Have you ever felt like what Jesus accomplished is real—but somehow out of reach? You believe in His finished work, yet it feels like it sits in some invisible world you just can’t access. If that’s you, you’re not alone. And the good news? There’s a way to step into the reality of that finished work today.
In a recent episode of Tell Me More, Pastors Whit George and Ethan Vanse unpacked one of the most beautiful and liberating truths of the Christian faith: Justification.
Simply put, justification is what God has done for you, said about you, and declared over you. It’s a finished work. Nothing needs to be added—nothing can be taken away. In Christ, you are declared righteous. That’s not a future hope; it’s a present reality.
This isn’t just lofty theology—it’s deeply personal. When you embrace this truth, it fundamentally changes how you see yourself and live your life.
So how do you live in this reality rather than just know it exists? That’s the heart of this conversation. Whit and Ethan explore how understanding your justification changes your identity and daily walk with God.
They don’t shy away from the hard parts. They share their own struggles—wrestling with the challenge of preaching this truth in a way that breaks through the “curse of knowledge,” that feeling that people have already heard it all before. But as they reveal, when you move from head knowledge to heart transformation, everything changes.
One key takeaway from the episode is learning to differentiate between justification and sanctification.
Understanding this difference keeps us from falling into the trap of trying to earn what’s already been given. It frees us to live from a place of grace, not striving.
One of the most powerful moments in the episode is when the pastors discuss what they call “the scandal of grace.” God doesn’t justify the worthy—He justifies sinners. That’s offensive to our human sensibilities, but it’s also the most beautiful truth we could ever receive.
They explore how this understanding leads to true repentance—not the kind that wallows in guilt, but the kind that turns toward a loving God who has already made a way.
What does it look like to walk in this truth every day?
It means you stop trying to self-justify through accomplishments, relationships, or religious performance. Instead, you rest in the truth that you are already loved, accepted, and declared righteous by God.
And from that place of security, real transformation begins. That’s where sanctification finds its fuel—not in fear or duty, but in gratitude for the grace you’ve received.
If you’re ready to explore this life-changing truth, listen to the full episode. You’ll hear personal stories, theological insights, and practical ways to apply the finished work of Christ in your everyday life.
Justification isn’t just something to understand—it’s something to live. You don’t have to work for it. You don’t have to clean yourself up first. You simply have to believe and receive. And when you do, you’ll find that the finished work of Christ becomes the starting point for a whole new way of living.
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