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| Open Theism Discussion Board > Public Forums > General Chat > asking "D" to define and explain "Justification" | Forum Quick Jump
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PotOnWheel
Registered Member
Date Joined Jul 2001
Total Posts : 9890
| Posted 11/26/2007 1:10 PM (GMT -6) |   | | | |
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One Love
Registered Member
Date Joined Jan 2003
Total Posts : 13888
| Posted 11/26/2007 10:27 PM (GMT -6) | | Initial thoughts...
To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.'
"But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'
"I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."
In my mind, to be "justified" by God is to be given the gift of sensing one's own spiritual poverty through an decisive awareness of God's merciful love via the activity of the Holy Spirit. This secures a posture of humility that aligns with the truth of what God's knows about them: they are nothing without him and desparately need divine grace to be freed their self-sustained bondage. It is to continually receive God's offer of spiritual healing...despite whatever painful repentance that divine love may bring. To be "justified" by God is to be literally overwhelmed by the divine justice demonstrated by God in the Cross of Christ...which is divine mercy...such that mercy is desperately sought and eagerly given.
Regardless to what, justification is inextricably linked with righteousness...which is, essentially, right-relatedness. To be justified by God is to have it "declared" that one is in "right standing" with God even in the context of previous wrongdoing because of their faith in God's faithfulness to covenant promises. The humble stance of the tax collector (who, chances are, had PLENTY of wrongdoing going on with him) shows it all...as opposed to the deluded religious leader who was obviously NOT justified before God.
Justification assumes an HUMBLE stance of knowing that one actually needs justification. And, as Christ showed, glorification can only come following humility. Humility displayed through faithfulness to God and constant reliance on Divine Grace.
Just an initial thought.
"For it is said, 'The two will become one flesh.' But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in Spirit.
"For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, 'Abba, Father.' The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children."
Post Edited ("I Am Spirit") : 11/26/2007 9:33:34 PM (GMT-6) | | Back to Top | | |
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