Repentance says: “I did this, and I take responsibility for it. I am sorry, and I ask for your forgiveness.” Self-justification says: “You need to understand the reasons why I did this. Let me give you an explanation.” Even after you repent of a sin in your life, you may find yourself thinking, “Actually, there’s another side to this. Look at the pressure I was under, the difficulties I was facing, the lack of support that I had. It’s easy to understand how I fell. In fact it would have been amazing if I hadn’t fallen!” Do you see what is happening? You are undermining your own repentance.
