Luke’s Gospel ch18 vs9 – 14.
In today’s society, people still like to think they are
better than others.
The Pharisees certainly thought so, by their following of the Law to
the letter.
They thought they were so righteous, trusting in themselves.
This is still the same today – many people see nothing wrong
with their lives, believing they are pleasing God.
The Lord Jesus Christ got the Pharisees attention by talking
about them in this parable.
They were enjoying the first part – believing themselves to
be the best, and the tax collector the lowest of men. vs11) “…I thank thee that I am not as other men
are…”
They loved going even beyond what the Law required, but were
just religious, going through the motions and not thinking about what they were
really doing.
They were a most arrogant group!
To be a Christian, you must understand WHY you need to be
saved… you need to understand about sin, and what God has done concerning your personal sins.
You not only need head knowledge, but your heart must also
be right with God.
If you come to Christ for forgiveness, it is always a
personal decision.
God deals with us all as individuals, speaking to us in
different ways.
Religion only teaches us to do things such as giving, or
going to church. But God did not give the law for us to follow parrot – fashion, it was to show us that none of us could ever keep it.
We have ALL sinned!
Jesus Christ said that even thinking the act is sin.
What a total difference we find in the attitude of the tax
collector – vs13a) he stood “afar off”, “not
lifting up as much as his eyes to heaven”.
“Once you were alienated from God, and were enemies in your
minds because of your evil behaviour” – Colossians ch1 vs21.
The tax collector knew where he should be, and knew more
than the Pharisees.
He was aware of his own sins, and standing afar off, he knew
his guilt.
He knew he was not worthy of drawing near to God – and we
all need to be of the same mind, not fooling ourselves like the Pharisees.
This is the tragedy of religion.
Having a sense of our own importance before God.
The Lord Jesus Christ will say of these people “…I never
knew you, depart from me…” – Matthew’s Gospel ch7 vs23.
Like today’s religions – things are done “in the name of
God”, but it is not real and against the truth of God.
The tax collector not looking up, was convicted of his sin
and his needs.
In humility before God,
vs13b) he confesses his sins and
is repentant – “God be merciful to me a sinner”.
He fully understood his position before God, and was taking no
notice of the Pharisees.
His only concern was to get himself right with God,
It was personal – and so it needs to be with each of us if
we are to be forgiven and saved - by
coming to Jesus Christ in repentance and having faith in His completed work of
salvation on the Cross…
“There’s a way back to God from the dark paths of sin;
there’s a door that is open and you may go in:
at Calvary ’s Cross is where
you begin,
when you come as a sinner to Jesus”.
- words of song by E.H.Swinstead.
In the person of The Lord Jesus Christ, He has provided
Salvation to anyone who will accept it.
One is then made righteousness through faith – and
vs14) – justified like the tax collector.
All because of Christ, in love, giving His body and His
shed blood to pay for the price of your personal sins.
Jesus Christ will not turn YOU away,
He says “…him that
cometh to me I will in no wise cast out”.–
John’s Gospel ch6 vs37.
We all must come in the same right way as the tax
collector – confessing in humility, with a broken spirit.
The truth was spoken again tonight about how you can be
saved from the eternal penalties of your unforgiven sin.
The Gospel message has not changed in over 2000 years…
Society has changed, as has culture… man has advanced
intellectually, in medicine, in engineering…
But the way to God and Heaven is always the same – personally
acknowledge what Christ has done for you, come in repentance, fully trusting in
His sacrifice and you too will go home justified, and with joy.
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