Topical Bible: Man: Cannot be Just With God

◄ Man: Cannot be Just With God ►

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Topical Encyclopedia

The concept that man cannot be just with God is a recurring theme throughout the Bible, emphasizing the inherent sinfulness and moral imperfection of humanity in contrast to the holiness and righteousness of God. This entry explores the biblical basis for this doctrine, highlighting key scriptures and theological insights.

Biblical Foundation

1. Job's Acknowledgment of Human Limitation: The Book of Job addresses the question of human righteousness before God. Job, in his discourse, acknowledges the impossibility of being just with God. In Job 9:2, he states, "Indeed, I know that this is true. But how can a mortal be righteous before God?" This rhetorical question underscores the vast chasm between human imperfection and divine perfection.

2. The Universality of Sin: The Apostle Paul, in his epistle to the Romans, articulates the universality of sin and the consequent inability of man to achieve righteousness on his own. Romans 3:10-12 declares, "As it is written: 'There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away; they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.'" This passage highlights the comprehensive nature of human sinfulness.

3. The Need for Divine Intervention: The Bible consistently points to the necessity of divine intervention for justification. In Romans 3:23-24, Paul writes, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." This underscores that justification is not achieved through human effort but through God's grace.

4. The Role of Faith: Faith is presented as the means by which individuals can be justified before God. In Galatians 2:16, Paul asserts, "know that a man is not justified by works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified." This emphasizes that human efforts and adherence to the law are insufficient for justification.

5. The Example of Abraham: Abraham is often cited as an exemplar of faith-based righteousness. In Romans 4:2-3, Paul explains, "If Abraham was indeed justified by works, he had something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? 'Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.'" Abraham's faith, rather than his works, was the basis of his righteousness before God.

Theological Insights

The doctrine that man cannot be just with God without divine grace is central to Christian theology. It underscores the need for a savior and the transformative power of faith in Jesus Christ. This belief is rooted in the understanding of God's holiness and justice, which cannot be compromised by human imperfection. The recognition of human inability to achieve righteousness on their own leads to a reliance on God's mercy and the redemptive work of Christ.

Throughout the Bible, the message is clear: human beings, in their fallen state, cannot attain righteousness through their own efforts. Instead, they must rely on the grace and mercy of God, as revealed through Jesus Christ, to be justified and reconciled to Him.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Job 9:2
I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Job 25:4
How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman?
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 143:2
And enter not into judgment with your servant: for in your sight shall no man living be justified.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Romans 3:20
Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Greek

4102. pistis -- faith, faithfulness
... 7" But just as you abound in everything, in (4102 ... you cannot command faith at will,
faith is always something that is ... therefore, if you want to be a man of faith ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4102.htm - 18k

Library

God's Testimony Concerning Man
... But, if he cannot say this, "his mouth is stopped ... and others to look upon his case
just now, the ... This is man's day, when man's judgments prevail; but God's day ...
/.../bonar/gods way of peace/chapter i gods testimony concerning.htm

The Corruption of Man, his Conversion to God, and the Manner ...
... a vicious nature, in consequence of the just judgment of ... the law of the decalogue,
delivered by God to His ... the transgressor under the curse, man cannot by this ...
//christianbookshelf.org/anonymous/synod of dort/the corruption of man his.htm

Impossible with Man, Possible with God
... Man Cannot. ... And yet very often he does not even then learn the lesson: With man it
is impossible to ... Just look for a moment at a man who is learning this lesson. ...
/.../murray/absolute surrender/impossible with man possible with.htm

Believe Just Now
... But if any man be required to pray for the Holy ... be an abomination in the sight of
God; he cannot, therefore, be ... and as to the former, it is just as difficult ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/bonar/gods way of peace/chapter ix believe just now.htm

"Having Begun in the Spirit"
... And just so God gives Christians the Holy Spirit with this intention, that every
day all their life should be lived in the power of the Spirit. A man cannot ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/murray/absolute surrender/having begun in the spirit.htm

God's Controversy with Man. Rev. Charles Prest.
... this country to other nations, you have peace just now; but he would be a bold man
who should ... No, your statesmen cannot keep the peace of nations; and the ...
/.../king/the wesleyan methodist pulpit in malvern/gods controversy with man rev.htm

The Poor Man's Friend
... we have; serfs in England who, with sternest toil, cannot earn enough ... are bound to
do that which is just and right ... it can never he right that a man should work ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 53 1907/the poor mans friend.htm

There are in all Ten Categories which Can be Universally ...
... can be received by no place, and therefore He cannot anywhere be ... with the category
of time, as, "A man came yesterday ... It is just the same with the categories of ...
/.../boethius/the trinity is one god not three gods/iv there are in all.htm

The Book of God
... for the most of us the ideal of man cannot grow to ... is to know whether our exalted
belief about man has any ... Now, it is just in the quality of moral force that ...
/.../mcconnell/understanding the scriptures/chapter iv the book of.htm

God's Need of Men who Pray
... preserves the spirituality of the Church, just as prayerless ... of the flesh, nor of
the will of man, but of ... It cannot be too often affirmed, therefore, that the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bounds/the weapon of prayer/iv gods need of men.htm