We like to think we’re better than we are. But the Bible says everybody sins. Even more than that, the Bible says everybody is completely sinful. So while we like to think we’re better than we are, the Bible says we’re worse than we think we are. You are worse than you think you are. I am worse than I think I am.

Our tendency to think we’re better than we are affects our relationship with God. Because of this tendency we try to defend ourselves rather than fully rely on Jesus to defend us before God. We like to justify our sins. Have you ever said something like:

• “I gaze at other women but I’m not an adulterer!”
• “I look at pornography but I’m not a pervert!”
• “I stretch the truth but I’m not a liar!”
• “I get too angry but I’m not a murderer!”
• “I want what others have but I’m not a thief!”
• “I try to seem more religious than I am but I’m not a hypocrite!”

Oh really? The Bible says I am! And it says you are too. In our own flesh, by our own power, according to our own desires, you and I are nothing more than adulterers, perverts, liars, murderers, thieves, and hypocrites. If God let us do, say, and think whatever we want, whatever feels good, or whatever comes naturally, you and I would only do, say, and think sinful, wicked, evil things all the time.

You and I are worse than we think we are. But Jesus is better than we think He is. So let’s stop defending ourselves and start defending Jesus.

I Don’t Defend Myself

What the Bible says is true about all people. If what it says is true about all people, then it’s true about me and it’s true about you. The Bible says all people sin and are completely sinful. That means I sin and I am completely sinful. And you know what? You sin and you are completely sinful. If I agree with the Bible then there’s no point in defending myself.

I Defend Jesus

The only person who deserves to be defended is Jesus. He was “tempted in every way, just as we are – yet was without sin” (Heb. 4:15). He never gazed at a woman. He never stretched the truth. He never lost His temper. He never wanted what someone else had. He never tried to seem more religious than He was. Jesus is not an adulterer, a pervert, a liar, a murderer, a thief, or a hypocrite. So if I’m going to defend someone, it might as well be the only person who deserves to be defended.

Jesus Defends Me

If we admit that we sin and are sinful, God forgives us. More than that, Jesus stands in our defense if we sin again! “If anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense – Jesus Christ, the Righteous One” (1 John 2:1). Jesus pleads our case when we trust Him for our right standing with God.

“You will never grow in your relationship with God if all you care about is defending yourself.” (Click to Tweet)

You will never grow in your relationship with God if all you care about is defending yourself and justifying your sins. You are worse than you think you are. There is nothing good or godly about you. You will grow closer to God only as the Holy Spirit changes you to be more like Jesus. That won’t happen until you agree with the Bible. Stop defending yourself. Start defending Jesus.

Question for Comments:

“Why is it so hard to not defend myself?”