3 Words to Help You Avoid Self-Justifying Your Sins

By Paul Tripp, CP Guest Columnist Sunday, October 06, 2013

There's not a day when by thought, word, desire, or action we fail to demonstrate that we're needy people. Maybe it's a thoughtless word of gossip. Maybe it's a flash of lust or envy. Maybe it's an ugly moment of irritation or anger. Perhaps it's a selfish choice that no one would notice.

Maybe it's bending the truth to your own advantage. Maybe it's an attitude of self-righteousness or pride. Maybe it's giving way to bitterness and subtle thoughts of vengeance. Somehow, someway, we all demonstrate that we're still in need of God's daily grace.

Now this need makes you spiritually vulnerable. First, it makes you vulnerable to SELF-ATONEMENT. That's when you make yourself feel okay about your sin. How do you do that? By telling yourself that what you did wasn't actually sin:

It wasn't gossip, it was prayerful concern for another.
It wasn't anger, it was a clear exhortation.
It wasn't selfishness, just strong leadership.

When you justify yourself and call sin something other than sin, you won't seek God's forgiveness.

Your need also makes you vulnerable to the LIES OF THE ENEMY. He'll come to you in those needy moments and tell you that you don't have enough. He'll try to rob you of the faith, courage, and hope that propels you to admit who you are, to seek Christ's forgiveness, and to step forward in courage and hope. He works so that you'll doubt God's provision for you.

To fight these two areas of vulnerability, all you need to remember is these three words: "HE SAT DOWN." These words are in the first chapter of Hebrews and are found in a phrase that says of Jesus, "After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven." (Hebrews 1:3)

He sat down! What amazing words! They can only mean one thing - that the work that he did for us was totally and absolutely complete.

You see, the Old Testament priests never sat down. Hour after hour, day after day they'd offer sacrifices. They'd be knee deep in blood, but they'd make yet another sacrifice. The stench of burning flesh never abated. Why? Because those sacrifices could never do the job. They were never able to fully pay the penalty. They looked forward to the coming of the Perfect Lamb who would pay the entire price in one final sacrifice.

After He made sacrifice (of himself), Jesus sat down! What does that mean? It means his provision for you is full and complete. It means he's given you all you need to be right with him, to be what you're supposed to be, and to do what you're called to do.

So when you begin to doubt his grace or when you're tempted to justify yourself, just say these three words to yourself - "HE SAT DOWN." And celebrate the amazing grace that's yours right here, right now.

Paul David Tripp is a pastor, author, and international conference speaker. He is the president of Paul Tripp Ministries and works to connect the transforming power of Jesus Christ to everyday life. This vision has led Paul to write 13 books on Christian living and travel around the world preaching and teaching. Paul's driving passion is to help people understand how the gospel of Jesus Christ speaks with practical hope into all the things people face in this broken world. For more resources, visit www.paultripp.com.