If anybody could have been justified himself then Job was the man.
- He was rich.1 In the east there were none as rich as Job. And those riches came by honest dealing. Job was no crooked businessman!
- He reverenced God.2 Not just on one day, but every day. Job’s approaches to God were not limited to Sundays and special days.
- He regarded those in need of help.3 He was not self-centred. Job helped the poor, the widowed and the handicapped.
- He had a good reputation.4 Young and old – even rulers – respected Job.
You would think with that record Job could have easily justified himself! Yet listen to his words after God had searched him –
“I am vile 5 … wherefore I abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes.” 6 The way men justify themselves is obviously not the way God does it.
Yet all need to be justified – declared right – cleared of all charges. This is because everyone will give account of themselves to God.7 And when God lays charges, we will not be able to clear ourselves –
- Because of what we lack. The Bible says we are not righteous.8 And seeing we are not righteous there is no way we can be declared right by God.
- Because of our load of sin.9 This includes all our wrongdoing against God and man.
However, we are glad to tell you that God can and will justify sinners.
He does it by putting to the account of the sinner who believes in Jesus, the perfect righteousness of the man Christ Jesus.10 That covers our lack of righteousness.
Then there is the question of our load of sin. This is dealt with by the fact that the sin of the person who trusts Christ as Saviour has been answered for and the penalty paid by Christ Himself.11
Now for three Bible statements on being justified.
JUSTIFIED FREELY BY HIS GRACE.12 That’s the background. It tells us what moved God to take up sinners and declare them right in His sight.
Firstly, He does it freely. That means at no cost. God never charges for His forgiveness. It also means without a cause. There is nothing in us or about us that would influence God to justify us. Humbling, isn’t it? All this stems from the fact that we are sinners and sinners have nothing that they can bring to God.
Then it is a favour – which is just another word for grace. Now a favour cannot be deserved. Nor can it be demanded It is simply granted because the person wishes to show a kindness. This is just what God has done. It is the grace – or favour – of God which brings salvation.13
JUSTIFIED BY BLOOD.14 That is the basis. God cannot declare us righteous until the very thing that has made us unrighteous before Him is removed.
We are sinners. It is in our constitution for we are born sinners. It is in our conduct and our lives prove it. Therefore, it stands between us and God and until it is answered for, God will never be able to declare us right.
Blood is the only answer. This is how the Bible puts it; ‘Without shedding of blood is no remission.’15 Blood – the precious blood of Christ 16 – is the only thing which will remove our sin and enable God to justify us.
JUSTIFIED BY FAITH.17 That is the way we get the benefit. It tells us the way in which we can make the work of justification all our own.
But what is faith? First, faith comes from listening to what God says in the Bible. 18 Therefore we must totally accept the Word of God. If we doubt it, we can never have faith for faith must be founded on the Word of God. But remember, there is no value in faith. Faith means trust or reliance and is simply the instrument – the medium – by which we can receive justification. God has provided the way in which we can be justified. It is now over to you.
1. Job 1:3 2. Job 1:5 3. Job 29:12-16
4. Job 29:7-10 5. Job 40:4 6. Job 42:6
7. Romans 14:12 8. Romans 3:10 9. Romans 3:23
10. Romans 3:22 11. Isaiah 53:6 12. Romans 3:24
13. Titus 2:11 14. Romans 5:9 15. Hebrews 9:22
16. 1 Peter 1:19 17. Romans 5:1 18. Romans 10:17
Originally a leaflet for distribution
With permission from family of Bruce W Allen
Hastings, New Zealand.
