Justified, Not Justifying Ourselves

As long as we believe that the work is not done, that we have justify ourselves, rather than rest in the truth that we are justified, then we will wander throughout our lives having nothing to rest on.

I was miserable at different stages of my life, and I never understood why.

Now that I understand the evil and subtlety of the AA cult, everything makes sense.

When my mother dragged my sister and me away from our home when I was younger, she was in bondage to the AA cult.

She was reading out of that book, taking all her cues from it, too.

At the time, I never saw a problem with reading the Bible and complementing the reading with the "Big Book of AA."

Oh, was she mistaken, and I was taught wrong, all wrong.

There is no mixing the grace of God with the former covenant of the wisdom of the world, or the rudimentary elements of the ungodly:

"Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful." (Psalm 1:1)

and then

"20Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, 21(Touch not; taste not; handle not; 22Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? 23Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh." (Colossians 2: 20-23)

Such ordinances including the Twelve Steps of AA.

What is the Gospel, anyway?

"Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses." (Acts 13: 38-39)

The law of Moses, or of any man, does not justify us. Period.

We accept righteousness as a gift, one which keeps on giving:

"For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ." (Romans 5: 17)

We are justified in Christ through His blood, not through our sweat and tears, and any attempts to justify ourselves will cause us to fall from grace:

"Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace." (Galatians 5: 4)

Could it be any simpler? Stop trying to justify yourself, and accept that in Christ you are fully justified.