Justice is related to laws. There are man-made laws and there are God-given laws. Man-made laws involve conduct in society, relations, and business. Man-made laws only impose punishment to restrain evil and harm to others and society in general as well as protect the innocent and helpless. Justice is when the guilty are convicted of breaking a law and then punished according to the society’s law. When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers.
Apostle Paul wrote, “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience.” (Romans 13:1-5)
Paul wrote this under Rome’s rule which often punished the innocent and rewarded the guilty.
