Jesus and Justification

More great writing by Michael Spencer at Jesus Shaped Spirituality

I believe Jesus announces the Kingdom of God as an invitation to repent of self-righteousness and receive the acceptance of God as a free gift. This declaration and gift then results in participation in a new community where other persons are treated with the same acceptance and are offered the same free gift.

Justification is not primarily an experience, but a person does come to critical points through process.

We hear the message of the Kingdom or experience the acceptance of the Kingdom.

We renounce our own righteousness (repentance from sins, in other words) and trust in God alone for “rightness.”

We enter the community formed around Jesus and the Gospel.

We participate in this community by extending it, offering it, practicing it and nurturing it.