Self-justification

A self-centred attitude by which people defend their actions and beliefs without reference to God. Scripture insists that the confidence and ultimate justification of believers lie with God, and condemns those who look elsewhere for these.

The impossibility of self-justification

Self-justification is impossible before a holy God

How then can a man be just before God? How can one born of woman be pure?

Justification is achieved by God, not by people

Romans 5:1–2 See also Romans 3:27–30; Galatians 2:20–21

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

How self-justification occurs

Self-justification occurs through ignoring God and his ways

Nehemiah 9:16 See also Luke 16:14–15

But they and our fathers became arrogant and stiff-necked and did not obey Your commandments.

Self-justification occurs through pride

Luke 18:9–14 See also Matthew 23:1–7 parallels Mark 12:38–39, Luke 20:45–46; Romans 2:17–27

To some who trusted in their own righteousness and viewed others with contempt, He also told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray. One was 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 men — swindlers, evildoers, adulterers — or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and pay tithes of all that I acquire.’ But the tax collector stood at a distance, unwilling even to lift up his eyes to heaven. Instead, he beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man, rather than the Pharisee, went home justified. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Self-justification occurs through legalism

Luke 10:25–29 See also Galatians 3:1–5, Galatians 5:4

One day an expert in the law stood up to test Him. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “What is written in the Law?” Jesus replied. “How do you read it?” He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ and ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” “You have answered correctly,” Jesus said. “Do this and you will live.” But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

Self-justification causes separation from God and Jesus Christ

Galatians 5:4 See also Matthew 18:21–35; Luke 18:9–14

You who are trying to be justified by the law have been severed from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.

Examples of self-justification

Genesis 3:8–12 Adam; Exodus 32:19–24 Aaron; 1 Samuel 13:7–14 Saul; Matthew 19:16–22 parallels Mark 10:17–22, Luke 18:18–23 the rich young man; Philippians 3:4–9 Paul as a Pharisee

God's attitude to self-justification

God's condemnation of self-justification

Romans 2:1–11

God's punishment of self-justification

Proverbs 29:1 See also Genesis 3:8–19; Jeremiah 6:19–23

A man who remains stiff-necked after much reproof will suddenly be shattered beyond recovery.

The true basis of justification

People are justified by God's grace alone

Ephesians 2:8–9 See also Romans 3:21–24; Titus 2:11, Titus 3:4–7

For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.

God accepts those who trust in his mercy without trying to justify themselves

Psalm 130:3–4 See also Psalm 143:2; Luke 18:9–14

If You, O LORD, kept track of iniquities, then who, O Lord, could stand? But with You there is forgiveness, so that You may be feared.