The Religion of Jesus: Merit or Mercy? Luke 18: /20/2007 Dr. Dane Boyles

The Religion of Jesus: Merit or Mercy? 9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. (Luke 18:9-10)

The Religion of Jesus: Merit or Mercy? 11 The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men-robbers, evildoers, adulterers-or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ (Luke 18:11-12)

The Religion of Jesus: Merit or Mercy? 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 everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18:13-14, NIV)

The Religion of Jesus: Merit or Mercy? Introduction –On one level the story is about grace but on another level it is about how damaging judgment is, how it impairs our ability to receive grace. –Let’s paint this parable in contemporary terms.

The Religion of Jesus: Merit or Mercy? –In his prayers, he thanks God that his parents brought him up in the church, that he has a good career, that he has a good marriage, and that nothing shameful or embarrassing has happened in his life. –But he goes home from church feeling sort of empty wondering what all that effort is for.

The Religion of Jesus: Merit or Mercy? –He noticed that sleazy looking guy was there again this morning. –He always meant to come to church more often. –He feels so ashamed. –He doesn’t know what else to do but bring himself to God.

The Religion of Jesus: Merit or Mercy? –So two men came to the church one went home justified. –Most of us are more like the religious man than we are the sinner. –So how do we get it right? –This parable moves us closer to seeing things the way Jesus does.

The Religion of Jesus: Merit or Mercy? Three Lessons of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector. –Salvation is a Matter of Mercy, not Merit. Everything else in our lives is based on working hard and earning it.

The Religion of Jesus: Merit or Mercy? The Pharisee was condemned because he asked God to treat him as he deserved. The tax collector was justified because he begged God to treat him better than he deserved.

The Religion of Jesus: Merit or Mercy? –Salvation is a Matter of Confession, not Performance. The Pharisee was condemned because he justified himself. –He offers up his qualifications to God, not his repentance.

The Religion of Jesus: Merit or Mercy? –But God does not save us on the basis of how well we perform! The tax collector was justified because he condemned himself.

The Religion of Jesus: Merit or Mercy? –Salvation is a Matter of Trusting God, not Self. The Pharisee was condemned, not because he was righteous, but because he was self-righteous. The tax collector was not justified because he was a sinner but because he was ashamed of his sin and cried to God for mercy.

The Religion of Jesus: Merit or Mercy? –He wants us to recognize sin, confess sin, repent of sin obey the gospel--trusting him to do the rest.

The Religion of Jesus: Merit or Mercy? Conclusion Lessons for Modern Day Pharisees and Tax Collectors The religion of Jesus stresses our need for mercy, not the saving effects of merit.

The Religion of Jesus: Merit or Mercy? –All have sinned and fallen short (Romans 3:23). –Our righteousness is as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). –Salvation comes only through the grace of God (Ephesians 2:8).

The Religion of Jesus: Merit or Mercy? We need Jesus. 4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, (Titus 3:4-5, NIV)

The Religion of Jesus: Merit or Mercy? 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:6-7, NIV)

The Religion of Jesus: Merit or Mercy? Luke 18: /20/2007 Dr. Dane Boyles