Why Do People Believe God is Not Fair or Is Unjust?

Many unbelievers and even a few believers think that God is not fair or is unjust, so what do you say to them?

Is God Unfair or Is Unjust?

Many unbelievers and even a few believers think that God is not fair or is unjust, so what do you say to them? Most Christians would answer the question of “Is God fair” with yes, but there is trouble with unbelievers who find out the Bible teaches that God saves some but not all (Rom 9). Jeremiah the Prophet was commanded by God to go the potter’s house and wrote that “the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter’s hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do” (Jer 18:4). The Potter in this case was God Himself and He alone reserves the right to have clay vessels fitted for glory and some fitted for destruction. Like a real potter, they have the right to dispose of clay vessels as they see fit. God also has this right, but everyone is responsible for their own sins and God tells all to come to the water. Isaiah the Prophet wrote, “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy” (Isaiah 55:1)? In other words, whoever may come may come if they are truly seeking God.

Do You Really Want Fairness?

People often say, “God is not fair,” but truly, if God were fair, He would rightly send everyone to hell. Not one ever born is worthy (save Jesus); not even one person who has ever lived deserves heaven (Rom 3:10-12). We don’t want God to treat us fairly because we rightly deserve His eternal wrath. Rather, we should plead with God to give us what we don’t deserve, namely His mercy and grace. Do we really think it was fair for God to place all the sins we have committed on Jesus Who alone was without sin? Jesus was totally innocent; we are not. We should not demand justice…rather, we should plead for mercy and to give us what we do not deserve (John 3:16).

Why Some Saved and Not Others?

Many who understand that God is not going to save everyone will ask, “Why are some people saved while others are not? This doesn’t seem fair,” but If God were fair, He would rightly send everyone to hell (Rom 9:22). It wasn’t fair to Jesus Who took the wrath we deserved. Jesus’ words then are still His words today as He said, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink” (John 7:37). God tells the “house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter has done? declares the Lord. Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel” (Jer 18:6). What if I came to your house and threw out things I thought were useless or no good? You’d likely call 911, but if it’s your house, you have every right to do so. Similarly, God owns us and all His creation, so He is just to do with it (or us) as He sees fit. This doesn’t mean people are forced to go to hell against their will because Jesus said that “whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst” (John 6:35).

More Than Fair

Everyone deserves hell but God offers heaven through Christ.

We can be wrong…and many times we are and often we don’t treat people fairly, but God? He alone is fair and just for “He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he” (Deut 43:2). We can’t argue with the Word of God. It says God “does no wrong” and is “upright and just.” That should answer our question…totally. So the Apostle Paul answers this question, once and for all, writing, “What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means” (Rom 9:14)! To claim, “I didn’t know God existed so I am innocent” is false for His Word declares clearly that God’s “eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse” (Rom 1:20). Speaking of those who reject God, in actuality, “they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened” (Rom 1:21).

Conclusion

God is more than fair. The only time God was not fair was when He placed the wrath of God upon the sinless Jesus, but aren’t we glad for that! The invitation to believe in Christ is open today to all who as our Savior still says, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt 11:28). That sure sounds like an open invitation to everyone, doesn’t it? Today, will you trust in Him? If you do not, you are in immediate danger being only one breath, one heartbeat…one accident away from eternity. Then it will be too late to repent. This is why today, this very day, is the best day to believe (2 Cor 6:2) because tomorrow is no guarantee and if Jesus Christ came today, it will be too late (and He could come in a split second!). This is why I plead with you as you read this right now, repent and put your trust in Jesus Christ. If not, prepare to face God’s judgment after you die (Heb 9:27) or if Jesus Christ appears today (Rev 20:12-15).

Here is some related reading for you: Why God? Why Did You Allow This?

Resource – Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version^® (ESV^®), Crossway Bibles. (2007). ESV: Study Bible: English standard version. Wheaton, Ill: Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Tagged as: God's Calling, God's Elect, Is God Fair?, Salvation