Notes from my worldview class on Justice

As you know I’m teaching a class for the Daniel Academy. This is my Worldview class for 8^th and 9^th graders. Class went so well and many of you requested my notes. So here they are. I only make one request: That you know that I’m still developing this subject. Meaning I haven’t perfected it yet so consider this a rough draft.

That said, enjoy!

The Christian Worldview of Justice

1. The theology of Justice
   

   The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ. Romans 6:23
   

   1. The Fall and Original Sin: Since Adam and Eve fell in Genesis, the curse of sin has been brought into the world.
      
      1. Sin was introduced to the world. Effecting not only humans but all creation.
         
         1. Sinful nature
            
         2. Sinbrought sickness and disease, famine, plagues and natural disasters.
            
         3. Sinful nature births man at a place of “Total Depravity“. Romans 3:10-23
            
            1. Total Depravity: Is the biblically defined belief that everyone is born in a state of corruption as a result of original sin.
               
      2. Total Depravity means men and women are wicked and have been given government over their own lives, this is commonly called “free will”.
         
         1. When you combine Total wickedness with “free will” you get bad people doing bad things:
            
            1. Murder, Rape, Theft
               
            2. Sins against Nature
               
            3. Sins against Humanity
               
            4. Evil rulers – Evil Nations
               
            5. Sexual Immorality, Hate, greed, lust, pride etc.
               
   2. “Why Does God let bad things to happen to good people?”
      
      1. The answer to that question lies back in the understanding of the state of humans being “Totally Depraved” or wicked. In other words, there are no “good” people.
         
         1. The Blood of Christ was shed for all people, those who believe, and have faith in Christ are hidden in the righteousness of Christ, and given strength to overcome sin.
            
         2. Still all people have the choice to do good things or bad things, often times those choices affect other people.
            
            1. A leader of a nation holds the lives of millions in his power. If he is wicked, wicked things will happen to those people no matter who they are.
               
            2. Disease grows because of sin. HIV has spread throughout Africa because of sex slavery and prostitution, yet the innocent children forced into these situations have to live with a disease that is the consequence of another person’s action- their choices bring harm to “good” children.
               
            3. Abortion is a choice that brings about death to a child, because of the sinful choices of the parent.
               
         3. There are countless examples of bad things, happening to good people. Yet in all things the truth always remains: God is good, righteous and just.
            
   3. How then are the wrong things made right?
      
      1. “Then I saw Heaven opened and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He Judges and makes war…” Rev 19:11
         
      2. “Comfort, Comfort my people…The glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together… The grass withers the flower fades, but our God will stand forever…He will tend His flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in His arms… He gives power to the faint, and to Him who has no might He increases strength.” Is. 40
         
      3. “For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, for it is the power of god for salvation for everyone” Romans 1:16
         
      4. “Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage each other with these words.”
         
      5. Set your hearts on things above… for you are hidden with Christ in God… For When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” Col. 3
         
      6. Justice is brought through Jesus because He is the Christ. The Gospel of His coming is how justice will come.
         
         1. Rom. 8:19
            
      7. The word Gospel means: “Good News”. The hope of the gospel is not just freedom from sin, but also the good news of a coming Kingdom.
         
         1. When Jesus returns he will establish righteousness and Justice on The Earth. He will set captives free, heal the sick, and slay the wicked as He marches into Jerusalem to meet the remaining wicked of Humanity.
            
      8. Salvation starts at our freedom from sin and shame but isn’t complete until Jesus returns.
         
         1. Justification
            
         2. Sanctification
            
         3. Glorification
            
   4. In the Christian worldview, Justice is brought to the Earth in 3 ways:
      
      1. Partnership with the heart of God; Intercession, obedience to his direction and will.
         
      2. Presenting the hope of the Gospel; the good news of His coming kingdom.
         
      3. Micah 6:8 “Do justly love mercy, and walk humbly with your God“
         
2. Contrasting two views of Justice.
   

 

All men were created equal… That all people are entitled to certain inalienable rights, of these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of happiness. –Thomas Jefferson

1. There are two philosophies at work: An eye for an eye; and Vengeance belongs to our God.
   
   1. Eccl. 12:14
      “For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing whether good or bad.”
      
2. The Human condition is defended first through eternal salvation.
   
   1. Hardship and suffering comes to anyone and everyone on this side of eternity.
      A person’s eternal destiny comes before a person’s natural life. If they suffer now, they will live in bliss forever.
      
   2. It’s about the coming age, When God will bring together Heaven and Earth and dwell with man forever.
      
3. We champion poverty, suffering, pain, national conflicts, disasters, by embodying and acting out the love and comfort of Christ.
   
   1. We cannot effectively show the comfort of the gospel unless we have first experienced it’s comfort ourselves.
      
4. We are not called by the Bible to fix the injustice of the World, instead Jesus calls us to 3 things:
   
   1. Love the Lord you God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.
      
      1. Meaning we devote our entire existence to Loving God.
         
      2. When we love him, we love the things He loves: the poor, the orphan, the widow, justice. But we only care about these things well through our love for Christ.
         
   2. Love your Neighbor as yourself:
      
      1. This is the action of our Love of God. The same passion we have for him we have for humanity. This love for others is a product of our love for God.
         
      2. We
         can’t
         love people well unless we love Christ.
         
   3. Preach the gospel of the coming Kingdom to the ends of the Earth:
      
      1. We spread the good news that all the wrong things are going to be made right, because our Messiah, King, Judge, Father and friend is coming back soon!