Chapter 10: The Justice of God in the Trinity
We Want Justice
We all want justice — at least when someone wrongs us. We want wrongs made right, debts paid, evil punished.
We demand fairness, cry out when the scales are tipped.
But God’s justice is not just an idea — it is part of who He is.
“Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne…” (Psalm 89:14)
And the amazing truth is this:
God’s justice flows through the Trinity —
Father, Son, and Spirit working together to make all things right.
Justice in the Beginning
In the garden, everything was right. No sin.
No shame.
No brokenness.
But when Adam and Eve rebelled, justice demanded a response. God could not ignore sin and remain just.
So He banished them — but even then, clothed them and promised redemption.
Justice was not abandoned — it was postponed, waiting for the right time.
Justice in the Covenant
Throughout Israel’s history, we see the Father’s justice displayed. He gave the Law — revealing what righteousness looks like.
He raised up prophets to warn His people when they wandered. He sent judgment on nations that defied Him.
But He also promised mercy —
a coming Messiah who would satisfy justice once for all.
Justice in the Son
When Jesus came, He entered a world under judgment. And here’s where the Trinity’s justice shines:
the Father sent the Son to stand in our place.
“God made him who knew no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)
But notice:
Jesus didn’t simply “flip the switch” of His divinity to endure the cross. He lived fully human,
empowered by the Spirit, perfectly obedient to the Father.
From His baptism to His miracles to His death,
Jesus walked in complete dependence on the Spirit’s power.
He showed us what righteousness — what justice — looks like in a human life.
Fully Human, Spirit-Filled
This is what we often miss:
Jesus did not cheat in His humanity.
He did not reach into His divine nature to avoid pain, temptation, or weariness.
Instead, He showed what it looks like to live as a man completely yielded to the Spirit.
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me…” (Luke 4:18)
The Spirit led Him into the wilderness. The Spirit gave Him words to speak.
The Spirit empowered His miracles.
The Spirit sustained Him all the way to the cross.
Jesus lived the life we were meant to live —
in step with the Spirit, under the Father’s will — and then offered that perfect life for us.
Justice at the Cross
At the cross, God’s justice and mercy collided. The Father poured out wrath on sin.
The Son bore that wrath willingly.
The Spirit strengthened Him to endure it.
The Son did not resist the Father’s will. The Spirit did not abandon the Son.
The Father did not compromise His justice.
Every sin was paid for.
Every demand of the Law satisfied. Every debt erased.
Justice was done — so mercy could flow.
Justice at Pentecost
At Pentecost, the Spirit came to declare that justice had been served.
The Spirit convicted the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8).
He empowered the apostles to proclaim the good news:
that Jesus had paid it all, and the Father had accepted His sacrifice.
Justice no longer condemned believers —
because the righteous life of Jesus, lived in the power of the Spirit, was now counted as ours.
Justice in the Church
Today, the Spirit still applies God’s justice to our lives. When we repent and believe,
the Father justly forgives us because the Son paid the price.
We are justified — declared righteous — not because we earned it, but because Jesus already did.
The Spirit also works justice through us —
calling us to live righteously, to love mercy, to stand against evil.
“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8)
We cannot do this in our strength.
But the same Spirit who empowered Jesus now empowers us.
Why It Matters
Why does it matter to see the Trinity’s justice?
Because we often treat justice as if it’s our job alone. We demand it from others but excuse ourselves.
We try to fix the world without first being made right with God.
But this is the story we are living:
In the Garden of Eden, justice was broken by sin.
At the cross, justice was satisfied by the Son through the Spirit.
In the final garden, perfect justice will reign — and we will live in righteousness forever.
To see the Trinity’s justice now is to live in freedom — not in fear of judgment, but in awe of grace.
Reflection
Jesus lived the righteous life you and I could not — as a Spirit-filled man under the Father’s will.
He has already borne your judgment. He has already satisfied justice.
You do not need to prove yourself — but you are called to walk in that same Spirit of obedience and trust.
Justice is not just a future hope —
it is a present reality for all who are in Christ.
Questions to Consider
✦ How does knowing Jesus lived as a Spirit-filled man help you see your own life differently?
✦ Do you still try to earn God’s approval, or do you trust that justice has already been served?
✦ Where in your life is the Spirit calling you to pursue justice, mercy, and humility?
✦ How does the garden-to-garden story help you long for the day when justice will fully reign?
Prayer
Father, thank You for Your perfect justice.
Jesus, thank You for living the righteous life I could not, and bearing the judgment I deserved.
Spirit, thank You for empowering Jesus — and for empowering me to walk in His steps.
Forgive me for trying to prove myself, for ignoring injustice, for resisting Your will.
Help me live as Jesus lived — surrendered, Spirit-filled, obedient. Until the day when justice flows like a river in the final garden, keep me faithful today.
Amen.
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