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you you you you you you welcome to everyone just one brief announcement before we begin we're hoping to start up nursery again next week if anybody's interested in volunteering for that please contact chloe butler additionally there will be a meeting for the nursery workers next week so about a quarter to 11 i would guess everybody assembled downstairs and just go over a few things pertinent to the nursery services as well i sent out an email if you're interested in participating in the saturday morning class just send me an email i'll put you on that list and then god willing this week i'll let you know when we're starting back the wednesday night bible study so for our call to worship now you can turn with me to the in your bibles to the prophet isaiah isaiah chapter 49. isaiah 49 i'll read verses 1 to 13 listen o coastlands to me and take heed you peoples from afar the lord has called me from the womb from the matrix of my mother he has made mention of my name and he has made my mouth like a sharp sword in the shadow of his hand he has hidden me and made me a polished shaft in his quiver he has hidden me and he said to me you are my servant o israel in whom i will be glorified then i said i have labored in vain i have spent my strength for nothing and in vain yet surely my just reward is with the lord and my work with my god and now the lord says who formed me from the womb to be his servant to bring jacob back to him so that israel is gathered to him for i shall be glorious in the eyes of the lord and my god shall be my strength indeed he says it is too small a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of jacob and to restore the preserved ones of israel i will also give you as a light to the gentiles that you should be my salvation to the ends of the earth thus says the lord the redeemer of israel their holy one to him whom man despises to him whom the nation abhors to the servant of rulers kings shall see and arise princes also shall worship because of the lord who is faithful the holy one of israel and he has chosen you thus says the lord in an acceptable time i have heard you and in the day of salvation i have helped you i will preserve you and give you as a covenant to the people to restore the earth to cause them to inherit the desolate heritages that you may say to the prisoners go forth to those who are in darkness show yourselves they shall feed along the roads and their pastures shall be on all desolate heights they shall neither hunger nor thirst neither heat nor sun shall strike them for he who has mercy on them will lead them even by the springs of water he will guide them i will make each of my mountains a road and my highway shall be elevated surely these shall come from afar look those from the north and the west and these from the land of sin sing o heavens be joyful o earth and break out in singing o mountains for the lord has comforted his people and will have mercy on his afflicted amen well please turn to psalm 22 psalm 22 d as in delta and we'll stand as we sing together so [Music] ah [Music] [Music] oh [Music] foreign [Music] is [Music] is [Music] oh [Music] is [Music] is [Music] us [Music] is [Music] is [Music] is [Music] well for our time a prayer this morning we'll pray for our brother ryan and his family they're presently in vernon where he is preaching today we can remember to pray for the curries in honduras i thank everyone for your prayers for us as we drove to ontario and back one of the purposes was also not only to visit josh and the family but to visit the church plant there it was very encouraging i preached both sundays we had meetings after both sunday services to discuss various things concerning their going forward so please continue to keep that work in dryden northern ontario in your prayers as well mrs neufeld said that don did not get a date any time soon he's on a list i think about 10 months out for a hip replacement but he is on a cancellation list so i said that we should pray for that that somebody would cancel and that don would be able to get what he needs so let us go to the lord our god in prayer our father in heaven we gather together on this most beautiful day and certainly the heavens declare your glory and your righteousness and your majesty we see your your your power and your wisdom and your goodness displayed so vividly in the creation we see that as well in providence and we just stand in awe and we marvel at what a great and glorious god that you are you are from everlasting to everlasting you are most high you are the god of absolute power sovereignty and authority and you are the god who is most glorious in terms of being father son and holy spirit we as well see your handiwork not only in the works of creation in providence but in redemption we see that empty tomb we see the blessed life and the death and the resurrection of the lord jesus christ for sinners and we see that grand demonstration of that goodness to us we thank you for your grace we thank you for your mercy we thank you that you have not dealt with us as our sins deserve we come before you now and we are humbled unto the mighty hand of god almighty but as well we have great gladness and gratitude in our hearts for what you've done for us in the gospel of our salvation so father as we come to you now through the power of the spirit through the mediation of our blessed lord jesus we pray that you would be all in all in this place that you would be exalted and enthroned upon the praises of your people here that as we sing as we pray as we go to the word of god we would be mindful of the fact that you are what scripture declares and that it would promote in us that reverence and that fear and that trembling because you are such a great and awesome god as well may it be mingled with joy may be mingled with gratitude and with celebration for god not only in terms of the spiritual blessings that you've poured upon us but as the psalmist says you load us daily with benefits