But if we confess our sins to God, he will keep his promise and do what is right: he will forgive us our sins and purify us from all our wrongdoing. 1 John 1:9, GNT

 

I grew up in a home where fairness was highly esteemed. My parents never allowed any injustice and I am still thankful for what they taught me in this regard. In many places in the Bible we read that God expects us to be just in every sense. In Proverbs 21:3 we read: “Do what is right and fair; that pleases the LORD more than bringing him sacrifices.” These are very important words, as sacrifices were an indispensable part of religion in the Old Testament.

 

Unfortunately, we can never be completely impartial as humans. Our nature is always inclined toward what is best for ourselves. Without really even being aware that we are doing wrong, we can sometimes be very unjust towards our partners, children, employees or even a fellow driver at a stop sign.

 

But God is always completely just as we can see in Deuteronomy. In the song that Moses dedicated to God shortly before he died, he said: “The LORD is your mighty defender, perfect and just in all his ways.” God, our mighty defender, is seen as faithful and true. All of these characteristics show just how impartial he is.

 

God is like that; he keeps his promises and does what is right, as John tells us. In the well-known verse, John 3:16, God promised: “… so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life.” This is the promise that John relies on when he says that if we confess our sins, God will not go back on his promise. He will be faithful in what he promised and because he is absolutely just, it is true for everyone who believes, irrespective of our status, wealth or position in society.

 

Prayer: Thank you, our Father, that you are always, and in all circumstances, a just God. Amen.

 

 

 

Maar as ons ons sondes bely – Hy is getrou en regverdig, Hy vergewe ons ons sondes en reinig ons van alle ongeregtigheid. 1 Johannes 1:9, 1983-vertaling

 

Ek het in 'n huis grootgeword waar regverdigheid op alle vlakke as baie belangrik beskou is. My ouers het geen onregverdigheid toegelaat nie en daarvoor is ek hulle vandag nog baie dankbaar. In die Bybel lees ons telkens dat God dit van ons verwag om regverdig te wees, soos Spreuke 21:3 vir ons sê: “Die Here verkies dat 'n mens doen wat regverdig en reg is eerder as dat jy offers bring.” Groot woorde, want in die tyd wat Spreuke geskryf is, was offers 'n onontbeerlike deel van mense se godsdiens.

 

Tog kan ons op menslike vlak nooit heeltemal regverdig wees nie, daarvoor sorg die menslike natuur. Sonder om dit noodwendig so te beplan, tree ons dikwels baie onregverdig op teenoor ons lewensmaat, kind, werknemer of selfs die ander motoris by die stopteken.

 

God daarenteen is volkome regverdig. In Deuteronomium 32 is 'n pragtige lied wat Moses kort voor sy dood aan God opgedra het. In ons aangehaalde vers word van God gesê dat Hy 'n Rots is, dat sy werk volmaak is en dit word afgerond deur die woorde: “alles wat Hy doen is regverdig”. Rots, volmaak, regverdig, getrou en sonder onreg. Dit is hoe God is, daarom is Hy absoluut getrou aan sy beloftes aan ons.

 

In die bekende Johannes 3:16 beloof God aan ons: “... sodat dié wat in Hom glo, nie verlore sal gaan nie maar die ewige lewe sal hê.” Op grond van dié belofte kan Johannes in ons teks uit sy eerste brief ook sê dat as ons ons sondes bely, God nooit op sy belofte om ons te vergewe sal teruggaan nie. Getrou doen Hy wat Hy belowe het en omdat Hy volkome regverdig is, geld dit onpartydig vir elkeen wat glo, ongeag wat ons status, rykdom of plek in die samelewing is.

 

Gebed: Baie dankie liewe Vader dat U ten alle tye absoluut regverdig is. Amen