Justified

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Justified

Lame excuses  do not justify us.      People will go to extreme lengths  to try  to justify their sins,  but that can never  take away  their guilt.      The verdict still stands — guilty.

To justify something  is to show  that it is definitely right,  and in accordance  with all good reason.      To be justified  sets one free  from all blame  and absolves one  of any guilt.      They cannot be accused  of that act again  because they are proven  guiltless.

What a relief  in a court of law.      But,  what about  our justification  in the eyes  of God Almighty?      That is another whole ballgame.      Why?      Because God knows the truth  of all things.      We are all sinners  in the eyes  of the LORD — every last one of us.      There is not a one of us  who can claim innocence.      We were born sinners  and we will commit sins  until the day we die.      We are doomed.      We cannot pay the price  of righting  our wrongs.

No matter how hard we try  to be good,  we will never succeed.      And God knows  all about it.

We are God’s creation  and He understands  our dilemma.      In His almighty love  He made a way  for us  to actually and truly  be justified  in His sight.      In Galatians 2:16  it says,

Nevertheless  knowing that a man  is not justified  by the works  of the Law  but through faith  in Christ Jesus,  even we  have believed  in Christ Jesus,  that we may be justified  by faith  in Christ,  and not by the works  of the Law;  since  by the works  of the Law  shall no flesh  be justified.

As sinners,  we have this sinful tendency  to make all sorts of excuses  so we can escape  condemnation.      We will work really hard  at keeping the law  and will brashly defend  our efforts  to be good.      But,  in the reality  of what God sees,  that is all rubbish.      Cry all we want — we are guilty.      There is no earthly way  to take away  our guilt.

But,  there is love.

It is our decrepit spiritual condition  that really needs fixing — and God does that  for us  through the life,  suffering,  death,  and resurrection  of Jesus Christ.      Jesus’ shed blood  paid for all  of our sins.      The price has been paid — a way  has been fixed  for us.      That is  in the past tense.      It is a done deal.

All we need to do  is have “faith in Christ Jesus”.      We dare not think  there is more to it  than just that — because  that would be equivalent  to calling  God Almighty  a liar.      We are  “justified by faith in Christ”.      A court of law  on earth  may rightly find us  guilty of something  and we will have to pay  earthly consequences.      But,  God Almighty  can and will  justify us  through faith,  when we go to Him  in repentance  and lay all our sins  before Him.

When we put our  “faith in Christ Jesus”  we are giving up  wanting to do things  our way.      We are admitting  that depending on God’s grace  is the only way  any human being  can be forgiven  and led  in God’s righteousness.      God has declared  that our faith  has set all things right.      We cannot be accused  any more  in God’s sight,  because He has  “justified“  us.

Spiritually,  we are set free  to go on  and live for Christ.      In our freedom,  we say,  “Hallelujah!      Lord,  it is so good  to know for sure  that you still love us  and forgive us.      Thank You!”

Love,
Margaret

 

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A Christian devotional to glorify the LORD of lords and God of gods

 

Pray for our country.

 

This is the day which the LORD has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

 

The word of the LORD is tried;
He is a shield  to all  who take refuge  in Him.
Psalm 18:30

 

Sing for joy in the LORD,  O you righteous ones;
Praise is becoming  to the upright.
Psalm 33:1

 

How blessed are those  who dwell in Thy house!
They are ever praising Thee.
Psalm 84:4

 

Just as a father has compassion  on his children,
So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
Psalm 103:13

 

Oh give thanks to the LORD,  for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Psalm 107:1

 

Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.
Psalm 105:3

 

Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that
I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12

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