea, but as part of God's very
character.
SPEAKER_01 (00:51):
Yeah, so we have to start in the scriptures.
Like that's where always we'regonna discover what is God
speaking on to this.
So Deuteronomy uh three orsorry, thirty-two, uh, verse
four, Moses writes this therock, his work is perfect, for
all his ways are just justice.
SPEAKER_02 (01:12):
So justice isn't something God does necessarily,
it's something that he is.
He doesn't just rule fairly, hedefines fairness.
He is the judge, he has theauthority, he identifies with
what is good and right.
He alone is wise to discerntruth, he has the power to
execute sentences.
SPEAKER_01 (01:32):
Yeah, and this is so right, but in Luther's day,
justice had a different,different vibe, right?
So Luther feared God's justicebecause that's what was taught,
and and he thought it was thisstrict, horrific judgment.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (01:47):
Until he realized through the word that God's
justice was revealed in thegospel.
Yeah.
In Romans 1 17, this says therighteousness of God is revealed
from faith for faith.
SPEAKER_01 (01:59):
Yeah, Luther also went on to say, Here I felt that
I was altogether born again, andI had entered paradise itself
through an open gate.
Nice.
SPEAKER_02 (02:09):
God's justice isn't just about punishment, it's
about setting things right, andhe does that in Jesus.
SPEAKER_01 (02:16):
Yeah, and that's so important, especially when we
live in an unjust world.
Right.
We do need a God who setseverything right.
And and one of the ways that hedoes this, and we're reminded
that he's God that will seteverything right, is through the
cross, which is at the center ofChristian justice.
It's where sin's punished, butnot on us.
SPEAKER_02 (02:38):
Yep.
Justice doesn't get swept underthe rug.
Right.
It's satisfied in full by Jesus.
Isaiah 53 says, the punishmentthat brought us peace was upon
him.
SPEAKER_01 (02:48):
Yeah, and and Paul says in Romans 3 26, God is both
just and the justifier of theone who has faith in Jesus.
SPEAKER_02 (02:58):
Right.
And he doesn't compromisejustice when he's dealing with
sin.
Here's an aside that I kind ofwas thinking about as as we got
ready for this.
I think most people wouldattribute God's wrath and the
justice with an Old Testamentbent.
Sure.
They think God acted with rackwith wrath, acted out his just
justice, and used judgment inthe Old Testament.
And then it's different with thecoming of Jesus in the New
(03:21):
Testament.
Well, I I think that's wrong.
I think God's action as judge isactually intensified.
It's not reduced going from OldTestament to New Testament.
So consider these.
These are out of the Sermon onthe Mount, Matthew 5, Jesus is
speaking here.
Uh, you have heard that it wassaid to those of old.
So he's quoting the OldTestament here.
You shall not murder, andwhoever murders will be liable
(03:42):
to judgment.
But I say to you that everyonewho is angry with his brother
will be liable to judgment.
Whoever insults his brother willbe liable, and whoever says you
fool will be liable.
He's taking it even a stepfurther.
He goes on later to say, Youhave heard that it was said, you
shall not commit adultery.
These are from the TenCommandments from the Old
Testament.
But I say to you that everyonewho looks at a woman with
(04:05):
lustful intent has alreadycommitted adultery with her in
his heart.
And then he goes on to say thisthis is this is serious.
If your right eye causes you tosin, tear it out and throw it
away.
For it is better that you loseone of your members than your
whole body be thrown into hell.
If your right hand causes you tosin, cut it off and throw it
away.
For it is better that you loseone of your members than your
(04:26):
whole body go into hell.
Again, this is Jesus talking.
He's taking this issue of sinvery seriously.
But this whole thing, this wholepart of the Sermon on the Mount,
he knows the issue isn't the actof sin.
It's not the mistakes that wemake, it's the condition of the
heart.
So he doesn't judge he doesn'tcompromise that justice.
He can't.
