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justification
“I had to buy the pair of shoes and found some on sale. They match the dress I bought last week perfectly." "I had to speed up my car on the freeway because the cars behind me accelerated and forced me to go faster." "I ate this piece of cake because it was the last one and I needed to make room in the fridge." “I had to use a little white lie; because I didn't want to hurt my girlfriend's feelings."
We have all done that. We started as children and continue to do so as adults. We do it whenever we do something we know we shouldn't - things we should feel guilty about. But we don't feel guilty because we think we have a good reason for what we do. We saw a need that made us do what - at least at the time - seemed necessary, and it didn't seem to hurt anyone either. It's called justification, and most of us do it without even realizing it. It can become a habit, a way of thinking that can prevent us from taking responsibility for our actions. I often justify myself when I open my big mouth and say something unfriendly or critical.
Yes, I say unkind things every now and then. The tongue is difficult to control. When I justify myself, I (almost) remove my guilt and allow myself the satisfied feeling that I have helped the recipient of my comments learn and grow spiritually.
Our justification does several things for us. It can help us to feel superior to others. She can take our debt away. It helps us to think that we are right and what we did is all right. It can give us a sense of security that we will not experience any negative consequences. Right? Not correct! Your own justification does not make us guilty. It does not help, it just gives us the wrong idea that we could get away with our misconduct well. Is there a justification that makes us guiltless? Justification in God's eyes defines an act by which unjust sinners are justified by Jesus.
When we receive justification from God through faith and faith alone, it absolves us of guilt and makes us acceptable to Him. His justification is not like our own, through which we try to portray ourselves innocently for so-called good reasons for our wrongdoing. True justification comes exclusively through Christ. It is His righteousness that God implanted in us as a quality, but that is not our own.
If we are truly justified by living faith in Christ, we no longer have the feeling of having to justify ourselves. Divine justification depends on true faith, which in turn inevitably leads to works of obedience. Obedience to Jesus, our Lord, will reveal to us our responsibility in such circumstances as mentioned at the beginning of this article so that we may appropriate them. We will recognize our motives, take responsibility, and we will regret.
Genuine justification does not give a false sense of security, but real security. We will not be just in our own eyes, but in the eyes of God. And that is a much better state.
by Tammy Tkach
