TITLE: God’s is Holy and Just TEXT: Revelation 20:11-15 THEME: God’s justice requires an eternal response to sin and rejection.

We do not really want fairness or justice when a transgression applies to us- we want grace.

In our effort to understand the Problem of Evil we must start with the reality that sin and evil starts with us- not God. God is only acting on his justice and holiness

How does the Holiness of God effect how He deals with evil?

I. The Holiness of God means He cannot overlook evil.

A. Holiness is God’s primary attribute. (Ex. 3, Isaiah 6, Rev. 4)

Exodus 3:4-5 4 When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look at the burning bush, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.” 5 “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”

Isaiah 6:1-3 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.”

Revelation 4:8 8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying: “‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.”

I. The Holiness of God means He cannot overlook evil. A.Holiness is God’s primary attribute. (Ex. 3, Isaiah 6, Rev. 4) B.The magnitude of God’s love and grace cannot be fully understood until we understand the nature of His holiness.

I. The Holiness of God means He cannot overlook evil. C. Justice and righteousness requires a punishment for sin.

Sin is: The supreme choice of self- pride.

Sin is: The supreme choice of self- pride. Disobedience to God.

Sin is: The supreme choice of self- pride. Disobedience to God. Falling short of God’s Holy standard.

Sin is: The Bible says, “All have sinned (Romans 3:23). When we sin, and we invite a response from God because of his holiness. It cannot go unanswered.

I. The Holiness of God means He cannot overlook evil. C. Justice and righteousness requires a punishment for sin. D. Man’s sin and rebellion is the ultimate cause of evil and suffering

I. The Holiness of God means He cannot overlook evil. C. Justice and righteousness requires a punishment for sin. D. Man’s sin and rebellion is the ultimate cause of evil and suffering E. Only a great love can provide the motivation for the great sacrifice holiness demands.

How does the Holiness of God effect how He deals with evil?

II. God will not annihilate something made in his image.

One of the great theological questions “Why did God put the tree of knowledge of good and evil in the garden?”

Genesis 2:15-17 “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”

II. God will not annihilate something made in his image. A. Man is created in Gods image.

II. God will not annihilate something made in his image. A. Man is created in Gods image. 1). He created us as moral creatures that therefore have a sense of self consciousness and a sense of right and wrong. We have what C.S. Lewis calls a “moral oughtness.”

II. God will not annihilate something made in his image. A. Man is created in Gods image. 1). He created us as moral creatures that therefore have a sense of self consciousness and a sense of right and wrong. We have what C.S. Lewis calls a “moral oughtness.” 2.) Another characteristic of being created in the image of God is that we have choice- free will. We know what right or wrong is and we have the capacity to do either.

II. God will not annihilate something made in his image. A. Man is created in Gods image. B. This image gives man immeasurable worth. No other thing in existence bears the image of God.

II. God will not annihilate something made in his image. A. Man is created in Gods image. B. This image gives man immeasurable worth. No other thing in existence bears the image of God. C. God’s nature limits Him for annihilating something that bears His Holy image. God cannot destroy Himself neither can destroy that which reflects his nature.

Leviticus 11:45 I am the Lord, who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy.

Matthew 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

1 Peter 1:15-16 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

What would be the result of God using Tazer’s to control evil ? A world of twitchy people, who obey God like cowering, beaten dogs.

How does the Holiness of God effect how He deals with evil?

III. Every evil deed done in this world will be fairly judged

Revelation 21: Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books

Revelation 21: The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15 Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.

III. Every evil deed done in this world will be fairly judged A. It will not be based on position.

III. Every evil deed done in this world will be fairly judged A. It will not be based on position B. It will be based on works.

III. Every evil deed done in this world will be fairly judged A. It will not be based on position B. It will be based on works C. Those names written in the book of life are exempt- believers.

III. Every evil deed done in this world will be fairly judged A. It will not be based on position. B. It will be based on works. C. Those names written in the book of life are exempt- believers. D. Believers face a different kind of judgement. (I Cor. 3:10-15).

I Corinthians 3:10-15 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.

I Corinthians 3: If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. 14 If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward

I Corinthians 3: If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.

If we care that much about judges in sports, giving order to our games, how much more should we realize the importance of having a supreme Judge who makes the correct call on the actions of people in this world.

APPLICATION 2. Denying God’s existence based an argument that considers only on the goodness and greatness of God is too selective. God is also holy and just- it is not “either- or” it is “both= and.

APPLICATION 2. As we have said before. It would be like arguing if God is holy and just and men are sinners then why is there joy and pleasure? Should not all face the full consequence of their sin and rebellion against God?

APPLICATION 3. In giving men free agency God empowers us with great responsibility but in doing so man can choose to do evil- but because God is Holy the evil man does is not without consequence. Holiness and Justice require a punishment.

APPLICATION 4. God has allowed the brutal death of Jesus to satisfy His holiness and justice. His death becomes the satisfaction of God’s wrath for the believer.

When Jesus died, the world trembled and the vibrations were felt throughout the earth and through eternity. God holiness had been satisfied and we were given what we need and desire the most- God’s grace and mercy.