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God's Justice Vs. Man's Justice Introduction: Casey Anthony murder trial in which she was charged with first degree murder. Caylee Anthony was reported missing originally by her grandmother, July 15, 2008. Caylee was born August 9, 2005. Making her two years old. Her granddaughter had been missing for 30 days before she called. Casey had said she did not know where her daughter was but that a baby sitter had her. Later on she admitted that was a lie. After a long man hunt, Casey was charged, October 14, 2008 with the death of her daughter. Caylee's body was found, December 11,2008 about 6 blocks from her house in a field. After a trial that lasted over 6 weeks was over, Casey was found not guilty. Great public outrage as many felt Casey got away with murdering her daughter. I) What Did I Think About the Trial and Verdict? A) I did not devote 6weeks to hearing the evidence like the jury did. B) What I think does not matter. The jury decides the case and not public opinion. C) Man's justice tends to be unfair and uneven. 1. O. J. Simpson case is another example of a man being found not guilty when the evidence sees to say otherwise. 2. Georgia mother was convicted recently of vechicular homicide and could have gotten 3 years of jail time. What was her crime? While j-walking with her son, he was hit and killed by a car. The judge gave the woman 1 year of probation, and 40 hours of community service. II) What Is Justice? A) Definition --the quality of being just, righteousness, equitible, morally right, lawfulness (FAIR). 1. That which is right and dictated by the law. 2. Predicted upon equal application and a just or righteous law. B) Problems with man's justice 1. Sometimes man's law is unfair or morally wrong, Pro. 31.5. a. Man's law sometimes contradicts God's law, Acts 5.29 b. There may be jail time but is it morally right? 2. Sometimes man does not apply the law equally, 1 Samuel 8.3; Amos 5,7,12. a. Partiality and prejudice gets in the way of justice. Diplomatic immunity, male teacher who gets sexually involved with a student versus a female teacher. b. Who commits the crime should not matter but sometimes it does with man. 3. Sometimes man can be evil and not understand the very concept or meaning of justice, Pro. 28.5. (Daniel praying in Daniel 6) a. Think of the trial of Jesus as He was condemned by a court. What it just? b. You may be punished for actually doing the right thing. 4. Sometimes man is unable to determine the facts and know what justice is in this particular case. a. Most of the jurors said they believed Casey Anthony was guilty of something but they did not know what. b. They thought another family member may have killed Caylee. c. Our court system says there must be evidence to convict that is beyond a "reasonable doubt." III) Justice With God A) God is just -- Psalm 72.2; 103.6 1. Justice is the very foundation of His throne, Psalm 89.14; 97.2 2. One cannot say that God's law is evil or morally wrong, Jeremiah 10.24. a. God's law is perfect because God is perfect. Psalm 19.7ff b. His Law is morally right because He is morally right. The same can be said for Jesus. 3. One cannot say God shows partiality, Romans 2.11. Who you are does not matter with God, Acts 10.34-35. 4. One cannot say God can be fooled into believing a lie or not know what we have and have not done. a. He is omniscience which means all knowing. Jesus showed this quality in reading people's minds, Mark 3; He knew a fish had a coin in its mouth and paid the temple tax with it, Matthew 17.27; He knew the Samaritan woman was living in adultery, John 4.16-19,29, etc. b. He knows what the truth is and cannot be tricked. Everything everyone does is seen by God, 2 Corinthians 5.10; Heb. 4.12-13 5. Since the Judge is just, the Law is just, it will be applied equally, and all the facts will be known, there will be justice. B) But there is also mercy and grace contained in the Law 1. God's law does not punish those who seek forgiveness, Zech. 7.9. a. Grace came through Jesus Christ, John 1.14, 16-17. b. By grace you have been saved, Eph. 2.8. 2. Romans 3.19-26 shows how God is just and at the same time shows mercy to those who obey the Gospel of Christ. Conclusion: Do not expect forgiveness when you disobey God. Expect it only when you seek it in accordance with His Law.
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