we give praise to you most high god for who you are and for what you do we ask that you would forgive us for all of our sin and transgression we know god our high calling in our lord jesus to to walk in a manner that is consistent with the gospel and yet father we find that that remaining corruption in our hearts we see paul treat it in romans 7 and galatians 5 we see him not only treat it in the in the theoretical realm we see it experientially day by day in our own hearts and lives we certainly imitate what the hymn writer said in terms of being prone to wander and prone to leave the god that we love but we rejoice in the fact that there is forgiveness with you that you may be feared so even now most high god wash us in that precious blood of the lord jesus christ and god for any and all who have come here this morning that are still dead in their trespasses and sins we pray that you would come by the spirit and bring that conviction for sin and set forth the glory and the majesty of christ and his ability to save to the uttermost all who draw nigh unto him through all who draw nigh unto god through him lord be merciful and open hearts and open the eyes of sinners and cause them to see that reality that christ is the way of salvation to the father and may you be merciful in calling out sinners from darkness into marvelous light we ask you would bless our children and that you would bless our young people our hearts desire an earnest plea to you most i god is that they would remember you in their youth that they would hear and respond by grace to the gospel of our salvation we know that this is a sin cursed world we know that wickedness is exalted at every stage in society we see sexual perversion we see abortion we see euthanasia we see all manner of evil it certainly looks like the days in which the prophet isaiah prophesied when he said woe to those who call good evil and evil good so father we pray that as the mountains surround jerusalem you would surround these young people you would captivate their hearts early on that they would be slaves of the lord jesus christ that they would be worshipers and followers of the lamb and that if any agency government or ecclesiastical or family or individual ever tries to keep them from our lord that they would nevertheless see him as altogether lovely and chief among ten thousand god be glorified in the salvation of sinners be glorified in the edification and sanctification of your saints and grant us all grace to rejoice in the presence of our god this day we thank you for the work that you're doing elsewhere we thank you for the work in siri and we pray for pastor mike that you would continue to bless and strengthen him we also pray for our brother ryan and for esther and their children as they are in vernon this weekend we rejoice god and your goodness there we pray father that your will would be done there and we pray that there would be a faithful witness to the gospel of our lord jesus christ in that part of the world we thank you for the curries and we pray for their continued physical health and strength we pray for their spiritual vitality we pray for that building program that is going on in terms of the external but as well god with reference to the life of that church we pray they be committed to the truth of the gospel they would be committed to the truth of the entirety of god's holy word and they would be a faithful witness in that part of the world to testify of the way of salvation by grace alone through faith alone in christ alone and god look with favor upon the saints and dryden we thank you for what it appears to be that you are doing there and god i pray that you would give grace and wisdom to them i pray that you would continue to grant them humility as they find their way along that you would just bless them with the ability to plant a church in that part of the world and may it be a means for benefit and blessing to the larger world in that part of of canada and god be gracious in this nation to your church be gracious in this nation to those who have faced hardships and difficulties over the past several months we ask you to give wisdom to our governing authorities the apostle tells us we are to pray for them and we would pray god almighty that they would think in a manner that is consistent with the word of god even if they are unsaved men and women we pray that you by grace and by your power would restrain them and cause them to do those things beneficial for this body politic and ultimately for the church god we know that it's good for us to be able to shine as lights in a crooked and perverse generation and to hold forth the word of truth and we pray that you by grace would secure these things for us and if not help us to nevertheless persevere to be faithful in the midst of what appears to be some faithless times and grant us all grace in our local community to be large-hearted and filled with love and a desire to promote the gospel of our blessed savior thank you for this local body i thank you for these brothers and sisters i thank you for the the deacons who serve faithfully and well in this local church and may you be glorified here and we ask through jesus christ our lord amen you can turn with me again in your hymn books to him 440 hymn 440 will sing it with a familiar tune and we'll stand together uh [Music] jesus [Music] [Music] i [Music] come to jesus christ [Music] is [Music] foreign [Music] is [Music] jesus [Music] you can turn with me in your bibles to ephesians chapter 4 for our scripture reading ephesians chapter 4. i'll begin reading in verse 1. i therefore the prisoner of the lord beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called with all lowliness and gentleness with long suffering bearing with one another in love endeavoring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace there is one body and one spirit just as you are called in one hope of your calling one lord one faith one baptism one god and father of all who is above all and through all and