day no. 16,583: justification and accusation as inescapable concepts

"The sinful heart can repent, but it can also recoil. When it recoils from God’s holiness, suppressing the truth in unrighteousness, the fundamental motion that the soul is making is that of preferring to accuse God than to accuse self. If a man has repented, if he has received John’s baptism, then what he does is justify God (Luke 7:29)." — Douglas Wilson, All the Condemnation in the World

Justification and accusation are inescapable. The only question is who will be justified? and how? and who will be accused? and for what?

The man who justifies God accuses himself. He agrees with God as to his guilt and justifies the wrath of God. He finds forgiveness when he then goes on to agree with God's propitiation provided in Christ alone. 

The man who justifies himself accuses God. He disagrees with God as to his guilt and justifies his wrath with God. He doesn't seek forgiveness from God, he expects an apology from Him.

1 John 1:8-10

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

We either call God a liar or confess that we are. We either call God a murderer or confess that we are. We either call God a blasphemer or confess that we are. When His Word is in us, we confess our sins in order to justify Him. When His Word is far from us, we accuse Him in order to justify our sins.