“Defensive” is one of those. It sounds like you’re trying to cover up something, “he’s being defensive.” But a good defense is not necessarily a bad thing. Let’s hope the Eagles’ defense makes a better showing than they have so far in the pre-season.

Justify is another one of those words. It goes like this: “How can you justify staying out two hours after curfew?” Trying to justify yourself sounds like you’re trying to get away with something. To justify, according to Webster’s Dictionary, is to prove or show to be just, right, reasonable.

To be “justified,” or “justification” is one of the key concepts of the Christian faith. The underlying assumption is that people, on their own, can’t justify their behavior or intentions as just, right or reasonable. Though we continue to try, our attempts are deeply flawed and woefully inadequate. People don’t measure up to what we were created to be. Apparently, the more we try to, the worse it gets. This is largely because, at the center of this unjustifyable state is a relationship that’s been broken. Our attempts to justify ourselves are all about showing that we are worthy of God’s favor (and other people’s for that matter) and thus, of good things—success, health, safety, and maybe eventually, heaven. In them, we try to put God or the universe in our debt. So, in our own attempts to get right with God, we are actually asserting our independence of Him.

The unique teaching of the Christian faith is that only God can justify us. The wild thing about the Christian message is that He does. By grace (that is, by his unconditional love, and unmerited favor) he reaches out to us in all our self-centered self-justifying mess (sin) to restore a relationship with us and to set things right.

Oddly, this is also the most offensive part of the Christian message. People don’t like to be told their helpless. We resist not being in control. We will do almost anything not to face that we have none. Once again, God, in his love and grace can bring us through that. Christ-followers throughout the ages have called this, “Justifying Grace.” Coming to the end of ourselves, of our attempts to self-justifying, and surrendering to and receiving God’s grace is the beginning of the new life that Christ-followers talk about. It’s being “born again.”

Now, why even bring this up? The great 18th century evangelist, George Whitfield, was often asked this question, “Why do you always say, ‘You must be born again?’”  His answer: “Because you must be born again.” This is central. If one doesn’t grasp this, one doesn’t understand the Christian faith. If  someone tries to practice the Christian faith without grasping this, their practice of it actually leads them away from actually experiencing it. If someone who has received this justifying grace forgets about it, they forfeit their joy, and their freedom—and that’s just for starters. Worse, they forget how to help others discover the wonder of being justified.

So, what justifies you?

Yours for the Journey,
Pastor Tom

…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Romans 3:23-24