in you all but to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of christ's gift therefore he says when he ascended on high he led captivity captive and he and gave gifts to men now this he ascended what does it mean but that he also first descended into the lower parts of the earth he who descended is also the one who ascended far above all the heavens that he might fill all things and he himself gave some to be apostles some prophets some evangelists and some pastors and teachers for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry for the edifying of the body of christ till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the son of god to a perfect man to the measure of the stature of the fullness of christ that we should no longer be children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the trickery of men in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting but speaking the truth and love may grow up in all things into him who is the head christ from whom the whole body joined and knit together by what every joint supplies according to the effective working by which every part does its share causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love this i say therefore and testify in the lord that you should no longer walk as the rest of the gentiles walk in the futility of their mind having their understanding darkened being alienated from the life of god because of the ignorance that is in them because of the blindness of their heart who being past feeling have given themselves over to lewdness to work all uncleanness with greediness but you have not so learned christ if indeed you have heard him and have been taught by him as the truth is in jesus that you put off concerning your former conduct the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts and be renewed in the spirit of your mind and that you put on the new man which was created according to god in true righteousness and holiness therefore putting away lying let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor for we are members of one another be angry and do not sin do not let the sun go down on your wrath nor give place to the devil let him who stole steal no longer but rather let him labor working with his hands what is good that he may have something to give him who has need let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth but what is good for necessary edification that it may impart grace to the hearers and do not grieve the holy spirit of god by wit uh by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption let all bitterness wrath anger clamor and evil speaking be put away from you with all malice and be kind to one another tenderhearted forgiving one another even as god in christ forgave you amen well the apostle paul sets forth the doctrine of the christian gospel in chapters one and two chapter three is a bit of a transition in terms of his prayer life concerning the saints of christ and ephesus and then chapters four to six get very practical in terms of the application of god's word by new men and women in christ jesus to their everyday lives in the first place i want us to understand that paul stresses unity among the people of god endeavoring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace he then speaks of bearing with one another forbearance with one another i think paul understood well the human condition though we are saved by grace through faith in christ jesus our lord that does not change that we still have our own preferences that we still have our own commitments again not with reference to christ and the deity of christ and and the way of salvation but in terms of those things that that good people disagree on we need to bear with one another and we need to show that love and that desire for unity secondly the apostle indicates that when christ descended on high he led captivity captive and he gave gifts to men and typically when we think about spiritual gifts we think about the things that are written in romans 12 and in first corinthians 12 the gift of tongues or prophesying or healing or or helps or administration well in this particular context the gifts given by christ to the church are men and those men function as apostles those men function as prophets those men function as evangelists and pastors and teachers and then notice why christ gives those gifts to the church very specifically in verse 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry for the edifying of the body of christ that's what gospel ministry is to be about that threefold aim not to be the most popular fellow not to be a celebrity not to simply meet with people and have coffee all day every day all of life no it is for the equipping of the saints it is for the work of ministry it is for the edifying of the body of christ and then paul makes very clear his intention the church of jesus christ must be mature the church of jesus christ must think god's thoughts after him it is simply unacceptable for us to remain at a first grade level when we've been christians for 20-plus years we need to grow in the grace and in the knowledge of our lord and savior jesus christ and that is the emphasis in terms of gospel ministry to preach the word to be ready in season and out of season to convince rebuke exhort with all long-suffering and teaching it is the case that the people of god are to be trained the word of god such that they can live in a world wherein they can shine his lights in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation and they can in fact hold forth the word of truth and then finally you see the emphasis on the conduct that is becoming a new man in jesus christ in other words when we're saved by grace through faith in our lord jesus christ it's not because of our good works it's not because of our holiness or our blamelessness it is not because we're great guys and girls we're saved by grace in order to be what the apostle decrees or determines here in other words when we've been conquered by the grace of god