Exodus 23:1-9 Justice for All- We need to treat people equally. Everyone has value.
1. The necessity of Justice
- Justice is the ethical, philosophical idea that people are to be treated impartially, fairly, properly, and reasonably by the law and by arbiters of the law, that laws are to ensure that no harm befalls another, and that, where harm is alleged, a remedial action is taken – both the accuser and the accused receive a morally right consequence merited by their actions
- Justice is a legal structure or system that is designed to judge in a general sense who should be accorded a benefit or burden when the law is applied to a person’s factual circumstances.
- Legal Justice: This refers to the application of laws and the administration of legal decisions. It emphasizes fairness and the proper treatment of individuals within the legal system. Key passages include the laws given in Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy, which outline specific judicial practices and penalties for various offenses (e.g., Exodus 21-23, Leviticus 19).
- God is the arbiter and inventor of Justice. These scriptures lay the foundation for everyone
- The Magna Carta, arguably the most important document relating to modern legal systems Started by barons who wanted to limit the king of Englands power.
- Enshrined individual liberty and limited arbitrary power. Instituted the “Rule of Law” that everyone was subject to agreed upon laws by the populace. (equal legal outcomes)
- The Medieval Church was Crucial in its formation. It ensured the church would be free away from government, Christian values of justice and fairness influence the moral framework. Clergy were instrumental in the negotiations of the magna carta. The idea was that there are inherent rights and laws given by God that human authorities must respect. Also included protection for widows and orphans. God grants humans rights, Governments don’t. They protect them.
- Why do I tell you this? Because even our Modern justice system is connected to Christ
- We care about Justice in America today because of the influence of Christian morality.
- Social Justice: This involves the fair and compassionate treatment of all members of society, particularly the vulnerable, such as the poor, widows, orphans, and foreigners. The Old Testament repeatedly calls for the protection and provision for these groups (e.g., Deuteronomy 24:17-22, Isaiah 1:17, Micah 6:8). BTW Social Justice is not the Gospel, but we care
- Moral and Ethical Justice: This dimension relates to righteousness and moral integrity. It involves living in a way that reflects God’s character and commands. It is about personal conduct and community ethics, striving for a society that reflects divine values (e.g., Psalm 33:5, Proverbs 21:3, Isaiah 5:16).
- Divine Justice: This highlights God’s role as the ultimate judge who is perfectly just in all His ways. It includes His judgments, both in rewarding the righteous and punishing the wicked, and His commitment to restore justice (e.g., Psalm 9:7-8, Isaiah 30:18, Jeremiah 9:24).
- When you are a party to bad actions you mess up the different justices that God has instituted. Your then disrupting a holy order that God has instituted. Treat people equally.
- When you deceive, you mess up legal proceedings, when you take advantage of others, you mess up social justice, when you act the fool, you mess up God’s moral justice that is a fabric of society, When you take matters into your own hands, you mess up divine justice.
2. Watch what you say matters for Justice for All.
- What comes out of our mouth is of crucial importance in our spiritual life.
- James 3:9-10 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.
- We must learn to control what comes out of our mouth if we are going to live as Christian people who honor God with our lives. Everyone is equal treat them nice.
- People who have no discernment in this area will destroy themselves, marriages, friendships, witness and eternal destiny.
- These scriptures outline: Do not circulate false report, Be unrighteous witness, Testify in a dispute to pervert justice, If you care about Justice as God does, watch your mouth.
- Our mouths can contribute the execution of God’s Justice. We must watch what we say
- Proverbs 10:18 whoever spreads slander is a fool. Eph 4:31 Let all evil speaking be put away from you James 1:26 If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. 1 Peter 2:1 Therefore, laying aside all evil speaking. Psalm 34:13 Keep your tongue from evil, And your lips from speaking deceit.
- Why do People not watch their mouth?
- One- They aren’t saved. They haven’t been converted. I have met many people within the church who can attend for a long time without being saved.
- They agree to the ideas and enjoy the fellowship, but not been converted.
- Matthew 12:34 For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
- People show their heart with their mouth. They don’t even realize it.
- I talk to everyone- In the gym- F this F that. A Christian person wouldn’t talk like that
- Two- They so desperately want power in their life and info is power.
- Look at the news- The breaking news. Who texted or called someone trump shot? Biden dropped? We LOVE that feeling. Even sports scores, new info, neighbor stuff.
- Three- Some people are just evil. “Some people just want to watch the world burn”
- This is the hardest to deal with. We must overcome evil with Good.
- Four- Some people are raised and taught to live in a perpetual cycle of information sharing. They have nothing to talk about but others. They love the craziness of Conflict.
- Five- Talking about others keeps from talking about yourself and your issues
- How do we fix our mouth problems?
- One- Talk less. Pro 10:19 In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he who restrains his lips is wise.
- Just talk less- The less you talk the less likely you are to sin with your mouth
- Two- Guard your mouth Proverbs 13:3 He who guards his mouth preserves his life, But he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction.
