If you want to be justified.

[janbear]

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All of us who have received Christ as our Savior have been justified eternally because of our salvation. Jesus provided for every sin that day on the cross. But, sometimes our salvation gives us confidence apart from humility.

Our salvation means we are eternally justified, but we aren’t yet “purified.” We still need to pray to God like the tax collector, head bowed and humbled. We still sin. We are saved, but we aren’t perfected. We still need God’s grace, God’s forgiveness, and God’s cleansing in our lives.

Did you enter into worship last week knowing you desperately needed God’s grace—or proud that you have it?

That’s the difference between today’s Pharisees and tax collectors.

The humble person is justified and exalted by God. The person who thinks they are already “good enough” will be humbled.

Janet Dennison