in the doctrine of justification our lives are to reflect that in the way that we live in this present evil world that's why he gives very concrete expression to what the christian life looks like therefore verse 25 putting away lying verse 26 be angry do not sin verse 28 let him who stole steal no longer verse 29 let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth and then notice in verses 30 to 32 do not grieve the holy spirit of god by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption i think if you ask 10 christians what really grieves the holy spirit they might answer well adultery grieves the holy spirit murder grieves the holy spirit theft grieves the holy spirit and i wouldn't suggest otherwise but look at the particular list that paul gives in terms of what grieves the spirit in this context verse 30 do not grieve the holy spirit of god by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption notice in verse 31 let all bitterness wrath anger clamor and evil speaking be put away from uh from you with all malice in other words endeavor to keep the unity of the spirit and the bond of peace when you don't do that you grieve the spirit when you insist upon your preferences over the written word of god to the neglect of brethren you're not doing what paul says so negatively put off bitterness wrath anger clamor and evil speaking and then positively verse 32 be kind to one another tenderhearted forgiving one another even as god in christ forgave you this idea that i will never forgive another human being this person did something so horrific to me well paul says the standard of our forgiveness is even as god in christ forgave you we've been forgiven of much therefore we ought to be a forgiving lot we ought to be a forbearing lot we ought to be a patient lot with one another that's paul's point well let us pray our father we thank you for the written word we thank you for the sufficiency of scripture and we thank you for the emphasis of the apostle in this passage god we do pray for your blessing upon us as a local church we see so much division in the world right now we see it in the church we see it outside the church we see it just just abounding so grant us help to take our minds and our hearts to ephesians 4 often and to soak them in the word of the living and true god bless this congregation and help us to navigate as we go forward in this present evil age as well father we pray for the very real concerns in our context we pray for don that he would be able to get this hip replacement surgery we pray father that as the one who owns the cattle on a thousand hills you would bring a cancellation so that our brother could get this we also pray for our dear sister beth we just commit her to you into the word of your grace and pray that you would look with great favor upon her and god we think of the situation ongoing in myanmar and the recent situation in afghanistan and this hurricane coming in louisiana and god we see there is great need in this world for your grace for your mercy for your loving kindness god bless the word as it goes forth today may it run swiftly may it be glorified may the people of god be equipped to serve in this generation and may those who are not your people be challenged and may they see their need for the redemption that christ brings to needy sinners and we ask in his most blessed name amen we'll turn with me again in your hymn books to 458 hymn number 458 will stand as we sing together [Music] is [Music] is glorious [Music] is [Music] [Music] uh [Music] [Music] is [Music] is [Music] oh [Music] we could turn with me in your bibles to luke's gospel luke chapter 18 god willing will return to john's gospel next sunday morning but for this morning we're going to look at luke 18 verses 9 to 14. a familiar passage of scripture concerning the pharisee and the publican but i do want to read beginning in verse 1 2 verse 14. so luke 18 1 then he spoke a parable to them that men always ought to pray and not lose heart saying there was in a certain city a judge who did not fear god nor regard man now there was a widow in that city and she came to him saying get justice for me from my adversary and he would not for a while but afterward he said within himself though i do not fear god nor regard man yet because this widow troubles me i will avenge her lest by her continual coming she weary me then the lord said hear what the unjust judge said and shall god not avenge his own elect to cry out day and night to him though he bears long with them i tell you that he will avenge them speedily nevertheless when the son of man comes will he really find faith on the earth 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 god i thank you that i am not like other men extortioners unjust adulterers or even as this tax collector i fast twice a week i give tithes of all that i possess and 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 a sinner i tell you 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 amen let us pray father as we come to the issue of righteousness before god i pray that you would give us eyes to see and ears to hear i pray that you would cause us to reflect afresh upon the doctrine of justification by faith alone and god help us to respond with thanksgiving help us to respond with worship and praise to such a god who's dealt so mercifully with such sinners and we do pray that you give ears to hear and hearts to receive that truth among those who are dead in their trespasses and sins i pray you would make them alive you would give them the graces of faith and repentance that they would hear of a full free salvation in and through our blessed lord jesus christ and this to your glory and this for the good of sinners in this place again wash us now purify us now cleanse us from all sin and everything that darkens our understanding and grant us the holy spirit to shine the light upon this passage of scripture and we ask in the name of the lord jesus christ amen well as we come to this particular parable i