Let me ask you something...
Who do you think is closer to God...
The GOOD PERSON...
or
the BROKEN SINNER?
Because Jesus told as story... and the answer might shock you.
9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’
13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’
14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
LUKE 18:9-14
Jesus spoke this parable to people who:
Trusted in themselves
Believed they were righteous
Despised others
Self-righteousness always produces pride and judgment
ILLUSTRATION
Self-righteousness is like standing on a small hill...
Looking down at others...
Thinking you're high...
When in reality, you're still far from heaven.
APPLICATION
Check you heart:
Do you compare yourself with others?
Do you feel better than certain people?
Do you judge people's sin while excusing your own?
The Pharisee:
Prayed "to himself"
Listed his good works
Compared himself to others
He said: I fast... I give... I'm not like them...
He wasn't talking to God
He was impressing himself
ILLUSTRATION
It's like someone posting good deeds online...
not to help people...
But to feel superior
APPLICATION
Good works are not bad...
But they become dangerous when they replace dependence on God
The tax collector:
Stood far off
Wouldn't look up
Beat his chest
Said "God be merciful to me, a sinner"
This is not performance...
This is BROKENNESS
ILLUSTRATION
Two people walk into a hospital:
One says, I'm fine, I don't need help
The other says, I'm dying, please save me.
Only one gets treated.
APPLICATION
God doesn't respond to perfection...
He responds to HUMILITY
“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
LUKE 18:14
The sinner went home justified....
Not the religious man.
Justification is not earned... It is GIVEN
ILLUSTRATION
It's like a judge declaring:
Not guilty...
Not because you were innocent...
but because someone else paid your penalty.
APPLICATION
Stop trying to prove yourself to God...
Receive what He already offers.
Greek: Charis = unearned favor
GRACE is free, unmerited favor of God... Toward people who don't deserve it.
You didn't earn it
You can't earn it
You only receive it
ILLUSTRATION
Grace is like being invited to a feast...
When you weren't even on the guest list.
APPLICATION
Stop disqualifying yourself...
God already knew everything about you - and still offers grace.
For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!
ROMANS 5:17
Righteousness is a GIFT
Not:
Achieved
Earned
Maintained by effort
But RECEIVED
ILLUSTRATION
It's like being given a new identity...
You didn't build it...
But now you live from it.
APPLICATION
Start living from:
I am accepted by God
Not:
I am trying to be accepted
For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
JOHN 1:17
Which one are you?
You are either the Pharisee or the tax collector.
There is no middle ground.
The Pharisee:
I'm good... I'm fine... I don't need help...
or
The tax collector:
God... I need You...
Because only one walked away changed.
Let's be honest before God...
Not before people...
Not for appearance...
But before God...
Do you feel more accepted by God when you're doing good...
and distant when you fail?
That's not grace - that's PERFORMANCE.
Do you compare your life to others and think: At least I'm not like them?
That's not righteousness - that's PRIDe.
Do you hide from God when you mess up?
That's not relationship - that's SHAME
Then maybe... You've been living more like the Pharisee than the tax collector.
The Pharisee didn't go home justified... Not because he sinned more... but because he DEPENDED on HIMSELF.
DAILY HUMILITY
Start your day with: God, I need You today.
STOP COMPARING
Comparison feeds pride... Humility feeds grace.
RUN TO GOD WHEN YOU FAIL
Not away... TOWARD Him
RECEIVE - DON'T PERFORM
Christianity is not about proving... it's about receiving.
Which one are you?
You are either the Pharisee or the tax collector.
There is no middle ground.
The Pharisee:
I'm good... I'm fine... I don't need help...
or
The tax collector:
God... I need You...
Because only one walked away changed.
Let's be honest before God...
Not before people...
Not for appearance...
But before God...
Do you feel more accepted by God when you're doing good...
and distant when you fail?
That's not grace - that's PERFORMANCE.
Do you compare your life to others and think: At least I'm not like them?
That's not righteousness - that's PRIDe.
Do you hide from God when you mess up?
That's not relationship - that's SHAME
Then maybe... You've been living more like the Pharisee than the tax collector.
The Pharisee didn't go home justified... Not because he sinned more... but because he DEPENDED on HIMSELF.
The Pharisee had:
Religion
Discipline
Good works
But no GRACE
The tax collector had:
Sin
Brokenness
Nothing to offer
But had HUMILITY
and that was enough
ILLUSTRATION
Two people stand before God...
one with a list of achievements...
one with empty hands...
and God says: I fill empty hands... not full ones.
Today...
Lay down:
Your pride
Your performance
Your self-righteousness
And come to God like the tax colletor...
WE ARE NOT SAVED BECAUSE WE ARE GOOD... WE ARE SAVED BECAUSE GOD IS GRACIOUS.
God is not looking for:
Impressive people
Perfect people
Religious people
He is looking for:
Honest people
Broken people
Dependent people
ILLUSTRATION
Grace is like rain...
It doesn't fall on high places...
It flows to the lowest ground.
If you stay high in pride...
You stay dry.
But if you humble yourself...
Grace will find you.
You are not trying to be accepted
You are already accepted through Jesus Christ
When you fail; instead of hiding or feeling condemned
You will run to God IMMEDIATELY
When you feel "Good Enough"
Catch it and say "Without grace... I am nothing"
God doesn't reject you because you're broken...
He resists you when you pretend you're not...
Don't live like a Pharisee