Justified

“We who are Jews by birth and not `Gentile sinners’
know that a man is not justified by observing the law,
but by faith in Jesus Christ.”

(Galatians 2:15-16)

Reflection:
Mankind’s primary need is justification – to be made right again with and before God. All other passing human needs pale into insignificance before this eternal truth. Therefore we need to be clear about how this can become real and true for us.

This cleansing and transforming work of justification is not by human endeavour and compliance with any secular or religious law. It has been achieved and made available to us by Jesus Christ in His death and resurrection. As Martin Luther expressed it,

“I must listen to the Gospel, which teaches me, not what I ought to do (for that is the proper office of the Law), but what Jesus Christ the Son of God has done for me: to wit, that He suffered and died to deliver me from sin and death.”

Not to trust in Jesus but to try and achieve rightness with God through our own lives and living is an insult to the God of grace and the Christ of the cross, as well as being impossible. It infers that that their love and actions are inadequate and unnecessary.

To put our trust in Jesus Christ unites us with Him and we begin a new life. It is not just a new style of living but an altogether new and spiritual and eternal life. It is the Life of Christ Himself which comes from Him and embraces us into His eternal presence and love – and from which nothing can then separate us. What effectively has then happened is this,

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)

Response:
Keep reminding yourself of this and telling the Lord that you trust in Him.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, please help me to put my full faith and trust in You – and strengthen and protect me through any periods of doubt. Amen.

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