He doesn't deal with a mere actof sin.
(04:47):
His judgment cuts deeper andsounds harsh.
But like we said last week, ashe is holy, he has to deal with
sin to the core, to the sinner'sheart.
He can't just treat the symptom.
He has to surgically repair theheart.
Right.
And so it it sounds harsh, yes,but there's some good news.
He fulfills that justice throughmercy.
SPEAKER_01 (05:10):
Yeah, I I think it's so important for us to remember
like God is so just that thatHe's gonna make sure that every
uh injustice, every oppression,everything is dealt with.
And and He never sweeps it away,He never says it's okay, right?
And that's that's why it's soimportant that we remember that
(05:32):
Christ is the one, as thecatechisms teach us, right?
We are a lost person, condemnedperson, right?
And justice is carried out onJesus so that grace can be given
to us.
Exactly.
SPEAKER_02 (05:48):
Okay, so let's bring this down to real life.
Let's bring this down to ustoday.
What does God's justice mean ina world that's clearly unjust?
SPEAKER_01 (05:57):
Yeah, I think this is important.
So for especially for anyonethat's walking through where
they have been wronged in a waythat they know that that they
were wronged and it's not dealtwith, it's a reminder, first of
all, that that God sees it.
So so God sees it.
He hears the cries of theoppressed, right?
(06:19):
Don't forget that the the youknow the Israelites, his chosen
people there are in Egypt andthey're crying out under the
slavery of the Egyptians and theoppression of the Egyptians for
over 400 years.
He heard their cries.
So he hears your cries, he knowsyour wounds, and he knows your
hurts.
And remember, he's promisedthis, right?
(06:41):
From Romans 12.
Vengeance is mine, I will repay,says the Lord.
So let it be his.
SPEAKER_02 (06:48):
Right.
We don't need to take revenge,right?
We we don't have to take thatupon ourselves because Jesus is
going to take care of it.
We trust that God will make allthings right in his time.
SPEAKER_01 (06:57):
Yeah, and so what do we do while we wait for God to
do that?
Um, and and this is an importantpart.
Uh, I think this is this issomething that is where our
hearts are transformed to beable to do this, because it's
only in God that you can do thiswhile you wait for the injustice
to be reconciled to Christ.
Micah writes about it in thesixth chapter, verse eight.
(07:21):
What does the Lord require ofyou, but to do justice so you
continue to be just, to lovemercy, and to walk humbly with
God.
I love this verse.
SPEAKER_02 (07:34):
My wife and I picked this verse for our two sons'
baptism verses.
Oh, sweet.
And so I I love this.
I want this to be a part oftheir life, I want this to be a
part of my life, our life.
So, what does it mean?
Doing justice doesn't meanplaying God.
Right.
It means reflecting his heart.
It means standing up for thevulnerable, standing up for
those who can't stand up forthemselves.
It means telling the truth,resisting evil.
(07:55):
And we love mercy because wedeserve his judgment, but don't
get it.
Jesus takes our verdict.
We walk humbly because we don'tdeserve mercy or grace, but we
get it anyways.
I don't measure up, but Jesusdid.
And and he gives that verdict tome.
It's that greatest exchange thatwe were talking about before.
So I I love that verse.
SPEAKER_01 (08:15):
Yeah, and and I think it's so important for us
to remember that this isn'tsaying that you like sweep it
away and just say, Oh, God willdeal.
Like when there's injustice, wehave to stand up and speak out.
We have to call it, but we thenyield ourselves to the
authorities that are around usand then to the ultimate
authority, which is which isGod.
So don't forget that there is aday coming when God will set it
(08:39):
all straight.
I I love the picture fromRevelation 19 where we see
Christ returning to judge withrighteousness.
SPEAKER_02 (08:50):
And for the believer, that day isn't
something to fear, right, to beafraid of.
Right.
It's something to hope for.
Right.
Because Jesus already stood inour place.
