After a trip to Sam’s one day, my Dad returned with a humongous, plastic jug of Tootsie Rolls. My Mom rolled her eyes, but he quickly informed her that they were, “Good and good for you.” We all waited to hear him “justify” such a purchase, and how he would back up this outrageous claim. He began by stating that Tootsies were lower in fat than most candy, especially candy of the chocolate persuasion, furthermore they made great travel food since they wouldn’t melt in the car, and because they required a bit of chewing, they actually burned up calories on the way down. After a brief chuckle, we all applauded his defense, and then broke into the stash to experience this wonder food. Justification, defined in dictionary terms means, in my Dad’s case: reason, fact, circumstance, or explanation that justifies or defends a claim. The confectionary defense, that my Dad used, got him off the hook with my Mom, at least until the next junk food purchase! The scriptural or theological definition means, the act of God whereby humankind is made or accounted just, or free from guilt or penalty of sin, Eternally. Yes, when we “buy into” the validity of Christianity, we can forget all about having to make excuses, we enter a guilt-free zone. Now don’t get the impression that we can go on sinning, oh no…Holy Spirit conviction will take care of that! Remember Christ saying, “Go and sin no more”? It still applies, but if we do make a Tootsie slip, and we will, God is waiting to forgive us when we sincerely ask for his pardon. “Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! “ Romans 5:9
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