This easily happens in the world, where sinful behaviour and acts are justified. Acts as lying, sometimes called “white lies”, deceitfulness justified by the word “crafty”, manipulation justified in the idea of “it was just business, not personal”, or any other sin that man in the world commits and the millions of rationalizations the world attaches to it. These are the obvious justifications of sin, the evil of the world and of the flesh. Why then am I speaking about something that appears to be obvious to even the world? It is because I am using their bad example to show the practice of justifying sin in the name of Christian-hood.
Have I caught your interest?
I have seen this all too often, where justification of wickedness, sin or wrong is done in the name of “good will” toward others. Even using the examples of Jesus Christ to justify this idle philosophy. I use the word “idle” because it is a choice and act that forsakes righteousness and in the absence of righteousness, there is no Christianity as Jesus taught it and showed example by it.
In the face of sin, wickedness or wrong, Jesus never justified or rationalized it and certainly did not excuse sin or wickedness for anyone to be nice or to give a benefit of the doubt, not even to his own apostles. In all cases, Jesus Christ stood against sin. He stood in righteousness, never justifying, rationalizing, condoning or excusing sin. Remember when Jesus turned to Peter, his apostle, saying to him; “Get thee behind me Satan”? Did it not appear that Peter was only showing concern for the wellbeing of Jesus? Well in fact, Peter did not show concern, even though in his mind it may have been his intention. In truth Peter was wicked, showing selfishness, to serve his own interests, when Jesus was clearly to do the will of God. Take a look at these two Bible passages and see how Jesus really acted against sin,
Mark 8:33
But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.Luke 4:8
And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.(Now be aware, that Jesus was clearly receiving, by revelation, the will of God, his Father in heaven and it was not by his own interpretations that he acted.)
The act of rebuke toward Peter was an act in righteousness, because Jesus stood in truth and righteousness. At other times, Jesus said nothing and some other times he gave a mild response by teaching true principles of the Father. Only one time was it accounted to Jesus that he acted aggressively, this was against the money changers in the Jewish temple. Yet, in all times he never condoned, justified, gave excuse or rationalized any wrong, evil or wicked behaviour of anyone. At all times he chose the right and stood in the right. During each time he judged the sin for what it was, but never imposed judgement upon any person, least he gave a warning of their impeding doom for continued sin.
Why is this so important?
It is very important because I, unfortunately see, that too many Christians justify, rationalize or condone wrong or wicked behaviour of others in the name of peace or in the name of good will or kindness. By doing so they take upon themselves the sin itself, because they have “accepted” the sin and supported it. God clearly teaches that he cannot accept sin to any degree. The reason he cannot, is that the moment he does, in any manner of justification or giving excuse, he becomes sinful and that would remove him as God. The same thing occurs with us, that we would take the sin upon ourselves and that would defile us.
How then did Jesus not defile himself with the atonement when he took upon himself our sins?
The answer is that he never justified, condoned or gave excuse for our sins. Jesus suffered “justice” from God the Father in order that the sins be “paid for”. There was no degree of allowance. Jesus, as our spiritual proxy, took the punishment so we can be saved from eternal darkness. He was able to do it because he had the power and this power was gained through his obedience to the laws, rules, doctrines and principles of God the Father and acted in accordance to them, making his righteous. With that power of righteousness, he had authority from God and by that, he paid for our sins, but even during that suffering and payment, he continued to stand in righteousness and gave no degree of justification or excuse for the sins of others.
True that we cannot be a proxy for the sins of others, because we do not have the power Jesus had, but to be righteous is what we can do. To stand silently, openly, and rightly against any sin that we face from others, be it directed at us or not. Give no leeway to sin, do not accept it, but choose how to stand against it. This can be done many ways and that is up to you to learn how and call upon God to help you have the needed understanding and wisdom to exercise righteousness properly (James 1:5). Give no excuse or justification of another person’s sin, whether openly or only in your mind and heart. At times you may have to remain silent and do nothing, but only walk away and show no acceptance or love toward sin. You may have to reprove the other, but always be good toward them thereafter, yet even that may have to wait a bit so as to ensure that your goodness is not taken as justification of their sin. In a few cases, you may have to defend yourself, which can be righteous as well so long as it is not done in revenge or ill will, having regard for all circumstances.
Never justify sin, it is not Christian. There is no need to call others sinful, but at times you may need to address the sin before you. Learn to be righteous and do right at all times, else the sin you justify or condone or give reason to exist, will become your sin to bear as well.
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