SPEAKER_01 (09:01):
Yeah, so so justice will come, and when it does, it
it will be perfect and it willbe eternal.
There won't be any corruption,there won't be any delay, and
there's no appeals.
SPEAKER_02 (09:12):
Right.
And in the meantime, we get topreach the cross.
Yeah.
Christ crucified, where justicewas already served and where
mercy still flows.
SPEAKER_01 (09:21):
So here's your takeaway today in your coffee
break theology.
God's justice is not the enemyof grace.
Right.
I love this.
It's a stage where grace shinesbrightest.
SPEAKER_02 (09:34):
I like that.
And justice was done at thecross.
Justice is coming at Christ'sreturn.
And justice, real holy justicethat's necessary, is part of
God's good character.
This is another reason why Ilove the topics of wrath and
justice.
I enjoy diving into thesebecause judgment means evil will
be disposed of authoritatively,decisively, finally, for good,
(09:58):
forever.
Judgment means that in the end,God's will will be perfectly
done.
Hallelujah.
SPEAKER_01 (10:04):
Hallelujah.
Like every day of the year, saythat.
So here's what I would enjoy foryou, because next time on Coffee
Break Theology, we're going totalk about redemption.
SPEAKER_02 (10:17):
And until then, do justice, love mercy, walk
humbly, and rest in the factthat God gets the final word.
SPEAKER_01 (10:25):
Strength of that.
SPEAKER_00 (10:28):
Thanks for listening to Coffee Break Theology.
Be sure to tune in next time andremember to check out our other
podcast series available onevery major podcast listening
service.
You're listening to Coffee Break Theology, a King of
Kings podcast.
SPEAKER_01 (00:12):
Welcome back to Coffee Break Theology, where
theology isn't just for thelecture halls, but it's for the
living rooms, the break rooms,and the coffee shops.
SPEAKER_02 (00:22):
That's Greg.
I'm Marcus, and today we'retalking about justice, a word
that's everywhere in ourculture, but not always clearly
defined.
SPEAKER_01 (00:31):
Dude, this is such a buzzword.
Like politics talk about it,protests talk about it, even
pulpits are talking about it.
So I think the real questionthat matters is like, what does
God say about justice?
SPEAKER_02 (00:44):
And what does it mean from a Lutheran biblical
perspective?
It's it's not just a socialidea, but as part of God's very
character.
SPEAKER_01 (00:51):
Yeah, so we have to start in the scriptures.
Like that's where always we'regonna discover what is God
speaking on to this.
So Deuteronomy uh three orsorry, thirty-two, uh, verse
four, Moses writes this therock, his work is perfect, for
all his ways are just justice.
SPEAKER_02 (01:12):
So justice isn't something God does necessarily,
it's something that he is.
He doesn't just rule fairly, hedefines fairness.
He is the judge, he has theauthority, he identifies with
what is good and right.
He alone is wise to discerntruth, he has the power to
execute sentences.
SPEAKER_01 (01:32):
Yeah, and this is so right, but in Luther's day,
justice had a different,different vibe, right?
So Luther feared God's justicebecause that's what was taught,
and and he thought it was thisstrict, horrific judgment.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (01:47):
Until he realized through the word that God's
justice was revealed in thegospel.
Yeah.
In Romans 1 17, this says therighteousness of God is revealed
from faith for faith.
SPEAKER_01 (01:59):
Yeah, Luther also went on to say, Here I felt that
I was altogether born again, andI had entered paradise itself
through an open gate.
Nice.
SPEAKER_02 (02:09):
God's justice isn't just about punishment, it's
about setting things right, andhe does that in Jesus.
SPEAKER_01 (02:16):
Yeah, and that's so important, especially when we
live in an unjust world.
Right.
We do need a God who setseverything right.
And and one of the ways that hedoes this, and we're reminded
that he's God that will seteverything right, is through the
cross, which is at the center ofChristian justice.
