The Guy with the Sign: “We Want Justice”…S31e42 Mt 5:6

You've seen our hero, carrying the sign that illustrates our thought for the day: "We Want Justice!"  He realizes that things are not quite right.  

God agrees with him.  Blessed are those who HUNGER and THIRST for righteousness.(Now) They will be satisfied.(Not quite now)

Join me to hear the real source for this desire for Justice. Join me in our quest for justice. 

Transcript

The Guy with the Sign: “We Want Justice”…S31e42 Mt 5:6

When you see someone marching with a sign “We want justice”, this is generally a godly desire. 

Justice is not far from righteousness. Perfect justice is similar to perfect righteousness. The word in our passage, is interchangeable with our English words of justice and righteousness.

What about the guy with the sign?

Where did that inclination come from? 

Where did that desire for justice and righteousness come from? 

         So strong,To sometimes even, literally, carry the sign.

This is the HUNGER and THRIST for righteousness that our passage talks about today

We are built to want righteousness.

We are built to want a right standing before God.

I think we understand that we don’t quite have it yet: 

That is why we have to carry around those signs every now & then

There is a God-shaped hole in our hearts. 

He has put Eternity in our hearts as Ecclesiates says in 3:11

6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. W

Want to talk about an external observation and an internal observation. First the EXTERNAL

Righteousness: Being in right standing before God.

EXTERNAL criteria.: His criteria. He gets to decide. His standards

         God requires what the standards are; we Inquire what He wishes

“Self-righteousness” is NO Righteousness at all! He Has to help.

People are incapable of saving themselves.  People are incapable of dealing with the just penalties of their transgressions.

To speak of righteousness, without mentioning a worthy Helper, 

         Is to speak of self-righteousness, 

which is no righteousness at all

Righteousness, justice does not come from ourselves.

What satisfies a Holy God? Perfection. Are we perfect? No. that’s how we got into this mess. 

How do we get out? Perfect savior, substitution, sacrifice. Given willingly as a gift to us knuckleheads. 

we are shooting for righteousness, justice, perfection

which comes to us externally,

What is one of the Hallmarks of HUMANITY? HUNGER

Hunger for righteousness. Hunger for the WHEN that all things are made right. Time when is Justice is done. When fair dealing is completed. The human desire for this isn’t even limited to Christians.  The guy with the sign, demonstrates this.

We hunger for the TIME, the WHEN that

Injustice is no more. Only Justice is left.

When unrighteousness is gone.  Only righteousness is left.

Hunger and thirsting: we are not there yet.  There is something that we wishthat we do not yet have fulfilled.

This is what we are internally.

Think with me: WHEN is righteous restored? When is this When is this desired righteous fully achieved?   NOT YET

Now blessed are those hunger and thirst for righteousness

BLESSED IS THE GUY WITH THE SIGN

         This means you want it*****

This means you don’t have it yet***—time has not yet come

You would very much agree, I think, if you look at the world, that we do not live in a righteous place.

But wait , there’s more: 6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. W

Here is what is promised in the kingdom of God: if you hunger for this right relationship with God, in a place where there is no more sin, no more broken relationshiop, YOU’re GOING TO BE SATISFIED.  

Your hunger is going to be fed

You are going to enjoy the fruitful remedy of your desire

God is going to fix this

You have an opportunity to rejoin Him in relationship

         This was an opportunity that was not previously available.

His standards are going to be met. Sin will be completely dealt with. Punishments are going to be perfectly meted out with one exception: Christians.

Christians will NOT get the satisfaction of our guy with the sign

Why? Christians will be SPARED Justice. How?

         The penalty, for who of us does not sit under due penalty?z

Here is how the math works: Christians are just as deserving of appropriate justice and punishment as the next guy BUT

Jesus takes the punishment, satisfies justice with a capital J

And sets the prisoner free.He becomes the righteousnesswe all sek 

So you ask, How do I get this great exchange? Belief. Faith.

I will agree with you  that this fix sounds too good to be true. IF

Agree with me that the breach is wide the sin is real the relationship is impared.

We want JUSTICE is really another way of saying, We want JESUS

Call to Him. Speak to Him. Trust Him . He’s the One makes it right

Your desire for Justice. is really a desire for Jesus. H