The Justice of God (January-February 2012)

January-February 2012
Volume 21, Number 1

The world's frequent cry for justice ignores the perfect justice of God, an element that Christians must constantly and consciously consider if they will live by faith. When He judges, God is always perfectly fair and right, despite our human misunderstandings of His sense of justice. Mercy, however, often tempers His decisions, extending help and grace instead of punishment. (iStockphoto)

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh
Living by Faith and God's Justice

Living by faith is not easy in this world—not by any stretch of the imagination. Among the spiritual realities that a faithful Christian must understand is God's sense of justice. John Ritenbaugh uses the instantaneous deaths of Aaron's sons, Nadab and Abihu, to illustrate the differences between His sometimes swift and terrifying—but perfect—justice and our own imperfect judgments.

Ready Answer
The Gift of Discerning Spirits
by David F. Maas

God grants His chosen people many gifts through His Holy Spirit, one of which is the gift of discerning spirits, the ability to determine the source of a spiritual manifestation. David Maas explains that this gift must be used in conjunction with a thorough knowledge and understanding of God's Word.

Prophecy Watch
Meet the Minor Prophets (Part One)
by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The twelve small books at the end of the Old Testament are often overlooked in the shadow of the much longer prophetic books of Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel. However, Richard Ritenbaugh argues that the Minor Prophets contain vital messages for today's Christians facing the time of the end.

WorldWatch
The Dream of a United States of Europe
by David C. Grabbe

For the last several generations, many of the most influential politicians in Europe have worked tirelessly toward the emergence of a united Continent. Their plans have been stalled, if not foiled, by the reality of the international economic system. David Grabbe writes that, for now, reality is stacked against full European integration.

Bible Study
The Miracles of Jesus Christ:
Healing a Deaf-Mute (Part Two)
by Martin G. Collins

The gospels provide many accounts of Jesus healing the sick, and it seems that there are almost as many methods that He used to heal them, from speaking a word to touching them to smearing clay on their eyes. Martin Collins considers Christ's method of healing a deaf-mute man, extracting spiritual lessons applicable to us today.