Jesus-Justified
“He waits to be gracious to you. He sits on His throne ready to show mercy to you. For Yahweh is the Lord of justice, faithful to keep His promises. Overwhelmed with bliss are all who will entwine their hearts in Him, waiting for Him to help them.” Isaiah 30:18 TPT
When someone wants to be justified, he or she wants to be understood as reasonable for their choices. In order to work together with others, we want others to hear us, see us, and know us. When living in a community or as part of a team on a project, it’s important for others to know our motives and objectives. We need to communicate.
It’s one thing for us to seek for our work or community decisions to be justified, but it’s another when we seek self-justification for sinful behaviors. It’s self-justification when we try to balance out wrong deeds with our good deeds to gain acceptance and belonging. It’s self-justification when we try to turn our reasons into excuses. People can try to self-justify with others and also with God. It’s not a good move.
When it comes to right-living, the only way to be justified is through Jesus and His work on the cross. Maybe you’ve heard the word justified explained this way, “It’s just as if I never sinned.” How is that possible? Because Jesus went into the courtroom as our attorney and took our punishment.
Self-justification will not free us from shame, guilt or fear. Jesus-justification will. Withdrawing from community is not an answer. Getting angry and trying to overpower people is not an answer. Receiving and celebrating grace is the answer to real freedom. Glorifying Jesus will give us peace, joy, and victory.
The love of God casts out fear (1 John 1:9). A gracious spirit is like a magnet, drawing people to us and the Jesus in us. Grace doesn’t dismiss sin, but it overcomes it. When people feel accepted, walls come down, and the Lord is able to get inside the deep recesses of a person and bring light, healing, and forgiveness. A critical spirit will cause people to withdrawal and hide or fight and rebel against feelings of rejection. Some may never feel exonerated in the eyes some people; but when a person feels seen, heard, and known by a justifying Jesus, that’s all they need to be complete and whole.
Application: Is there someone in your life that tries to hold you to your repented, past wrongs? They do that because they struggle with grace for themselves. Surround yourself with people who get the Gospel and will celebrate Jesus with you.