Just-As-If-I’d-Never-Sinned?
Have you ever heard the old phrase that Jesus makes it “just-as-if” you’d never sinned? That phrase often gets thrown around when people talk about being “justified.”
The word “Justified” is scattered throughout the Bible, but is most famously in the book of Romans.
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. -Romans 5:1–2 (see also Romans 3:24-28, 4:1-5)
The “just-as-if” definition has some truth to it. Jesus does take away the stain of sin and its curse, leaving us clean … as if we’d never sinned. If that’s all justification did, however, we’d still be in trouble.
Imagine that I wanted to take an expensive trip, but had tremendous credit card debt. Living paycheck to paycheck, I’m not even meeting my monthly minimum payment and have maxed out my credit limit. Imagine the stress, the pile of unpaid bills, the daily frustration. The first obstacle to the vacation is that pile of debt.
If a loving benefactor came and paid off those credit cards, they’d be able to make it “just as if” I’d never been in debt. Zero balance. Even with that gracious gift, however, I’d lack surplus funds to book a flight or hotel. I’d still be living paycheck to paycheck. The second obstacle to overcome is the ability to generate enough surplus money that can be spent on my trip.
Our spiritual condition is even more dire than this scenario’s financial situation.
Our sins accrue a debt to God. In the Lord’s Prayer, the metaphor Jesus uses for forgiveness is one of debt. “Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.” (Matthew 6:12) Romans 6:23 says that we earn judgment through our sinful actions, “For the wages of sin is death.” If my soul was a credit card, it would be maxed out in the red. Many people live like that, frantically working, serving, and trying to be “good enough” to begin making payments … all the while knowing that the debt continues to accrue.
Additionally, the entrance criteria to earn salvation is perfection. Jesus said, “For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. …Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:20, 48).
If I need cash in the bank to take a vacation, then I’d need righteousness in the bank to enter the kingdom of heaven. Unfortunately, even my best efforts fall short. Isaiah pointed out that our righteousness is as filthy rags. (Isaiah 64:6)
I need more than a zero balance. I need abundant riches.
That is what Jesus does. He does more than cleanse us from our sins. He also gives us HIs righteousness.
Sinclair Ferguson rightly observes,
“We are not simply like Adam, beginning all over again; we are in Christ. In the sight of God we are not only innocent, but as righteous as Christ is, because righteous with his personal righteousness!” The Christian Life, p. 81
This “Great Exchange” is spelled out in 2 Corinthians 5:
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Jesus took our debt and paid it off fully. He also took all of his own righteousness and applied it to our account. Our spiritual state is far better than “as if I’d never sinned.” It is “as if I was Jesus Himself.”
With You;
Pastor Tim
