God's Authority: Love, Justice, and Discipline

March 28th, 2025

God's Love and Justice Go Hand in Hand

Many people today tend to focus on one aspect of God—His love. And it’s true, the Bible tells us plainly that “God is love” (1 John 4:8). But if we stop there, we miss the bigger picture. God isn’t just loving—He’s also just. He is the ultimate authority, the Creator and Judge of the universe. And that means He doesn’t just overlook sin or brush aside disobedience.

Understanding God’s authority is essential for establishing a right relationship with Him. He’s not just a kind Father; He’s also a sovereign King. He calls us to trust Him, respect Him, and obey Him—not out of fear of punishment, but because He is worthy. At the same time, God’s justice doesn’t mean He’s harsh or unkind. In fact, His justice and discipline are proof of His love for us.

God's Authority Sets the Standard

Think about it—if God weren’t just, how could He be good? A loving God who ignores evil wouldn’t be truly loving at all. That’s why Deuteronomy 32:4 describes Him like this: “The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.”

God alone defines what is right and wrong. He doesn’t change with the times or adjust His rules based on human opinions. He is holy, and His justice is perfect.

We see His justice throughout Scripture. When people choose to ignore Him, there are consequences. Not because He enjoys punishing people, but because He is righteous. Isaiah 5:20 warns: “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil.”

God’s justice ensures that righteousness prevails. But thankfully, that’s not the end of the story. His justice works hand in hand with His mercy.

Reverence, Not Fear

Respecting God’s authority isn’t about walking on eggshells, afraid He’ll strike us down if we mess up. It’s about recognizing who He is and responding with reverence and obedience. Proverbs 9:10 says: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.” This fear isn’t a fear that pushes us away—it’s a deep reverence that draws us closer. It’s realizing that God is holy, sovereign, and worthy of our trust.

Ignoring God's Authority Has Consequences

We see the danger of disregarding God’s authority in the story of King Saul. God gave him a clear command, but Saul thought he could do things his own way. Instead of fully obeying, he made excuses. As a result, God rejected him as king: “Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has also rejected you from being king” (1 Samuel 15:23).

The New Testament gives us a similar warning: “See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven” (Hebrews 12:25). God’s authority isn’t something we can take lightly. He is patient and merciful, but He won’t be ignored.

God's Justice and the Gospel

Here’s where the beauty of the gospel comes in. Because God is just, sin has to be dealt with. But instead of leaving us to face the consequences on our own, He sent Jesus. Romans 5:9 tells us: “Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.”

Jesus took the full weight of God’s wrath on the cross. For those who trust in Him, the punishment for sin is completely removed. We don’t have to live in fear of condemnation, but that doesn’t mean God won’t discipline us. Hebrews 12:6 reminds us: “For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”

God's Discipline: A Sign of His Love

God’s discipline isn’t about punishment—it’s about growth. Just like a loving parent corrects their child, God disciplines us to shape us into the people He created us to be. When we go off track, He lovingly brings us back.

David, one of the greatest kings of Israel, learned this lesson the hard way. After his adulterous sin with Bathsheba, he faced serious consequences. When confronted with his sin, however, he didn’t shake his fist at God—he humbled himself and said: “Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment” (Psalm 51:4).

Living Under God's Authority

God’s discipline isn’t about crushing us—it’s about restoring us. God’s authority isn’t just a theological concept—it’s something that should shape our daily lives. If we truly believe He is sovereign, we will trust His commands, obey His Word, and submit to His correction.

At the same time, we don’t have to live in fear. Jesus has taken the wrath we deserve, and because of that, we can approach God with confidence. His discipline may be uncomfortable, but it’s always for our good. So let’s live in a way that honors His authority—not out of fear of punishment, but out of love and reverence for who He is. Let’s trust that His justice is good, His discipline is loving, and His mercy is endless.

Application

Examine your heart–Are there areas in your life where you struggle to submit to God’s authority? Pray and ask God to reveal where you need to trust Him more.
Respond to discipline with humility–Instead of resisting God’s correction, learn from it. Like David, confess your sins and allow God to restore you.
Live with reverence–Honor God’s authority in your words, actions, and decisions. Let your life reflect your trust in Him.

Author Bio:
Gabrielle Terry (aka Gabby) and her husband, Riley, have been married since October 2022 and live in the beautiful state of Georgia! Currently, she helps produce content for RforH's social media, coordinates guests for our podcast, The DeBunked Files, and helps foster relationships with our amazing supporters. She also works within our amazing Mic’dUP Discipleship program, where we help students and leaders feel equipped to evangelize to those around them.

One of Gabby's biggest passions is learning about how God designed our bodies and what we can do to support them. Because she also wanted to help others learn this information, she became a certified Nutritional Therapist. Now, she can help people understand the foundations of what our body needs to thrive through holistic practices according to God’s design.

Through Reasons for Hope and her services as a Nutritional Therapist, Gabby hopes to help people learn to embrace God’s purpose and design for their lives spiritually and physically.