Ecclesiastes – Justice

Date
August 29, 2021
Speaker
Pastor Ryan Flunker
Topic
Joy, Justice
Series
Chasing After the Wind
Book
Ecclesiastes

A world without God, is a world without justice. Every evil deed will have been left unpunished and for untold many, justice will never be served.

Not only are our best attempt towards justice thwarted if there is no ultimate judge, but the very concept of morality becomes subjective and personalized to such a degree that right becomes wrong and wrong becomes right.

Observations & Conclusions:

Without God there is no objective morality
Without God there is no defense of the innocent
Without God those in power will take it to extremes
Without God death is the only escape from injustice
Without God wickedness is progressive
Without God the scales of justice will never balance
Without God you are without hope

Application: Since…

God will bring everything under judgment
God has already passed judgment for sin in Jesus

Enjoy life in Jesus
– as one who reveres God
– as one who is under God’s authority
– as one who thanks God
by bringing every action & deed under His rule

Do my actions honor the Judge of all creation?
Are my intentions governed by God’s authority or mine?
Do I enjoy life because of Jesus?

Judges 17:6

“In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”

Judges 21:25

“In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”

Romans 3:10-12

“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.”

Ephesians 2:1-5

“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.”

Ecclesiastes 3:15

“Whatever is has already been, and what will be has been before; and God will call the past to account.”

Ecclesiastes 3:17

“I said to myself, “God will bring into judgment both the righteous and the wicked, for there will be a time for every activity, a time to judge every deed.”

Ecclesiastes 12:14

“For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.”

2 Corinthians 5:9-10

“So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”

Romans 14:10c-12

“For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. It is written: “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.’” So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.”

Psalm 103:12

“As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”

Romans 5:9-11

“Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”

1 John 2:2a

“He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins…”

Galatians 2:20

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Philippians 1:21

“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

Matthew 27:54

“When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”

Philippians 2:12

“Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.”

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.”