think it's very instructive for us in what i said in terms of prayer justification by faith alone as we look at the parable i want to see or observe three things first the occasion of the parable in verse nine secondly the two men in the parable in verses 10 to 13 and then finally the summary of the parable in verse 14. notice with reference to the occasion of the parable both of these parables have to do with prayer so in verses 1 to one to eight we see the context in verse one then he spoke a parable to them that men always ought to pray and not lose heart saying so what he's indicating there is that in terms of prayer there must be perseverance there must be constancy in prayer we don't simply go to god once and say well there's my petition i'm just going to leave it with you and now i'm going to vacate no be like this woman she has been traditionally called the importunity widow she wouldn't take no for an answer she continues to go to the judge she continues to wear the judge down to the point where he says so that she won't continue to worry me i'll go ahead and render the verdict and from that the lord christ draws the principle shall not god avenge his own elect who cry to him day and night in other words don't ever be put off of prayer because you don't get immediate answers don't ever conclude that i've ended i i prayed and god just didn't answer brethren prayer is to be engaged in with importunity you want to be constant at the throne of grace you were to be persevering at the throne of grace you are to bring those petitions in the spirit and in the manner that this woman did with reference to this unjust judge but then the second parable again reflects on prayer two men went to the temple to pray but it's not just prayer that's in view i think it's the attitude the disposition the the mindset of humility that jesus enjoins here but he's also teaching us something about the way of salvation how do sinners how do us or people like us enter into the presence of a holy god well certainly this sets forth a pattern or an example for us in that regard so in terms of the context we see the constancy necessary in prayer verse one and then we see the need for humility in prayer in verse nine and then notice specifically in terms of the context in verse 9 also he spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others same sort of a mindset verse 1 he spoke a parable to them that men always ought to pray and not lose heart you know what the antidote is against uh not losing heart it's to pray but you know what the antidote is with reference to trusting in yourself and despising others it is to get a fresh dose of the doctrine of justification by faith alone it is to live in a manner consistent with that not to be exalted not to be proud not to be arrogant not to be puffed up but rather to be humbled under the mighty hand of god most high so he spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous what kind of righteousness is in view i think it's the righteousness that we need to have in order to be accepted by god these men trusted in themselves that they were righteous you see it when we get to the pharisees prayer he's pretty happy with his accomplishments he's pretty happy with his performance he's pretty happy in terms of what he does on a regular or daily basis so as far as he's concerned when it comes time for him to die the gates of heaven are going to swing wide open and god's going to welcome him in with open arms because he's been a fantastic human being so with reference to the context understand the righteousness involved is the job 9 2. how can a man be righteous before god as well with reference to this particular context he spoke this parable to some who consistently and persistently trusted in themselves that they were righteous in other words this isn't theory jesus isn't just speaking to a possibility out there the pharisees were notorious for this the pharisees were notorious for a self-righteous attitude a disposition of superiority again it will come out in full detail as we survey this particular man's prayer and then as well we see with reference to this that there's always a connection between self-righteousness and then the judging of others it's inextricable if you have a problem being a very judgmental person then most likely you have not been humbled under the mighty hand of god i'm not talking about the struggles with remaining corrupt yet and this time and again where we might have it to rise up in us where we are judgmental of others but if characteristically in your life you are a judgmental person to the point where you despise others you're self-righteous these things go hand in hand and this is the connection in view he spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others and this despising of others simply means to show by one's attitude or manner of treatment that an entity has no merit or worth in other words it is to disdain them it is to look down upon that and it's something that again always goes with this self-righteous approach in scripture turn over to romans 2 verse 1 for just a moment to see this in action romans chapter 2 after romans 1 paul having dealt with the gentiles apart from the grace of god he then turns his attention to the jews and essentially what he says it's not just the gentiles who find themselves in a bad situation before thrice holy god it's also you jews so that when he gets to chapter 3 at verse 19 he concludes that all the world is guilty before god he can conclude that all men are liable to the wrath and fury and judgment of god not just gentiles but jews as well and notice his tact taken in verse one of chapter two therefore you are inexcusable o man whoever you are who judge for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself for you who judge practice the same things in other words you think just because you have the law just because you are of the people of god the old covenant people of god that's okay for you to disdain and despise those gentiles those