There are times when we, as humans with some kind of conscience, attempt to justify certain actions to show ourselves to be acceptable amongst all.
We want to pretty up the picture we display to others, to appear on the surface to be without blemish or blame.
We can may even go on the defensive conversationally, especially when we feel we are falsely accused of something we did not do, or, worse, when we are exposed in an actual misdemeanour, civil or social.
We all want to be guilt free
This actually tells us that no one really wants to appear to be guilty. Very few people deliberately go out of their way to be known as a guilty person.
Usually we display guilt after we’re caught in the act, unless, like many, we have a highly sensitive conscience, in which case we will even appear guilty when we are not. The mere thought of wrong will bring shame to some.
Guilt and shame are some of the worse places to be for human beings. We are unique in God’s creation in that we have, or at least start out with, a well developed conscience.
As well as this, we often put ourselves on trial, mentally or emotionally, when we think or know that we are guilty of something we consider to be wrong, or we have offended another person.
Or, we are actually put on trial for an accusation, whether false or true. This is particularly pertinent today with the rise of trial by social media which can be so traumatic for many, sometimes for merely having an opinion.
It’s in these circumstances or other similar situations that we seek to be justified. We want to prove ourselves innocent. Some even though they are not. They’d rather lie about their misdemeanour that live in the shame of justice.
The Justifier
The truth is that in life’s big issues, such as humanity’s universal failure to meet God’s love commands, we can’t actually justify ourselves. We all fell short of His glory. We none of hit the target of loving God and loving our neighbour as ourselves.
We can try to justify ourselves in regard to what God considers sin, but the Bible tells us that there is no human who is actually righteous.
Well, none but one. Jesus is the only person in the whole of human history who managed to successfully live a sinless life.
And this was necessary for the rest of us because the only way we could be justified was through the act of a sin-free person who was willing to sacrifice His own life so that we cold be made guilt free.
He is the Justifier. He took our pace at the cross so that we could be spared from the wages of sin, which is death, meaning eternal separation from God in a state of consciousness and regret. Physical death is not the end.
We have two choices, life or death, blessing or cursing, good or evil (Deut.30:19). God calls us to choose life.
What to choose
How do we choose life? We accept that we have fallen short of God’s glory; His best for us, and that we are in need of salvation. We acknowledge that Jesus is that Saviour, that His death, burial and resurrection meant that we too could be raised with Him to eternal life.
We determine to turn fro our own ways, to His ways. We cannot justify ourselves. God is the Justifier. He is the One who paid the price for our sin so that we could be saved from its power.
To be justified is to be made sin free, guilt free, and righteous. Righteousness is justification. It is to be in right standing with God.
The only way is through faith in Jesus.
The good news is that God, as our Justifier, is ever ready to make us free from guilt and shame. All we have to do is accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour. We need to believe this in our hearts that God has raised Jesus from the dead, and confess what we believe with our lips (Rom.10:9).
Believing brings us to the threshold. Confessing what we believe takes us over the threshold into forgiveness, salvation, righteousness and peace. Believing opens the door. Confessing welcomes us in.
The is only one Justifier. He is Almighty God. He is Love. He wants us to draw near to Him so He can draw near to us. It’s a two way transaction. A covenant. He offers it through His grace. We accept it through faith. And, when we come to Him He will instantly set us free from all sin and guilt.
It’s the great exchange. It’s why we spread the good news.
