"Deeper"

Real Change for Real Sinners

by Dane Ortlund

Chapter 5: Acquittal
'Deeper' by Dane Ortlund book cover

Preparing Your Heart: Acquittal

Many Christians view justification as the doorway into the Christian life, but not necessarily as the pathway of the Christian life. We're saved by grace through faith, we believe, but then we move on to other strategies for growth. But what if the verdict of acquittal that brought us into relationship with God is also the very fuel for our ongoing transformation?

In this chapter, Ortlund challenges the common misconception that the gospel is merely a gateway into the Christian life rather than the pathway of the Christian life. He invites us to see that we grow in Christ as we go deeper into, rather than moving on from, the verdict of acquittal that got us into Christ in the first place.

This isn't just theological nit-picking. Our day-to-day experience of anxiety, fear, and the constant need to prove ourselves often stems from functionally forgetting the radical nature of our justification. We slip back into living as if God's approval depends on our performance, or we look to other "court verdicts" from people, accomplishments, or possessions to tell us we're okay.

As you prepare to read this chapter, consider how you might be trying to supplement your justification with your own efforts. Where might you be rebuilding the very system of self-justification that Christ demolished on the cross? The freedom to grow comes when we stop trying to add to what Christ has already fully accomplished.

Before You Read

  1. In what areas of your life do you feel the need to prove yourself or earn approval, either from God or others?
  2. How might your spiritual growth be hindered if you view the gospel primarily as the door into the Christian life rather than the daily path you walk?

Acquittal: The Verdict of Justification

This chapter examines how we grow through the gospel doctrine of justification. We grow in Christ as we go deeper into, rather than moving on from, the verdict of acquittal that got us into Christ in the first place.

"The gospel is not a hotel to pass through but a home to live in. Not a gateway into the Christian life but the pathway of the Christian life."

Three Key Principles

  1. Justification is outside-in - We are justified by being given a right standing that comes wholly from outside us. Christ's righteous record is counted as ours.
  2. Sanctification is inside-out - Our growth in godliness must happen internally, not through external rules or codes of behavior.
  3. Inside-out sanctification is fed by outside-in justification - The outside-in verdict nurtures the inside-out process. We grow by reflecting on the wonder of being freely justified in Christ.

Justification and Fear

In Galatians 2:11-16, Paul addresses Peter's withdrawal from Gentile Christians with the doctrine of justification. Why? Because Peter's actions were rooted in fear of losing human approval. The doctrine of justification frees us from the need for human approval because we already have God's approval.

Justification and Idolatry

Our hearts naturally seek validation and identity from created things - success, relationships, reputation, etc. This is idolatry, and it's the flip side of justification by faith. When we allow our hearts to look to anything other than God for our ultimate verdict, we re-enter the prison of self-established standing before God.

"The doctrine of justification frees us not only from the judgment of God in the future but also from the judgment of people in the present."

Discussion Questions

  1. When you were growing up, how was success measured or recognized in your family? How has that shaped the way you determine your own worth or success today?
  2. How might you be trying to "strengthen" God's verdict over you through your own performance?
  3. What idols in your life do you look to for validation or affirmation?
  4. How does the truth of justification address your fear of human judgment?
  5. How does a daily return to justification fuel spiritual growth?
  6. What would it look like to live today fully secure in God's verdict of acquittal?

Application

This week, each time you feel the need to prove yourself or earn approval (from yourself, others, or God), pause and remind yourself: "I am already fully accepted in Christ." Notice what idols you tend to look to for validation, and consciously turn away from them, rehearsing the truth of your justification. Pay attention to how this practice affects your emotional responses to both success and failure.