The Pulpit Commentary — Job — Section 168

were bis Advenwy, and it Beemed hopeless to attempt to set himself right with One whose power was so vBBtly greater than his own. ,ve have not Job's peculiar difficul, tief; in regard to Divine providence. Yet to us the problem of justification is not less serious because we have been m11de to see the moral difficulties more closely. Let us, then, consider the Christian view of the problem of justification and its solution. I. THE PROBLEM. The quostion which Job propounds is of II universal character. He does not ask how he, as one individual in special circnmstances, can be justified• but his own case le&ds him to think of man genernlly. He feels that his difficulty i~ his share of a gen<'rnl difficulty of the race. What is this? 1. To be just with God i, t-0 stand right with God. The expression implies II certain relationship. It goes beyond subjective righteousness; it is more than internal holiness. It is a standina in right rel11tions to God, in such relations as admit of his treating us as just men.b 2. TM character of the relations depends on God's 'IJiew of w. We may appear just in the eyes of men and yet not be just with God. He knows us as we are, and he c11n be deceived by no cloak of hypocrisy. Therefore we have to lay aside all shams and appearances when we come to consider the question of our justification before God. 3. Sin puts w; all in 'IDl"ong relations with God. We start with the faot that we need to be justified. The justification cannot be a clearing of our character from false imputations, as Job's was larf!:ely; for many accusations are true-we are guilty. Hence the tremendous difficulty of the problem. 4. It is unspeakably important that 'l.06 should be in right relations with God. This is not a question of abstract dogmatics, but one of personal ex:perience. It does not merely touch our feelings, and concern itself with our peace of mind; it is vital to our soul's salvation. II. ITS SOLUTION. Job propounds the question as though no answer could be given. With him it is a case of -despair. But Christ has brought an answer, which St. Paul has expounded in the Epistle to the Romans. 1. We cannot justify ourael'IJes with <Jod. It is necessary to see this first of all The Jews made the experiment with their Law, and failed. Many now make it, either by attempting to excuse themselves or by trying to bett.er themselves. But they always fail. 2. God has made a method, of jwtiji,cation. This is the gre&t wonder of redemption, that our Judge provides our ..Advocate; that he who might condemn W! :finds a way by which we ruay be forgiven. 3. This ;°UBtijir,ation is in Christ. (Rom. iii 22.) Christ brings forgiveness of past sin -and recovery to God. Thus he puts us in right relations with our Father. 4. It is realized l,y means of faith. (Rom. iiL 28.) When we put our trust in Christ, we receive from him the grace of pardon and renewa.L The condition of faith is absolutely necessary. We must avoid the mistake of supposing that this is faith in our own state of justifica- tion, i.e. a believing ourselves to be justified. It is not that; but it is a personal trust and loyalty in relation to Christ himself. 5. This condition results in a real state of right rdationawith God. Justification is not a legal judgment, a mere pretence, affirm- ing that we are what we are not. That would be a lie. It is an actual fact ; a putting us in right relations with God. Thus it is the root and promise of ri~:b.r.eousness.- W. F. A. Ver. 20.-Bilf-jwtification. I. THE NEED To BE JUSTIFIED. The burning necessity of justification lies at the root of Job's terrible agony. Yet even he does not feel it in its deep moral and spiritual significance, as it would have been felt by one who was conscious of sin rather than of undeserved suffering and unjust accusations. We can- not endure to be out of right relations with God. Though our lost state may not trouble us BB yet, the time will come when we shall see its terrible and fatal character. II. WE ARE 'l'EltPTED TO JUSTIFY OURSELVES. The very need causes the tempta- tion. Moreover, a self-flattering vanity urges us in the same direction. It is most painful and humiliating to have to own that we are sinners, deserving nothing but wrath and condemnation. When we feel ourself in danger, we are at once urged by very instinct to put ourselves in an attitude of self-defence. III. WE IUY BE DELUDED INTO A .MISTAKEN BELIEF THAT WE ARE JUBTIFIBD. No delusioDB are so powerful as those which flatter us. It is so easy to put things in a -favourable light to our&elve11. While we are our own judges, every motive of self- esteem urges 118 to a favoura'ole judgment. Then there comes in the terrible mistake of dl'termining eocording to our feelings rather than according to obJ!lCtive reality, so OD, IX, 1-86,) THE BOOK OF JOB, 178