EPISODE 370 – JUSTIFICATION 2

JUSTIFICATION 2

“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,” 

Romans 5:1 (NKJV)

From our previous study, we realised justification is God’s own action to make you righteous.

It is not what you do to be righteous, neither is it how you try to be righteous or morally upright. Justification is God declaring you righteous by faith.

You cannot be righteous by your own effort. Your own righteousness cannot be good enough.

Jesus, shared a parable in Luke 18:9-14, to explain the concept of justification, which we discussed in the previous post.

Now, there was another scenario between a wealthy Jewish leader and Jesus:

“One day a wealthy Jewish nobleman of high standing posed this question to Jesus: “Wonderful Teacher, what must I do to be saved and receive eternal life?”
Jesus answered, “Why would you call me wonderful when there is only one who is wonderful—and that is God alone? You already know what is right and what the commandments teach: ‘Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not lie, and respectfully honor your father and your mother.”
The wealthy leader replied, “These are the very things I’ve been doing for as long as I can remember.”
“Ah,” Jesus said. “But there’s still one thing you’re missing in your life.”
“What is that?” asked the man.
“You must go and sell everything you own and give all the proceeds to the poor so you will have eternal treasures. Then come and follow me.”
 When the rich leader heard these words, he was devastated, for he was extremely wealthy.” Luke 18:18-23 (TPT)

At first glance, you may think the wealthy Jew’s question was a harmless question.

However, Jesus knew his question was works-oriented or boastful-centered.

This was not with the same intention as the disciples of Jesus were asked during Pentecost in Acts 2:37.

“Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” (ESV).

For those who heard the message in Acts 2, they were pierced to the heart.

When he asked:

“what must I do to be saved and receive eternal life?”

He asked the question on the grounds of his self-effort. What he can do and not how Jesus can help him.

This is the mindset of the religious. Religious or legalistic folks judge their lives based on their works.

They believe whatever they enjoy in the Lord, is according to their own self-efforts.

They are proud and boastful.
They think they are forgiven by God because they forgive others. They assume they are righteous because they worked for it, or they are perfect because they keep the law of Moses.

However, that is not what it is.

Your self-efforts cannot make you righteous. The law cannot make you perfect or righteous, because you cannot fully keep the law.

You cannot be justified by your work or attempt to keep the whole law.

When Jesus saw that the wealthy Jewish leader was works conscious than grace conscious, He showed him the demands of the law.

And you can see how he was boasting of his adherence to the law.

The response he gave to Jesus meant, “If it’s about keeping the law of Moses, I have lived and kept the law completely”.

Yet, God justifies by faith, so that no man will boast or take credit in any way.

There is no place for your self-efforts or works when it comes to  justification or salvation. It solely depends on the finished work of Christ in His death and resurrection.

The wealthy Jewish leader couldn’t even keep the first commandment:

“Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” Exodus 20:3 (KJV)

He had esteemed his wealth so much he couldn’t sacrifice it to follow God. (Luke 18:22-23).

Jesus shut the mouth of this Jewish leader and made him swallow his boasting.
That is the purpose of the law, to expose your weakness and imperfection.

His wealth has become his god.

You are not saved or justified by your works. You are saved or justified by believing in Jesus.

There is no place for your self-effort, ego and boasting. It is the work of God in Christ.

At Salvation you were declared not guilty on the account of what Jesus has done; not according to what you did or what you are trying to do.

Don’t be like the rich Jewish leader.

I repeat, you are not justified by your own perfection. You are justified by the perfection of Jesus. Your boast is in who Jesus is, not your own efforts.

Praise the Lord.