Topical Bible: The Righteousness of God: Exhibited in The Punishment of the Wicked

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The righteousness of God is a central theme throughout the Bible, reflecting His perfect justice, holiness, and moral integrity. One of the ways God's righteousness is manifested is through the punishment of the wicked. This aspect of divine justice underscores the moral order established by God and His commitment to uphold it.

Biblical Foundation

The Bible consistently affirms that God is righteous and just in all His ways. In Deuteronomy 32:4, it is declared, "He is the Rock, His work is perfect; all His ways are just. A God of faithfulness without injustice, righteous and upright is He." This foundational truth sets the stage for understanding why God punishes the wicked: to maintain justice and righteousness.

Old Testament Examples

Throughout the Old Testament, God's righteousness is demonstrated through His judgments against wickedness. The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah serves as a poignant example. In Genesis 18:20-21, the Lord says, "The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and their sin is so grievous." The subsequent judgment upon these cities illustrates God's intolerance for sin and His righteous response to it.

Similarly, the plagues of Egypt (Exodus 7-12) reveal God's righteous judgment against Pharaoh's hardened heart and the oppression of the Israelites. Each plague was a demonstration of God's power and justice, ultimately leading to the liberation of His people.

Prophetic Warnings

The prophets frequently warned of God's impending judgment on the wicked. In Isaiah 13:11, God declares, "I will punish the world for its evil and the wicked for their iniquity; I will end the haughtiness of the arrogant and lay low the pride of the ruthless." Such warnings were not only calls to repentance but also affirmations of God's righteous character.

New Testament Affirmation

The New Testament continues to affirm God's righteousness in punishing the wicked. In Romans 1:18, Paul writes, "The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the ungodliness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness." This passage highlights the ongoing reality of God's righteous judgment against sin.

Jesus Himself spoke of the final judgment, where the wicked will face eternal punishment. In Matthew 25:46, He states, "And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." This ultimate separation underscores the seriousness of God's righteous standards.

The Cross as the Fulfillment of Righteousness

The cross of Christ is the ultimate demonstration of God's righteousness. In Romans 3:25-26, Paul explains, "God presented Him as the atoning sacrifice through faith in His blood, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had passed over the sins committed beforehand. He did this to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus."

Through the cross, God's righteousness is upheld as He punishes sin in the person of His Son, providing a way for sinners to be justified. This act of divine justice and mercy highlights the depth of God's righteousness and His commitment to both justice and redemption.

Eschatological Fulfillment

The Bible concludes with the ultimate fulfillment of God's righteous judgment in the book of Revelation. In Revelation 20:11-15, the final judgment is depicted, where the wicked are judged according to their deeds and cast into the lake of fire. This eschatological vision reaffirms God's righteous character and His ultimate victory over sin and evil.

Throughout Scripture, the righteousness of God is consistently exhibited in His punishment of the wicked. This divine attribute assures believers of God's unwavering commitment to justice and His sovereign rule over creation.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Romans 2:5
But after your hardness and impenitent heart treasure up to yourself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
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2 Thessalonians 1:6
Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;
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Revelation 16:7
And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are your judgments.
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Revelation 19:2
For true and righteous are his judgments: for he has judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and has avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.
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Thirdly, the Peculiar Manner and Circumstances with which the ...
... want of, plainly declared and exhibited to us? ... concerning the gracious method of
God's reconciliation with ... necessity of true piety, righteousness, and sobriety ...
/.../xii proposition xii thirdly the.htm

Of the Prophecies of the Old Testament in their visible ...
... those who escaped in the ark exhibited a sacramental ... each other in worshipping and
loving God for His ... and truth, and holiness, and righteousness, and charity ...
/.../on the catechising of the uninstructed/chapter 27 of the prophecies of.htm

Atonement.
... I say, at this time his righteousness: that he ... of a higher order of virtues than
are exhibited in the ... It was vastly desirable that God should take advantage of ...
//christianbookshelf.org/finney/systematic theology/lecture xxv atonement.htm

Whither is Thy Beloved Gone, O Thou Fairest among Women? Whither ...
... opening is a renewed abandonment; the resistance lately exhibited having interrupted
its ... are caused to look only to the righteousness of God; they recognize ...
/.../guyon/song of songs of solomon/17 whither is thy beloved.htm

The Knowledge of God Conspicuous in the Creation, and Continual ...
... life in which iniquity shall receive its punishment, and righteousness its reward ...
the ungodly in not pondering the deep counsels of God, as exhibited in the ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 5 the knowledge of.htm

Conclusion of Our Lord's Discourse. Parables of virgins and ...
... he sits upon it his glory will be exhibited to men ... of that hour his mercy, justice,
and righteousness will most ... God prepared a kingdom of joy and designed that ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/cxv conclusion of our lords.htm

Second Sunday after Easter
... and to live henceforth unto righteousness, until we ... go astray like sheep is clearly
exhibited in their ... idolatries or false services of God, into superstitions ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol ii/second sunday after easter.htm

How Christ Performed the Office of Redeemer in Procuring Our ...
... that which was represented figuratively in the Mosaic sacrifices is exhibited in
Christ ... knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 16 how christ performed.htm

The Unclean Spirits.
... Similar manifestations have been before exhibited, but not in ... be transformed as the
ministers of righteousness: whose end ... Son of the Most High God;" and the ...
/.../bliss/a brief commentary on the apocalypse/the unclean spirits.htm

God's Controversy with Man. Rev. Charles Prest.
... God cannot yield in this conflict; his righteousness forbids this. ... Mount Sinai exhibited
proofs of God's love, and Christ, who died for us on Calvary ...
/.../king/the wesleyan methodist pulpit in malvern/gods controversy with man rev.htm