How is God’s holiness is manifested?

God’s holiness is manifested in his justice and righteousness

Righteousness is conformity to a standard. In God, it is that perfection of his character whereby he exhibits perfect conformity to his own holy standard.

                  (a)  Two senses.

1. God’s righteousness in se is the eternal and absolute conformity of God to his own being.
2. God’s righteousness ad extra is reflected in the imputed righteousness of Christ secured for believers on the cross (Rom 1:17; 3:21).

Psalm 145:17—The Lord is righteous in all his ways.

Isaiah 45:19–24—I, the LORD, speak the truth; I declare what is right…. By myself I have sworn, my mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked…. They will say of me, “In the LORD alone are righteousness and strength.”

                  (b)  Manifestations of God’s righteousness

• In punishing the unrighteous. Romans 3:5–6—If our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us? ( I speak in a human way.) By no means! For then how could God judge the world?
• In rewarding the righteous. Hebrews 6:10—God is not unrighteous so as to forget your work of love.
• In chastening his people. Daniel 9:14—Calamity fell on the people because “the Lord our God is righteous with respect to all his deeds.”
• In the cross of Christ. Romans 3:25–26 cf. Acts 17:3—Propitiation was necessary to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
• In the forgiveness of sins. 1 John 1:9—If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us.

Justice is the fair administration of God’s righteous standard

                              (a)  Two Aspects

1. God’s retributive justice is his justice whereby he exercises holy wrath against those who violate his righteous standard.
2. God’s remunerative justice is his justice whereby he shows benevolence toward all who conform to his righteous standard.

Genesis 18:25—Far be it from you to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?

Romans 2:6–8—God will give to each person according to what he has done. To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life, but for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, wrath and anger.

2 Thessalonians 1:5–7—God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well and will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.