SELF JUSTIFICATION
‘But he, willing to justify himself, said …’
The lawyer said—then comes his own particular plea or excuse, to which we need pay little or no attention now, it was so completely and triumphantly answered by Jesus Christ. ‘He, willing to justify himself, said …’ What words do you insert after the word ‘said’?
I. As good as my neighbour.—He, willing to justify himself, said, I have been looking round, and it strikes me that I am every whit as good as my neighbours. There is a disposition amongst us all, and exercised, more or less, to compare ourselves with one another. We must cease such a method of comparing advantages and honours, and must go to the absolute and final standard of righteousness.
II. ‘I trust to the mercy of God.’—But he, willing to justify himself, said, Though I do not believe and act as they do who call themselves Christians, yet I trust to the mercy of God. Where is His mercy? It is in the life, the ministry, the death, the resurrection, and the whole mediation of Jesus Christ.
III. Religion too mysterious.—But he, willing to justify himself, said, There is so much mystery about religion that I really cannot attempt to understand it. I answer, There is mystery about religion, but there is ten thousand times more mystery without it. Life is a mystery. All that is great touches the mysterious. In proportion as a thing rises from irregularity and commonplace, it rises into wondrousness, and wondrousness is but the first round of the ladder, whose head rests upon the infinite mysteries. There is a point in my religious inquiries where I must close my eyes, look no more, but rest myself in the grand transaction which is known as faith in the Son of God.
IV. So many denominations.—But he, willing to justify himself, came at last to this, There are so many denominations of Christians that it is impossible to tell which is right and which is wrong. Yes, there are many regiments, but one army; many denominations, but one Church; many creeds, but one faith; many aspects, but one life; many ways up the hill, but one Cross at the top of it. Don’t lose yourself among the diversities when you might save yourself by looking at the unities.