Justifying Mistakes

13 December 20250 Comments

General Idea

This lecture addresses the danger of justifying one’s mistakes, and how justification prevents true repentance and keeps a person in sin, while honest confession of fault is the beginning of correction and spiritual growth.

Spiritual and Educational Points

His Holiness Pope Shenouda III explains that a person who wants to walk in the right path must watch himself and confess his mistakes without excuses or evasions.
Continuous justification of mistakes leads a person to persist in them and may cause him to believe he is without blame, before people and even before God.
God is the examiner of hearts, and excuses do not deceive Him; therefore, justifying oneself before Him is futile.
Many people justify their spiritual weakness with excuses such as busyness, the difficulty of the commandment, or the corruption of the surrounding environment, but these excuses are unacceptable.
The Holy Bible presents clear examples of people who lived under severe pressures yet kept their principles, such as Joseph the Righteous, Daniel the Prophet, Moses, and Lot.
Justification can turn into a habit and may even lead to condemning others instead of judging oneself.
Christ Himself, who is without sin, excused others and carried their sins, while we are called not to excuse ourselves but to blame ourselves.
The commandment may seem difficult, but with God’s grace all things are possible for the believer.
The spiritually strong person does not make difficulties, lack of role models, or weak pastoral care an excuse for failure, but strives, struggles, and seeks God’s help.
On the Day of Judgment there will be no room for excuses; therefore, it is better now for a person to say, “I am without excuse,” and begin sincere repentance.

Conclusion

Justification does not save a person but binds him, while confession, repentance, and spiritual struggle are the true path to abiding in God and walking according to the commandment regardless of circumstances.

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