The Holiness of God by R.C. Sproul
Week 8: Chapter 7 — Holy Justice
Read Chapter 7 of The Holiness of God.
Previewing Week 8 of The Holiness of God
Read 3 of 7 discussion questions below. Unlock the complete 9-week guide when you’re ready.
Sproul confronts one of the most contested questions in all of Christian thought: Is God truly just? He engages the problem of evil and divine judgment head-on, refusing to offer easy comfort — but ultimately pointing toward a breathtaking resolution.
Discussion Questions
7 questions1.Sproul argues that justice is not an external standard to which God is accountable, but rather flows from his holy character — God himself is the standard of justice. What difference does that make to the question of whether God's actions can be called 'just' or 'unjust'?
2.Sproul addresses the problem of evil — the question of how a holy, good, and powerful God can permit suffering and injustice in the world. How does he engage this challenge? Do you find his response fully adequate, partially satisfying, or still leaving important questions open?
3.Sproul makes the point that the problem of evil actually cuts both ways: we ask why God allows evil to go unpunished, but if he were to punish all evil perfectly and immediately, none of us would survive. How does this reframe the question?
a.What would a world of perfectly immediate divine justice actually look like for you personally?
b.Does this reframing resolve the problem of evil for you, or does it create new questions?