PONDER THIS

What is justification? Justification is an act of God through which He declares those who’ve received Jesus Christ righteous. It doesn’t mean they’ve earned righteousness; Jesus is the only One who has earned righteousness. It means that righteousness has been given to God’s people, apart from anything that they have done to deserve it. Your faith is counted for righteousness.

Now justification is more than a pardon for your sins. Justification is more than an acquittal. If you went into a court and the courtroom said, “You’re guilty but we pardon you,” that wouldn’t be justification. Or if the courtroom said, “You are acquitted,” that means you never were guilty to begin with. Justification means that you are not only pardoned but that God now, by a forensic act of His love and divine righteousness, declares you righteous apart from works of any kind—not because you’ve been good, not because you’ve kept the Ten Commandments, not because you’ve gotten baptized but because you have trusted in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross. So many people endlessly endeavor to try to be good. They look to do good things so God will like them. God loves you—that is not the question. He sent His only Son because He loves you. The question is, do you trust that He can make you right with Him? Do you trust Him to make you whole again or are you trying to solve that problem yourself?

• What are some good things people do to try to gain God’s favor? When have you done some of those things?
• What happens when we try to do good for God’s favor? What is harmful about that?

PRACTICE THIS

Confess when you have tried to do good things for God’s pardon. Surrender and thank Him for justification through Jesus.