It's where sin's punished, butnot on us.
SPEAKER_02 (02:38):
Yep.
Justice doesn't get swept underthe rug.
Right.
It's satisfied in full by Jesus.
Isaiah 53 says, the punishmentthat brought us peace was upon
him.
SPEAKER_01 (02:48):
Yeah, and and Paul says in Romans 3 26, God is both
just and the justifier of theone who has faith in Jesus.
SPEAKER_02 (02:58):
Right.
And he doesn't compromisejustice when he's dealing with
sin.
Here's an aside that I kind ofwas thinking about as as we got
ready for this.
I think most people wouldattribute God's wrath and the
justice with an Old Testamentbent.
Sure.
They think God acted with rackwith wrath, acted out his just
justice, and used judgment inthe Old Testament.
And then it's different with thecoming of Jesus in the New
(03:21):
Testament.
Well, I I think that's wrong.
I think God's action as judge isactually intensified.
It's not reduced going from OldTestament to New Testament.
So consider these.
These are out of the Sermon onthe Mount, Matthew 5, Jesus is
speaking here.
Uh, you have heard that it wassaid to those of old.
So he's quoting the OldTestament here.
You shall not murder, andwhoever murders will be liable
(03:42):
to judgment.
But I say to you that everyonewho is angry with his brother
will be liable to judgment.
Whoever insults his brother willbe liable, and whoever says you
fool will be liable.
He's taking it even a stepfurther.
He goes on later to say, Youhave heard that it was said, you
shall not commit adultery.
These are from the TenCommandments from the Old
Testament.
But I say to you that everyonewho looks at a woman with
(04:05):
lustful intent has alreadycommitted adultery with her in
his heart.
And then he goes on to say thisthis is this is serious.
If your right eye causes you tosin, tear it out and throw it
away.
For it is better that you loseone of your members than your
whole body be thrown into hell.
If your right hand causes you tosin, cut it off and throw it
away.
For it is better that you loseone of your members than your
(04:26):
whole body go into hell.
Again, this is Jesus talking.
He's taking this issue of sinvery seriously.
But this whole thing, this wholepart of the Sermon on the Mount,
he knows the issue isn't the actof sin.
It's not the mistakes that wemake, it's the condition of the
heart.
So he doesn't judge he doesn'tcompromise that justice.
He can't.
He doesn't deal with a mere actof sin.
(04:47):
His judgment cuts deeper andsounds harsh.
But like we said last week, ashe is holy, he has to deal with
sin to the core, to the sinner'sheart.
He can't just treat the symptom.
He has to surgically repair theheart.
Right.
And so it it sounds harsh, yes,but there's some good news.
He fulfills that justice throughmercy.
SPEAKER_01 (05:10):
Yeah, I I think it's so important for us to remember
like God is so just that thatHe's gonna make sure that every
uh injustice, every oppression,everything is dealt with.
And and He never sweeps it away,He never says it's okay, right?
And that's that's why it's soimportant that we remember that
(05:32):
Christ is the one, as thecatechisms teach us, right?
We are a lost person, condemnedperson, right?
And justice is carried out onJesus so that grace can be given
to us.
Exactly.
SPEAKER_02 (05:48):
Okay, so let's bring this down to real life.
Let's bring this down to ustoday.
What does God's justice mean ina world that's clearly unjust?
SPEAKER_01 (05:57):
Yeah, I think this is important.
So for especially for anyonethat's walking through where
they have been wronged in a waythat they know that that they
were wronged and it's not dealtwith, it's a reminder, first of
all, that that God sees it.
So so God sees it.
He hears the cries of theoppressed, right?
(06:19):
Don't forget that the the youknow the Israelites, his chosen
people there are in Egypt andthey're crying out under the
slavery of the Egyptians and theoppression of the Egyptians for
over 400 years.
He heard their cries.
So he hears your cries, he knowsyour wounds, and he knows your
hurts.
