Sermon Cloud

Intro:   Our need to earn acceptance, be “in”.  Starts early & church is not very different.

Big Idea:  God accepts those place their hope in Jesus’ death in their place.

The Parable: Two very different men pray at the temple.

-         They both stand off, apart from others, to pray.

-         The Pharisee is middle class, responsible, & votes traditional values.

-         Orthodox & disciplined (fasting & tithing), he’s grateful he’s not a big sinner.

-         The tax collector is a parasite, getting rich off his own people.  Ill. Drug dealer, spy

-         He’s not welcome at church, must less officer material.

-         Ashamed, he can’t even look up, calling himself “the sinner”.

The Twist: Jesus accepts the “wrong” guy (vs 14).

-         The sinner, not the Pharisee, went home justified- declared to be righteous.

-         People expected the Pharisee to be declared righteous, acceptable.  Ill. Bears-Pats

-         Jesus applies Scripture- “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

-         The proud elevate themselves: God will cast them down (Isaiah).

-         The humble are elevated, granted grace in their time of need.

That is why Scripture says:  "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."  James 4 & 1 Peter 5 (NIV)

The 1^st Point:  Self-righteousness is a deadly delusion.

-         Jesus told the story because some persuaded themselves they were righteous or just.

-         They looked down on others.  Always someone worse than us…

-         1^st Self-righteousness is a deadly delusion because it blinds us to who we are.

-         We compare ourselves to others, seeing their sin clearly, not ours.  Ill. Jadon

-         The Pharisee likely stood apart to remain ceremonially clean, uncontaminated by sinners.

-         We focus on the speck in their eye but ignore the log in our own. Ill. Spouses, work

-         In pride, we think we do not need God, we’ve got it under control.  (Edwards)

-         Churches can easily become like this- running needy sinners off.  (Miller)

-         2^nd Self-righteousness is a deadly delusion because it blinds us to who God is.

-         His holiness & justice are distorted to avoid guilt & condemnation.

-         God is not the Savior, for none is needed- at least for the self-righteous.

-         Pride creates an independence from God- in this case thru ‘goodness.’  (Barrs)

“Pride is one of the greatest and most deeply embedded sins in human nature.”  Richard Phillips

“Pride is the worst viper in the heart … nothing is so hateful to God, contrary to the spirit of the gospel, or of so dangerous consequence…”  Jonathan Edwards

“The Pharisee is self-righteous because his standard of comparison is other people, and especially those who stand out in depravity.”  Richard Phillips

 “Self-righteousness is like bad breath.  Others can smell it but you can’t.”  Paul Miller

The 2^nd Point:  Justification, acceptance with God, rests on atonement.

-         The tax collector did not ask for 7 promises to keep or rules to follow.  ( Horton)

-         He literally asked for God to make atonement for him- a blood sacrifice (Rom. & 1 Jn.).

-         He sees his need for forgiveness, a sacrifice to remove God’s wrath.  Ill. 24 Iman

-         Where do we go with our sin?  Self-loathing, trying harder, or Jesus?

-         We need to get in touch with our inner tax collector to cast out our inner Pharisee!

-         1^st, Meditate on His sacrifice to grow in humility- greater awareness of self.

-         His humility does not save him, but exposes his need for what can save him.

-         Jesus is a willing sacrificial lamb for sinners (1 Tim. 1:15/Gal. 2:20).  (Bucer)

-         2^nd, Meditate on His sacrifice so mission grows as we point sinners to the Savior.

-         Many know they are unworthy, but don’t know the power of the sacrifice. 

 ¹⁵Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.  1 Timothy 1 (NIV)

“Getting in touch with your inner tax collector makes room for God’s energy in your life.”  Paul Miller

“Thus the health and life of the inner man consists in a true living faith in the mercifulness of God and a sure confidence in the forgiveness of sin which Christ the Lord has acquired and earned for us.”  Martin Bucer

Conclusion:  God doesn’t play by our rules.  His holiness and justice mean that none of us, even the best of us, are acceptable to Him.  We need God to act to save us.  He has acted, in Jesus the Son, who offered His life as a substitute for sinners.  All who rely on Him and not themselves are accepted- not by their merit, but His.