In Part One, we examined the first deterrent to overcoming our sins: self-deception. As Jeremiah 17:9 attests, “The heart is deceitful above all things,” and it initially and consistently fools the self! In the end time, at least two of the seven churches of Revelation 3, Sardis and Laodicea, are totally self-deceived, so it behooves a Christian to look honestly into the mirror of the law of liberty, God’s Word, and examine himself to determine if he has pulled the wool over his own eyes (see James 1:22-25).

Afterward, he should not forget to remove the “dirt” he discovers. Because of human nature’s penchant to paint the self in the best light, the next deterrent to overcoming seems inevitable. It occurs as we begin to strip away our self-deception. We dislike what we observe when we compare ourselves with the perfect Word of God, and we make excuses for ourselves about what we do, trying to cast our wrongdoing as good or at least not as bad as it may seem. Self-justification leads us to defend either our behavior or our unwillingness to overcome it.

1. When our sins are uncovered, what is a person’s normal first reaction? Is it common to human beings? Genesis 3:10-13; 4:9; Acts 5:1-11.

Comment: From the first two human beings until now, people have always tried to hide their sins and failings from God, other men, and even from themselves. Herbert W. Armstrong often said, “The hardest thing for a human being to do is to admit he is wrong.” We will often go to considerable lengths—concocting a myriad of lies—to justify our thoughts, words, and deeds. It is a rare person indeed who truly owns what he is.

2. Does the Bible recognize the human tendency to justify itself? Does God look kindly on our ploys? Proverbs 20:4; 22:13.

Comment: We will blame the weather and even wild beasts in the streets for not performing our responsibilities! Solomon warns in Ecclesiastes 5:6 that justifying our actions or inactions can destroy us. Further, he writes in Ecclesiastes 8:11, “Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.” In terms of self-justification, this truth points out that, seeing no punishment in sight, a person’s heart, or nature, is primed to rationalize doing what it wants to do.

3. What are some excuses we frequently use to justify a lack of productivity? Do they impress Christ? Luke 19:12-27; Matthew 25:14-30.

Comment: We know the classic excuses: “Yes, but . . ..” “It’s too hard.” “There wasn’t time.” “If only . . ..” “I tried.” “It’s not my fault.” “But I was just . . ..” “It’s not fair.” “I forgot.” “I didn’t know how.” “That’s just how my parents raised me.” “The Devil made me do it.” “The church never taught me . . ..” There are many, many more.

In the Parables of the Minas and the Talents, Jesus Christ does not look kindly on the excuses of the individual who hid what his master had given him to work with, calling the man “you wicked [and lazy; Matthew 25:26] servant.” Scripture repeats multiple times that He will judge us “according to works,” that is, by our fruits as doers, not by our intentions.

4. Do we teach our children the same justifications, providing excuses for them? II Kings 21:19-21.

Comment: When parents sin, they provide their children with an opportunity to justify sin. The impact of such sin is devastating to a nation when the sins of kings influence their heirs. Some kings of Judah likely made excuses similar to those parents use today. How often do parents excuse a child’s unacceptable behavior by saying, “It’s okay, honey. You didn’t get your nap.” Or, “You’re having a bad day.” Or, “The boy next door is a rotten influence on you.”

Our society has become so adept at self-justification that people who have no plausible excuse for committing terrible crimes commonly plead “temporary insanity.” In most cases, it really is only a justification to get away with abusing one’s fellow man. It might succeed in man’s court, but not in God’s.

5. Does “After all, I’m just human” or “I’m a sinner, and all have sinned” work? Proverbs 16:2; 18:17; 21:2; 30:12, 20; Romans 1:20-22; Ezekiel 33:7-20.

Comment: Humans can justify themselves to the point that they really think they are clean despite our sins. They will use “all humanity” as their excuse, admitting they are sinners “just like everyone else,” but not wanting to admit specific sins or faults for fear that they will be required to quit them. God knows all men have sinned and fall short of His glory (Romans 3:23), but He is only interested in each individual’s personal repentance (change, turning completely away from sin), overcoming, and growth, not their excuses. “Everyone is doing it” does not justify a person’s sin. God will forgive only as each person repents.

6. Once a person convinces himself that his faults, sins, and lack of growth are justified or excusable, what has he gained? Romans 6:23.

Comment: The penalty for sin is death. If a person insists on justifying himself, he will die for his sins, and all his self-justification will have gained him nothing. Only the shed blood and sacrificial death of Jesus Christ, who suffered mightily to make redemption possible, will justify the individual (Psalm 22:1-22; Isaiah 53:7-12; I Peter 2:21-25). Otherwise, one cannot inherit eternal life. God is seeking people who will admit their faults and sins and work daily to overcome them (Psalm 50:22-23; Ecclesiastes 12:13-14). He will reward overcomers with many eternal blessings (Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 26-28; 3:5, 12, 21).

7. What kind of example was David? Psalm 51.

Comment: David justified his adultery with Bathsheba and his murder of Uriah just as anyone would: “The temptation was too great”; “After all, I am the king”; or any number of other excuses. When the prophet Nathan strips him of his self-deception and self-justification, David bitterly repents (II Samuel 12), loathing his sin and himself. He asks God to cleanse him, wash him, and purge his attitude, asking for forgiveness. Making no further excuses, he determines to correct his future conduct and dedicate himself to serving God and His people instead of himself. In this way, he stands as a fine model of repenting and overcoming even the most grievous of sins. By following this example, we will be “work[ing] out [our] own salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12) and seeking the Kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33)!