Religion v. Christ - amazed by grace

Daniel Patz, Lead Pastor

Grace Church, Sunday Worship

Luke 18:9-14

April 26th, 2009

Luke 18:9-14  He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt:  (10)  "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.  (11)  The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.  (12)  I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.'  (13)  But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!'  (14)  I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted."

INTRODUCTION

Why I like the phrase – “Better Than I Deserve”

The mirage of ourselves

We think we deserve mercy and grace. – R. C. Sproul illustration

Here we read a parable of Jesus. He gives us an interpretation of the parable at the beginning.

He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt:  (10)  "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.

He is concerned with how people view themselves, what they trust, and how they treat others. This is right down to the root of Christianity.

True Christians view themselves a certain way, they are concerned with who or what they are trusting in, and they treat other people a particular way.

He tells the story of two men who go to the temple to pray.

They went up to the temple because the temple in Jerusalem was on a hill.

One is a Pharisee and the other a tax collector – two polar opposites on the ethical standards of the day.

One of them shows us a man full of religion (as I will choose to call it).

The other man shows us a person who is in Christ.

1. The Religious Man

(11)  The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.  (12)  I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.'

§    Pharisee – one of the highest standards of religious piety

§    Standing by himself – probably near the inner court (in contrast to the t.c. who was “far off”)

§    Says “I” five times

§    His thankfulness to God is a joke – he is boasting in himself

§    He thinks justice is for God to accept him because of what he has done

§    He compares himself to outward sinners (extortioners, unjust, adulterers, tax collectors)

§    He looks with contempt at these people – “even like this tax collector” (see Luke 7:36-50 for the story of the women who comes to Jesus in the Pharisee’s house and washes his feet – they looked at her with contempt)

Conclusion – the religious man is seen here:

§    He trusts in his own righteousness to be right with God

§    He thinks highly of himself

§    He is preoccupied with self

§    He is proud and presumptuous as he approaches God in prayer

§    He compares himself not to God’s standard but to great “sinners”

§    He shows contempt for others

2. The Repentant Man

(13)  But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!'

§    Tax collector – one of the most despised scoundrels of his society – opposite of Pharisees

§    Posture – standing far off – probably out by the court of the Gentiles – he is not presumptuous

§    Would not lift his eyes to heaven – not worthy to do so

§    Beat His breast – sign of contrition – self-abasement

§    Cries out to God for mercy – calls himself a sinner

Conclusion – the God-reliant man is seen here:

§    He looks alone to God for his righteousness and does not want justice but mercy

§    He thinks very lowly of himself

§    He is not preoccupied with self – he language is passive and simple

§    He is lowly and prostrate as he approaches God in prayer

§    He rightly sees himself as he really is – a sinner

§    He shows contempt for himself not others

CONCLUSION

(14)  I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted."

Religion or Christ

Seeing ourselves as we really are is crucial.

Trusting in Christ for acceptance with God is vital.

Humility before God is both reasonable and necessary.

Do we have feelings of contempt for people – if so, we really don’t understand who we really are.

True Christianity understands our desperate need of mercy and of a Savior.

True Christianity trusts fully on Jesus for our salvation by crying out for mercy and agreeing with God that we are undeserving.

True Christianity creates mercy-saved sinners who are liberated to love other sinners in God-like ways.

Texts to Ponder:

1 Corinthians 4:7  For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?

1 Timothy 1:15-17  The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.  (16)  But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.  (17)  To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

Luke 7:36-50  One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and took his place at the table.  (37)  And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment,  (38)  and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment.  (39)  Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner."  (40)  And Jesus answering said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." And he answered, "Say it, Teacher."  (41)  "A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.  (42)  When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?"  (43)  Simon answered, "The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt." And he said to him, "You have judged rightly."  (44)  Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.  (45)  You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet.  (46)  You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment.  (47)  Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven--for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little."  (48)  And he said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."  (49)  Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, "Who is this, who even forgives sins?"  (50)  And he said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."

Psalms 51:1-5  Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.  (2)  Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!  (3)  For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.  (4)  Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.  (5)  Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.

Psalms 130:1-4  Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD!  (2)  O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy!  (3)  If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?  (4)  But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.

“The longer I live- and I think it is so with most Christians-the more I feel that everything must be of grace from first to last if I am to be saved. Grace chose us and grace redeemed us, grace calls us, grace renews us, grace preserves us, and grace must perfect us, or else nothing will come of all our hopes and desires: our religion will all be a flash in the pan, a disappointment at the last, and a failure for ever" (Spurgeon).