Justified

Your righteousness are like filthy rags. So when you come to God and you want justification, which is what declared righteous. If you want this and you bring something and say God, here's what I'm offering you lost the Pharisee went home unjustified the other side, God declares us righteous if you declare yourself righteous in your marriage with the children in the church family and the community. If you're walking around declaring yourself righteous folks how to work this document out on until using objective salvation all wait a minute believing once they've always believed to but if you're constantly comparing yourself to other people and feeling better about yourself.

I have a question where are you getting your righteousness user and a portion of the upcoming message titled justify Pastor Robert on shop Clearview church in Henderson, North Carolina I Clearview.

Our focus is on making Christ from the worship we served when we love one another.

Come check us out at 3485 Oxford Rd. in Henderson visitors online I Clearview BC.org join us for the rest of this week's message this morning. Back in our series on the parables of Christ in this parable is the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector is titled justify the simple parable but has very deep meaning and application yeah Bibles with you, trying to Luke chapter 18 starting in verse nine, and once again let stand for the reading of God's word also he spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others. Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself. That should give you a clue. He prayed thus with himself, God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, and unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.

I fast twice a week. I give tithes of all that I possess in the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying God be merciful to me sooner than Jesus says in verse 14 not tell you this man, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. As you know parables are like mirrors when you read a parable. The question is do you see yourself which character are you playing in the story as of the question to you is which one are you are you the self-righteous Pharisee who was condescending towards the tax collector or are you the tax collector, standing afar off, beating his blessing God be merciful to me a sinner.

Who are you in the story. Here's a clue. This will help you do you often say things like you always and I never miss the convicting message do you often say things like the difference between you and me and I will leave you leave now.

Do you often compare yourself to the other person backing them up in a corner with your logic with your reason with your strong personality and you know if you Bible verses to go along with that pretty much you are the winner because this morning.

There's a question about your salvation is all I believe in once saved always saved on Calvinism. That's fine that's good.

We believe in eternal security as well. But see, there's a reason by Jesus says I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other. So are you justified probably this morning. Some people make it get saved for the first time and be careful is tricky because you may not be the self-righteous Pharisee here, but you may be the tax collector is called reverse comparison where you pour me what I've been through in life. No one understands churches full of hypocrites. You see what you've done now is you're saying. I am better than you legalistic hypocritical Christian's you're not justified either. Which one are you is very simple never given your heart to Christ, you have to come Pharisee or tax collector doesn't matter if you bow your heads you never prayed to receive Christ as your Savior. You come with empty hands.

You come with nothing no righteousness and then God's wrath is lifted, and God's righteousness through his son Jesus is applied to. So here's the prayer.

If you've never prayed that pray the simple prayer the said Jesus.

Nothing in my hand harboring I'm lost. No amount of church membership or all that I've done are all that I've given matters. I am a wretched sinner you have to say that I have. I am a wretched sinner, the chief of all sinners. I need your grace. I need Jesus to come into my life. I need him to forgive me of my sins and take over and I'll follow him. The rest of my life. Help me. The parable we just read is set in the context of prayer in the temple.

However, if we think that this is only about prayer and how prayer works than we are greatly mistaken. It deals with the much bigger larger issues which have some serious implications. They were talking about justification.

That's the doctrine on which the church stands or falls. This is the basis of our salvation. And even though Paul is going to litter on flesh it out and explain what justification means. Jesus has already planted the seed in the seed is in this passage. Let's begin by asking the first question why did Jesus give this parable. It tells us. Luke tells us in verse nine he said also he spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous. But here's the second characteristic in the despised others. Two things are wrong with this picture. First, there trusted in themselves and then second they were condescending towards others now who were these people who are these people that Jesus is referring to. Well again the parable tells us listen to verse 10. Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector, you heard me talk about the Pharisees throughout the series or the Pharisees. The Pharisees were laypeople who were trying to live by a higher standard. They were their claim was that why should just the priests in the temple should live by God's standards. All of us should live by God's standards so your home becomes the temple. These were the Pharisees describes this heart of their higher righteousness a lot and also the local people.

The laypeople they appreciated them because man these are the holy people and also they would help out other people who did not know the law and they would often help them keep the law.

The question this morning is is that that bad while there was another problem.

They were very condescending towards others, but the other character in the parable is a tax collector that I haven't talked about a tax collector.

Much in this series suggest for the benefit of understanding the Greek word for them is tell owners. That's where we get our word hold collectors. The Romans had three kinds of tax systems.

One was tax on the land than the poll tax and then the customs tax.

The land tax was pretty much based on how much land you have. So, said it's a direct tax. The poll tax. If you remember Joseph and Mary. They went to be registered so they could pay the poll tax.

