Self-justification
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· 27 viewsA self-centred attitude by which people defend their actions and beliefs without reference to God. Scripture insists that the confidence and ultimate justification of believers lie with God, and condemns those who look elsewhere for these.
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The impossibility of self-justification
The impossibility of self-justification
Self-justification is impossible before a holy God
Self-justification is impossible before a holy God
How then can man be in the right before God?
How can he who is born of woman be pure?
See also Mal 3:2; 1 Sa 6:20; Re 6:17
Justification is achieved by God, not by people
Justification is achieved by God, not by people
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
See also Ro 3:27–30; Ga 2:20–21
How self-justification occurs
How self-justification occurs
Self-justification occurs through ignoring God and his ways
Self-justification occurs through ignoring God and his ways
“But they and our fathers acted presumptuously and stiffened their neck and did not obey your commandments.
See also Lk 16:14–15
Self-justification occurs through pride
Self-justification occurs through pride
He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
See also Mt 23:1–7; Ro 2:17–27
Self-justification occurs through legalism
Self-justification occurs through legalism
And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”
But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
See also Ga 3:1–5; Ga 5:4
Self-justification causes separation from God and Jesus Christ
Self-justification causes separation from God and Jesus Christ
You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.
See also Lk 18:9–14; Mt 18:21–35
Examples of self-justification
Examples of self-justification
Ge 3:8–12 Adam; Ex 32:19–24 Aaron; 1 Sa 13:7–14 Saul; Mt 19:16–22 the rich young man; Php 3:4–9 Paul as a Pharisee
God’s attitude to self-justification
God’s attitude to self-justification
God’s condemnation of self-justification
God’s condemnation of self-justification
Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.
He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality.
God’s punishment of self-justification
God’s punishment of self-justification
He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck,
will suddenly be broken beyond healing.
See also Ge 3:8–19; Je 6:19–23
The true basis of justification
The true basis of justification
People are justified by God’s grace alone
People are justified by God’s grace alone
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
See also Tt 2:11; Ro 3:21–24; Tt 3:4–7
God accepts those who trust in his mercy without trying to justify themselves
God accepts those who trust in his mercy without trying to justify themselves
If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?
But with you there is forgiveness,
that you may be feared.
See also Lk 18:9–14; Ps 143:2
