The Search for Significance

46 The Search For SignificanceGOD'S ANSWER: JUSTIFICATIONIf we base our self-worth on our ability to meetstandards, we will try to compensate by eitheravoiding risks or trying to succeed no matter whatthe cost. Either way, failure looms as a constantenemy. But God has set us free from the fear offailure! He has given us a secure self-worth totallyapart from our ability to perform. We have beenjustified, placed in right standing before Godthrough Christ's death on the cross to pay for oursins. But God didn't stop with our forgiveness; Healso granted us the very righteousness of Christ!(II Corinthians 5:21)Visualize two ledgers. On one ledger is a listall of your sins. On the other ledger is a list of therighteousness of Christ. Now exchange your ledgerfor Christ's. This exemplifies justification —transferring our sin to Christ and His righteousnessto us. II Corinthians 5:21 says,"He made Him (Christ) who knew nosin to become sin on our behalf, that wemight become the righteousness of Cod inHim."Once I heard a radio preacher berate his congregationfor their hidden sins. He exclaimed,"Don't you know that someday you're going to dieand God is going to flash all your sins upon a giantscreen in heaven for all the world to see?"How tragically this minister misunderstood God'sgracious gift of justification! Justification carriesno guilt with it, and it has no memory of pasttransgressions. Christ paid for all our sins at thecross — past, present, and future. Hebrews 10:17says, "And their sins and their lawless deeds I willremember no more. mWe are completely forgiven byGod!of

The Performance Trap 47As marvelous as it is, justification means morethan forgiveness of sins. In the same act of lovethrough which God forgave our sin, He also providedour righteousness. Righteousness is the worthinessto stand in God's presence without fear ofpersonal condemnation. Now we can stand inGod's presence, for at the moment God forgaveour many sins, He also credited to us the veryrighteousness of Christ.By imputing righteousness to us, God attributesChrist's worth to us. The moment we acceptChrist, God no longer sees us as condemned sinners.Instead, we are forgiven and Christ's righteousnessis granted to us, and God sees us ascompletely righteous and in right standing withHim. Therefore, we are fully pleasing to Him.God intended that Adam and his descendantsbe righteous people, experiencing His love andeternal purposes, but sin short-circuited that relationship.God's perfect payment for sin satisfiesthe righteous wrath of God, and enables us toagain have that status of righteousness and to delightin knowing and honoring the Lord. God desiresthose of us who have been redeemed to experiencethe realities of His redemption. We are forgivenand righteous because of Christ's sacrifice;therefore, we are pleasing to God in spite of ourfailures. That reality replaces the fear of failurewith peace, hope, and joy. Even great successes donot bring lasting happiness, and failure need notbe a millstone around our necks. Neither successnor failure is the proper basis of our self-worth.Christ alone is the source of forgiveness, freedom,joy, and purpose.At this point, it would be typical for manybecome uneasy, believing the gravity ofpeople tosin is being overlooked in these statements. Asyou will see, I am not minimizing the destructivenessof sin. I am simply trying to elevate our