The individual tax the personal tax but the customs tax was the indirect tax. It was based on the goods. The merchandise that was flowing through the Empire through the province. I mean, the Romans can be everywhere with their soldiers collecting taxes of what they would do is there was subcontracted and so if you had money, what you would do is you you would bed you would say you know just for the province of Galilee or Judeo. I am going to give the Romans. $10,000 as you say that $10,000 and if you are the lowest of the highest bidders and there you go to hear this. Now you can collect taxes, anything over $10,000 is yours. And so what were the talks. Tax collectors doing the toll collectors man they were making money they were taking advantage of people and they were looked down upon because they were they were taking advantage of their own people, and there were also leading their own people astray. I mean imagine living in that economy and your young son.

He cannot find a job he cannot do anything and there comes a tax collector man. He is driving a Ferrari or a really nice camp enough. He is he is doing great and your son says you know I want to do that. So you can never do that.

That's an abomination.

He is serving the Gentiles you're taking advantage of your people. If you ever go work with them but now your son loves that lifestyle and he is gone so the tax collectors were looked down upon as a menace on their society into what Jesus did. He neither condone their sin. Neither did he condemn them. He converted them. Jesus did not condone their sin. How do we know that. Listen to what is says in Matthew 543 you have to read between the lines.

Jesus says you've heard that it was said, you shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.

But I say to you, laugh your enemies, bless those who curse you, but then listen to verse 46 for if you love those who love you, what reward have you for even the tax collectors do the same. What Jesus is saying in the past and that little statement in the Beatitudes.

This lesson, the tax collectors they love their own and they don't care one bit about anybody else. Do you want to be like a tax collector that goes until Jesus did not condone their sins.

He did not gloss over their sins, but at the same time Jesus went after them to him. They were the lost sheep, the lost coin, the lost son who had to be saved in the Pharisees and the scribes could not understand why would Jesus do that why when he associated with this bunch.

What did Jesus say it's not those who are well that need a physician, but those who are sick hi did not come to save you. I came to seek and to save that which was lost their lost. That's why we believe in doctrinal preaching. We believe in expository preaching. We have discipleship we have apologetically have all this stuff, but if you ask me, wake me up in the middle of the night.

What is the goal of this church to make Christ visible so that a lost person can get saved something else is very important.

Jesus was fully man, but he was also fully fully God. He knew their hearts he knew the hearts of the Pharisees and the scribes and the Pharisees were appear the righteous ones. The past collectors were down here. The unrighteous, wretched ones.

But Jesus saw their hearts and to him. There was no difference. In fact, if you want to know that you have to again read between the lines. When Jesus is pronouncing curses woes against the Pharisees and the scribes. I want to listen in on those and again read between the lines are here between the lines. Matthew chapter 23 starting in verse four is talking the Pharisees him and he is pronouncing curses on them first one first for four day not the tax collectors. The Pharisees describes, for they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and they lay them on men's shoulders now would've expected Jesus to say that about the past collectors. But Jesus is not talking about tax collector.

You talk about the scribes, the Pharisees, you know what the test collectors were doing with the Roman law, the Pharisees and the scribes were doing with the Old Testament law. So they would find some law where a poor widow was right next to your property and there was said look out how to break this to you but according to such a such a law over here you know you owe this much to the government. Know what I can do I can help your bliss and it's going to cost me so much that the humble and the gracious man that I am want to do this for you because if I let you do this you can have to pay so much more about what you can do is turn the property over to me.

You know what they were doing no different than what the tax collectors were doing. They were putting heavy burdens on people that were hard to bear. In the process they were swallowing the property.

Jesus saw through them and he said I know your heart. I know what you're up to listen to what else. In verse six they love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues of quarterbacks collectors. Is there a show in town. Get us the best seats right up front.

Here's the money. What you need. The Pharisees and scribes were no different. They want to be up in the front. What else verse 14 want to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites for you devour widows, houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Of course the tax collectors were freedoms would say look on this doing my job. I'm sorry got to go through this… It's my job. The Pharisee on the other hand, was sent after he took over the propertyless outward prayer and he would make a long prayer and the poor widow just lost her house, but on a technicality.

He swallowed her property. Jesus being God was not deceived by their self-righteousness. He saw through them. Verse 16 want to you blind guides, and who say whoever swears by the Temple.

It is nothing but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obliged to perform it. The tax collectors on a little technicality can really mess you up the scribes and the Pharisees. Oh's. I swore to give that money what women did I say I thought you said by the temple was see that's the problem right there.

I didn't say go to the temple data I can have to keep. I don't have to keep my word. So sorry, Jesus says I know what you're doing. Verse 25. What do you, scribes and Pharisees for you. Cleanse the outside of the cup and dish.

Listen to this, but inside they are full of extortion, the tax collectors were extorting people but so were the Pharisees and self-indulgence. Therefore, you are witnesses against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets a semester very interesting sermon their pastor Shar love the way you put the Pharisees and the tax collectors on the same level as great I love it I love what you done, but here here's not. Now let's go application, a sure nobody wants to leave husband's wise it that you put your finger in your wife's face and list out all the wrongs that she has done all the things that she is not doing right and because you know a few Bible verses to back it up. You say all those things and if you were truly honest if you were truly honors, which many of us are not be included. We are guilty of the same things. Wife's same thing to you the very things that you are condemning your husbands and you bring it up every single time. This is how you are. This is how you are. This is how you are you never this and are always this are the very things that you're doing you think the problem is when I go to be honest, that's the problem. So this message I am not the Holy Spirit. I'm simply the messengers I can bring it to you other than that it's you got a deal with it, but the very thing think about it the very thing that you anger with your son or your daughter, you don't do this you don't stick with this and you don't apply to you.

