Wednesday, 29 January, 2003

We continue with selections from The Justification Reader by Thomas C. Oden.



Justification is best understood in direct contrast with condemnation. Those justified are not condemned. Those not justified are condemned. There is no middle way (Matthew 12:37), no way to stand as partially justified. To justify is to liberate totally and once for all the offender precisely while condemnation seemed just. Under the law the sinner is condemned. Under the gospel the sinner is justified. "It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns?" (Romans 8:33,34)

Gospel justification views the convicted offender as suddenly and fully pardoned in a way that destroys the connection between his behavior and its penal consequence. Pardon reverses the sentence of condemnation (Romans 8:1). Forgiveness is not cheap. It is not as if the sinner is inaccurately declared innocent without any price being paid. Rather, the price is paid by another, so that the liability to punishment of the sinner is removed.



I know this is a bunch of stuff to throw out at everyone but I want to stress one thing. Justification has to do with life...living...how we are able to go about the day and live boldly as individuals in community. To live as though we must justify ourselves and all our actions...or do everything right in order to be worth something...or work to make ourselves look as though we are right and good - is to be condemned to a futile and despairing life. The list of what we could and should do would never end. There is no way to be perfect before God and one another (I think we all know that from our own experiences.). Instead, we begin our journey in this day with the announcement that we are justified before God...because God says so. In that announcement, our lives are made free from all the games and attempts of "making it all right" and we can live as though we are just what God says about us. Do you see how those two starting points are very, very different?



Connection: We are a part of a people who have heard a word of grace shared with us and within that gracious reign of our God we begin this day. As part of this day - a day full of grace - we are given the opportunity to live as though it is indeed true for us. As that makes a claim on us, we become a witness to God's justifying love -here and now.



Liberating Lord, you do not let us continue to march along a downward spiral of self-centeredness. Instead you call us to lift up our heads to see the new life you place before us as your beloved community. Encourage us to walk within such a gracious embrace. Amen.