And remember, he's promisedthis, right?
(06:41):
From Romans 12.
Vengeance is mine, I will repay,says the Lord.
So let it be his.
SPEAKER_02 (06:48):
Right.
We don't need to take revenge,right?
We we don't have to take thatupon ourselves because Jesus is
going to take care of it.
We trust that God will make allthings right in his time.
SPEAKER_01 (06:57):
Yeah, and so what do we do while we wait for God to
do that?
Um, and and this is an importantpart.
Uh, I think this is this issomething that is where our
hearts are transformed to beable to do this, because it's
only in God that you can do thiswhile you wait for the injustice
to be reconciled to Christ.
Micah writes about it in thesixth chapter, verse eight.
(07:21):
What does the Lord require ofyou, but to do justice so you
continue to be just, to lovemercy, and to walk humbly with
God.
I love this verse.
SPEAKER_02 (07:34):
My wife and I picked this verse for our two sons'
baptism verses.
Oh, sweet.
And so I I love this.
I want this to be a part oftheir life, I want this to be a
part of my life, our life.
So, what does it mean?
Doing justice doesn't meanplaying God.
Right.
It means reflecting his heart.
It means standing up for thevulnerable, standing up for
those who can't stand up forthemselves.
It means telling the truth,resisting evil.
(07:55):
And we love mercy because wedeserve his judgment, but don't
get it.
Jesus takes our verdict.
We walk humbly because we don'tdeserve mercy or grace, but we
get it anyways.
I don't measure up, but Jesusdid.
And and he gives that verdict tome.
It's that greatest exchange thatwe were talking about before.
So I I love that verse.
SPEAKER_01 (08:15):
Yeah, and and I think it's so important for us
to remember that this isn'tsaying that you like sweep it
away and just say, Oh, God willdeal.
Like when there's injustice, wehave to stand up and speak out.
We have to call it, but we thenyield ourselves to the
authorities that are around usand then to the ultimate
authority, which is which isGod.
So don't forget that there is aday coming when God will set it
(08:39):
all straight.
I I love the picture fromRevelation 19 where we see
Christ returning to judge withrighteousness.
SPEAKER_02 (08:50):
And for the believer, that day isn't
something to fear, right, to beafraid of.
Right.
It's something to hope for.
Right.
Because Jesus already stood inour place.
SPEAKER_01 (09:01):
Yeah, so so justice will come, and when it does, it
it will be perfect and it willbe eternal.
There won't be any corruption,there won't be any delay, and
there's no appeals.
SPEAKER_02 (09:12):
Right.
And in the meantime, we get topreach the cross.
Yeah.
Christ crucified, where justicewas already served and where
mercy still flows.
SPEAKER_01 (09:21):
So here's your takeaway today in your coffee
break theology.
God's justice is not the enemyof grace.
Right.
I love this.
It's a stage where grace shinesbrightest.
SPEAKER_02 (09:34):
I like that.
And justice was done at thecross.
Justice is coming at Christ'sreturn.
And justice, real holy justicethat's necessary, is part of
God's good character.
This is another reason why Ilove the topics of wrath and
justice.
I enjoy diving into thesebecause judgment means evil will
be disposed of authoritatively,decisively, finally, for good,
(09:58):
forever.
Judgment means that in the end,God's will will be perfectly
done.
Hallelujah.
SPEAKER_01 (10:04):
Hallelujah.
Like every day of the year, saythat.
So here's what I would enjoy foryou, because next time on Coffee
Break Theology, we're going totalk about redemption.
SPEAKER_02 (10:17):
And until then, do justice, love mercy, walk
humbly, and rest in the factthat God gets the final word.
SPEAKER_01 (10:25):
Strength of that.
SPEAKER_00 (10:28):
Thanks for listening to Coffee Break Theology.
Be sure to tune in next time andremember to check out our other
podcast series available onevery major podcast listening
service.
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