“How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman?” Job 25:4.

Here is a question that lies at the very heart of life's complexities. It is little wonder then that it has been asked on a number of occasions during the profound exchanges between Job and his comforters as they debate (4:17, 9:2).

It is the question for man to ask and seek an answer for. There is nothing more important, more urgent than our relationship with God.

It is a question that is rarely considered. Natural man turns from such deliberations. He must be compelled to give consideration to this matter.

I. HERE IS THE SUBSTANCE OF LIFE'S MOST VITAL ISSUE

How can we be clear before God of all sin and guilt? That is what the question is asking. Our Shorter Catechism tells us in question 33, that justification entails pardon for all sin and being accepted as righteous in God's sight.

1. There is a confession in this question. You cannot consider this matter unless you acknowledge that you are a sinner. We are unclean. It stems from our birth. We are unclean by nature.

2. There is knowledge expressed in this question. Not all see their relationship with God as a problem. That is because they have no knowledge of God' holiness and purity. Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts Isaiah 6:5.

3. There is a desire expressed in this question. There is a desire to be reconciled to God.  Happy is the soul who begins to pine for God.  He becomes aware that there is a vacancy in his life. How blind and insensitive are those who are still unaware of their distance from God.

II. THERE IS NO ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION AS FAR AS MAN IS CONCERNED

This question may be posed but it cannot be answered. There is nothing a man may do in order to be justified with God.   Gal 2:16, 3:10.

1. Man cannot cease from sin. How could he then begin to be accepted with God? I Kings 8:46, Eccles 7:20, I John 1:8.

2. Man cannot atone for past sin. He cannot provide the spotless sacrifice and the unblemished obedience that the broken law demands. Rev 5:1-6. The apostle wept for there was no man able to meet the demands of the law.

3. Man cannot fulfil the Holy Law of God. To be accepted by God requires perfect, constant wholehearted obedience. Who can give such? Gal 3:10.

III. THE ANSWER MUST BE FOUND WITH GOD.

If sinful man is to be reconciled to God and pardoned then God must undertake the task.

1. A substitute willing to undertake man's responsibilities under the law must be found. A substitute was found. Gal 4:4-5.

2. A substitute willing to bear man's penalty under the law must be found. He was, Gal 3:13.

3. A means by which the righteousness of the substitute could be transferred to sinners must be found. It was, Rom 3:24, 28, 5:1, 9, Gal 2:16, 3:24,

This is the great message of the gospel. “And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses,” Acts 13:39.

This is the answer to the central problem of life.