Cornerstone Curriculum, Official Certification Edition

LESSON 4 | DOING JUSTICE AND LOVING MERCY: LET JUSTICE ROLL DOWN / 455

the prisoners free; [8] the Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous. [9] The Lord watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.

1. God is burdened for human beings everywhere who are oppressed, hungry, and abused.

2. The Lord actively involves himself in the justice of those who are hurting, i.e., those who are blind and bowed down.

3. The Lord is aware of the cause of all those who are refugees, widows, orphans, and powerless.

4. Religion in its purest practice before God involves caring for the needs of those most vulnerable and least able to defend and protect themselves among us, James 1.27.

5. Implication: The God of Jacob is fundamentally a God who identifies with the hurting, the poor, and the oppressed .

4

G. Human beings can be so transformed and renewed as to become partakers of the divine nature. 2 Pet. 1.2-4 – May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. [3] His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, [4] by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

U rban M i s s i on

1. Through Christ, believers have been given all things that pertain to life and godliness, 2 Pet. 1.3.