Jesus is the incarnation of the Justice of God

In keeping with the messianic expectation, Jesus represents the triumph of God’s justice on the earth. His message spoke into the prevailing concern of the time, which was the injustice that surrounded God’s people in everyday life. Jesus described his own ministry as bringing justice to the poor (Luke 4:18).

If there are any remaining doubts about the call to God’s people to minister justice in our present world we only need study the life, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus. Reflect on his words to those who were spiritually grounded, spiritually sincere and highly committed: ‘Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness.’ (Matthew 23:23 ESV)

At the heart of the Salvationist mission is this same biblical call to justice—justice flowing from God’s own being and revealing how the world should be.

From the 2006 Coutts Memorial Lecture, given by Major Campbell Roberts at The Salvation Army College of Further Education in Sydney, Australia. Part 5 of 5 on the centrality of Biblical Justice.

 Major Campbell Roberts is the Director of The New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga Territory Social Policy and Parliamentary Unit. Campbell has spent a lifetime of work as a Salvation Army Officer working on issues of social policy and  programmes that will assist people in poverty in New Zealand. His past roles have included national directorship of The Salvation Army Social services, and the command  of The Salvation Army in the South Island.

Edify is an initiative of The Salvation Army's Streetlevel Mission

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• The Salvation Army