- Consider your mouth a means to sin, not just a hole to shove pie into. Guard your mouth
- Three- think before you speak Proverbs 15:28 The heart of the righteous studies how to answer, But the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil.
- James 1:19 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.
- This is very hard. We want to defend ourselves and make ourselves look good.
3. Watch what you do. Don’t contribute to hurting others deserved Justice.
- How we live as Christians matters. How we live our life matters to God and eternity
- In HS Wrestling is where I started to learn about physical fitness, still learning, but began
- Would go from 215 to 185 in about 6 weeks. Everything mattered- Sleep, food, water, exercise, mindset, team, practice all of It. Whatever I did or didn’t do contributed to win
- Put your hand to with the wicked, show partiality to the poor in a dispute, help the man who hates you with his donkey, keep yourself from a false matter, do not kill the innocent and righteous, do not oppress a stranger. THIS ARE ACTIONS TO AVOID. TO NOT DO
- In Christianity- Everything we do or don’t do is a contributing factor to walking right
- Lets get some mileage out of working out- Best ever in College- 8% bench 350.
- Still classes, relationships, friendships, vacations, missions, church, preaching etc
- But it was always there in the background. Never a day off
- Walking with Christ is like that- Its always there in the background. No days off.
- How does this make JC look? Is this biblical? Will this send me to Hell? Is God pleased?
- Why don’t people consider?
- One- They aren’t saved. Saved people have the spirit of God and you cant escape it
- Two- Improper discipleship. They aren’t engaged in the process. Taught to do nothing
- Three- Poor life management. You must set yourself up to win. Not engaged.
- Proverbs 4:26 Ponder the path of your feet, And let all your ways be established.
- Ponder the path of your feet. Are you thinking about what you are doing?
- You do this in Prayer- You ask God to reveal things about you that need to change
- You do this in personal reflection- Is how I’m living lining up? What do I need to change
- You do this in your relationships- Let other people speak into your life- Tell you stuff
- You do this in application of the Bible- You read it and line up your life.
- 1 Corinthians 10:31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.1 Timothy 4:16 Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.
- Ephesians 5:15-16 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
- You have to be an active participant in your spiritual walk.
- How you live as a Christian matters. It matters to God, you and others.
- And just like my workout examples- You have to let it marinate in the background
- You cant just go out without a plan. Failing to plan is planning to fail
- Lets compare and contrast Worldly willy and Spiritual Sammy
- Worldly willy has no schedule, Spiritual Sammy Does
- Worldly willy Has no disciplines, Spiritual Sammy Does
- Worldly willy Doesn’t do devotions, Spiritual Sammy Does
- Worldly willy Gives into every desire, Spiritual Sammy Does not
4. Watch who you align with. Be part of God’s Justice. God can use you.
- Do not put your hand with the wicked, not follow a crowd to do evil, do not take a bribe,
- All of these references are God telling the people of Israel- Watch who you hang out with
- The wicked do what the wicked does, don’t help them, The crowd, don’t follow. No bribes
- The people you choose to hangout with will affect your life and theirs. Want sin and YOU
- Business people, healthy people, boating, hunting, church people. You become like them
- People who lie– Proverbs 20:19 He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets; Therefore do not associate with one who flatters with his lips.
- Liars shouldn’t be trusted. People who share secrets with you are sharing them with others.
- People who are evil-1 Cor 15:33 Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”
- When you spend time with evil people, you will become evil. It happens
- Foolish people– Pro 13:20 He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will be destroyed. Foolish people don’t think things through. You end up in bad situations
- Angry People Pro 22:24-25 Make no friendship with an angry man, And with a furious man do not go, Lest you learn his ways And set a snare for your soul. (Dad said don’t step into 3rd party)
- Ungodly, Sinners, Scornful Psalm 1:1 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful.
- Unbelievers- 2 Cor 6:14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?
- Your closest friends should not be people who do not share your deepest convictions.
- Those who walk disorderly 2 Thes 3:6 But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us.
- We have traditions in Christianity that define us. Avoid those who don’t agree.
- All these people– 1 Cor 5:11 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person.
- Once someone says they are a Christian, there are a different set of rules. You are held to diff standard. You have now identified with Christ and you must live your life as one
- So,
5. Watch your heart
- These scriptures talk bout a False report, unrighteous witness, pervert justice, show partiality, refrain from helping, pervert the judgment, take a bribe, oppress a stranger
- These are all connected to a heart condition that is either bent on sin, or on righteousness
- This part is ended with “For you know the heart of the stranger”
- This is “Don’t forget where you came from” the NT equivalent of “such were some of you”
- So you need to guard your heart. You have to pay attention to what you think about others
- Matthew 15: 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.
- You heart is where it starts. So watch what you think about others.
- Proverbs 4:23 Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.
- If you forget where you came from, you don’t treat people right. Treat them right
Only Jesus can change a heart- You can’t do it on your own.
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