Do you apply yourself, you waste so much time watching tape do you but there's only one show I like to watch you watch very religiously see the problem with us. This is so easy for us to condemn the tax collector both. Here's a thing you know why revival doesn't come because God's people lie all the time were lying everything God doesn't see God is in good is all low closer. He can see from you really think so he knows it all. And if we stand here or sit here and we think will absolutely not.

I am going through a difficult time. You don't know what I've been through in these people didn't understand my life you if you only had to look know what that's called reverse comparison what you're saying is I am more righteous because of the hellish life I had growing up so which one are you are you the tax collector who said God be merciful to me a sinner I am guilty. Are you the self-righteous, condescending Pharisee. So what happens listen to this parable. Now verse 11 the Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself that there is a problem you know why your prayers and are going up because you have self-righteousness in a condescending spirit in your heart you here this morning is José God speak to me.

You know what you're doing you judging me getting somebody judging something in this place. God doesn't hear your prayers when you pray because you bring to yourself. This is what assess the Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank you that I am not like other men. Christians do that a lot. The tax collector, standing afar off, would not even look up, but beat his breast say God be merciful to me a sinner and I would listen to what Jesus said, I tell you, this man went to his house justified limit for this word appear.

The word is justified justification. This is where this parable sees this to be all that's pretty cute being something that can either save you or condemn you forever. So what you mean, what is justification. Justification has two parts. One is where Jesus takes the wrath of God upon himself for us as one side of the coin was the other side of the coin is when we receive Jesus as our Savior, God declares us righteous now. Keep this in mind, because Jesus did not go into detail on this doctrine called. If you read Romans read Galatians if you read Philippians Ephesians 2nd Corinthians. He fleshes out the doctrine of justification by the way, that doctrine is a crucial doctrine on which the church stands or falls. If you get this wrong. It doesn't matter how wonderful the church is and how wonderful the preacher is or how you feel they can apply the doesn't matter if here we fail justification is a crucial doctrine, Jesus took the penalty of God's wrath upon himself. None of us can pay the penalty of sin. Your righteousness are like filthy rags.

So when you come to God and you want justification, which is what declared righteous.

If you want this and you bring something and say God he hit. Here's what I'm offering you lost the Pharisee went home unjustified was on the other side, God declares us righteous if you declare yourself righteous in your marriage with the children in the church family and the community. If you're walking around declaring yourself righteous folks how to work this doctrine out all Mattel using objective salvation is all women. I believe in once saved always saved. Why believe it to, but if you're constantly comparing yourself to other people and feeling better about yourself.

I have a question where are you getting your righteousness two things need to happen this morning.

There needs to be some heavy repentance for the way you are treating the other person or whoever that person is or you need to get saved. Aren't you glad you came this morning. God is about to change your life forever. Is all this time you been walking around with your filthy rags and saying I'm safe I'm say look how good I am look better. I am on the other person God saying as long as you hold this up your lost you're going home unjustified. We had a great service but I feel so close to God was happen you are in the surrounding I felt chills you think feeling chills is what means to be saved, and I felt all over me. Who do you really think so you can go to a ballgame and feel the same chills where we getting the stuff from is when you come and say, God, nothing in my hand I bring here I am God begging for your mercy and you don't have to beg you simply have brass God says. This argument done on the cross. Your penalty of sins was paid.

You broke the law of God. Jesus fulfilled.

Everything is done and now you are declared righteous in your work in progress there any days you struggle with self-righteousness, but that's called sanctification. You know, justification and sanctification are like two legs or two in her legs of the same pants you can have one without the other. Amid their distinct but you cannot have sanctification unless you have justification.

So this morning as we go on at time of invitation. I have no idea what God is telling you. But if you're living in self-righteousness constantly. You always feel better about yourself. You always bring the other person down one or two things. Either you need to really repent and say God forgive me because having been declared righteous. I have nothing in me. But what you've given to me, why am I judging the other person. Forgive me, forgive me God forgive me and help me to be more Christlike or the other thing is your lost, you get saved you been trusting in your self-righteousness. In today's a day of salvation. Romans chapter 3 in verse 23. Listen to this powerful statement for all have sinned, what is that mean all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. None of your good works. Matter being justified. How was the word said again freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, that Jesus only laid a put a seed in the ground. Paul explains it and goes in depth as a church is born with a seed. Is there Pharisee went home loss tax collector guns. Thank you so much for joining us this message so many times we fall into the trap of comparing ourselves to others. Really, we should be doing looking to her heavenly father.

He sees us stop comparing yourself to other people repent of the sin that is in your heart and turned your heavenly father today for more information visit us online@clearviewb.org for this sermon's notes. Check out Pastor John's blog and other gunshot