Justification

Just over 500 years ago, a young man in what is now eastern Germany was tormented by his own conscience.  Although he lived an exemplary life as an Augustinian monk, he was still conscious every day of how far short he fell of God’s perfect righteousness.  He was angry at God; indeed, he later wrote, “I hated the righteous God who punishes sinners.”

One day, much to his surprise, he encountered as if for the first time a central doctrine of the apostle Paul’s letter to the Romans. He was transformed:  “I felt that I was altogether born again and had entered paradise itself through open gates.” 

The young monk was Martin Luther, who sparked the spiritual revival movement we know today as the Protestant Reformation.   And the doctrine from Romans was justification by faith.

Justification by faith! Paul teaches that we are all—even the best of us—sinners and we are unable to remedy our sinful condition and repair the separation it causes between us and God.  But God, in mercy, acted to accomplish what we cannot.  In his sacrificial death on the cross, Jesus took on himself the condemnation our sin deserves.  Far from excusing or overlooking our sin, God has dealt decisively with our sin.  God has justified us, doing everything necessary to make us right with God’s own self. 

And this is all God.  We can’t earn it and we don’t deserve it.  It is God’s gift that we receive by faith alone.  That’s good news!

Some action steps:

• Reread what is written above and then spend a few moments in silent reflection. Afterward, pray and thank God for the great gift of justification by faith.
• Spend time with Romans 3:21-28. Yes, this passage is dense and complex, but do your best to get a sense of how Paul describes justification by faith. 
• Maybe you realize you’re still trying to get to God by your good deeds. Or you may have even given up trying because it seems so impossible.  Friend, God has acted to make things right.  This is God’s gift to you.  I encourage you to put your faith in what God has done and experience the freedom of acceptance, forgiveness, and new life in Christ.