All Things for My Good?Näide

“Those whom He called, He also justified.”

“Justified” is a legal term that means more than “not guilty”, it means to be declared righteous. In this context, being justified means we are made acceptable to our God and King. Not because of anything we did. We can't justify ourselves. Rather, God justifies the called.

Notice, in the wedding feast parable, that the angels or “slaves” were sent out to the streets to gather both the good and the bad people who were called to the feast. You might think yourself bad or unworthy, and outside of God’s presence that is true. You might consider yourself good or worthy by your merit, but outside of Christ, that can't be further from the truth.

When I sit on my throne, I am attempting to justify myself.

Whatever self-made throne you are sitting on, whatever kingdom you have built up for yourself, it's not good enough. On our own, we will never measure up to the standard God gives us: “Be Holy as I am Holy.”

Justification means that when God looks at you, He sees Jesus.

You don’t have to earn your way in. You can't bring anything to the table. You come empty-handed — and walk away fully forgiven and completely clean.

Have you been trying to earn God’s approval? Or can you rest in the truth that if you are in Christ, you are already justified?