nasty dirty dogs no you've got the same issues the same problems and you have the same need for redemption through the blood of our lord jesus christ so go back to luke chapter 18. we've seen the occasion of the parable now notice the two men in the parable in verses 10 to 13. jesus introduces them by their identity he says one is a pharisee and one is a tax collector the old king james calls them a publican and basically the publican or the tax collector were looked at in a bad way by most of society for a variety of reasons first they collaborated with gentiles they handled currency with pagan inscriptions and iconography they took money from fellow jews and were often greedy and corrupt so you see why they wouldn't be the popular ones in society you wouldn't typically say oh there's the tax collectors let's go hang out with them usually in the new testament they are linked with sinners matthew 9 10. they're linked with gentiles or heathen in matthew 18 17 they're linked with harlots in matthew 21 31 and they're linked with extortioners unjust and adulterers right here in luke chapter 18. so when jesus says that these two men went to the temple to pray one was a pharisee everybody who would have heard jesus would say oh that's the hero that's the religious leader that's the righteous man that's the favored man and then they'd hear tax collector and they say oh that's the that's the reprehensible man that's the man we all despise that's the man we all disdain that's the man we all detest and so jesus uses these two persons for his parable for ultimately shock value when he gives the conclusion that the republican goes home justified persons that were listening to him probably would have gasped in horror what do you mean the heathen or what do you mean rather the tax collector goes home justified what do you mean that the the pharisee was not justified so jesus is shocking them into the into understanding what's in view with reference to this particular situation so we see their identification a hero and a hated one but then notice secondly there's similarities there's similarities there's something the same at least in two aspects with these men they both went to the temple they both went to the temple now you may say well that's not that big of an observation butler well here's what i conclude from that presence in the right place at the right time is no short indicator of grace in the heart in other words persons can go to church persons can go to christian fellowship christians can our persons can attend a bible study it's not osmosis that saves us as old keith greene said going to church doesn't make you a christian any more than going to mcdonald's makes you a hamburger it's not something you catch it's not something that is that is contagious but rather it must be predicated all those in the last hour now know what that word means it must be predicated upon the grace of god in the heart so never think well i go to church i listen at family worship i carry a bible i listen to sermons again all of those things are good pursuits but they're not sure indicators that there's grace in the heart so they had this similarity in common they both went to the temple but what's the second similarity they both prayed again as the original audience heard this they were struck with the beauty of the pharisees prayer they were probably no doubt saying what a wonderful fellow he is what a great guy he is he's not unjust he's not an extortioner he's not an adulterer and he's not even like that tax collector and then we have this publican who can't even look up into heaven but he beats his breast and says god be merciful to me a sinner you see it is common among people to pray in fact sometimes people treat it as if it's some sort of a of a remedy for your your alien conditions well go ahead and pray about it that's great as god's people we should pray about it as those who aren't god's people pray to god for salvation by grace through faith in our lord jesus christ so they both go to the temple and they both pray but now we should observe their differences in the first place notice the pharisee in verses 11 and 12. jesus highlights his manner verse 11 the pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself i don't think that's accidental language he prayed thus with himself brethren you know what it is to pray thus with yourself those are the most frustrating times of prayer there are isn't it we don't want ourself on the other end of our prayer we want god on the other end of our prayer you've probably had that experience you've gone to pray and it feels as if your prayers bounce off the ceiling and come right back into your lap and then there are those times and there are few and far between unfortunately where it seems like heaven opens up and glory comes down and fills your soul i don't think it's accidental that our lord jesus says that the pharisees stood and prayed thus with himself he is more in the position of self-congratulations he's more in a position of pride and arrogance he's more about his accomplishments than expressing his dependence upon god at the throne of grace brethren that's not the place for us to submit our resume the throne of grace is for us to show our dependence upon god almighty it is that place wherein we worship and we glorify and we praise not ourselves but god almighty again for most christians in the 21st century we get it but in the first century context when jesus is speaking this they didn't necessarily get it remember the pharisee was the hero and the publican was the hated one notice with reference to the pharisee his prayer or his manner and then his content or the content of his prayer first of all he thanked god for what he was not which isn't necessarily a bad thing thank you god that i'm not in prison thank you god that i'm not in hell thank you god that i'm not chairman mao thank you god that i'm not joseph stalin that's a good thing that's an okay thing to pray about but that's not the disposition that's not the spirit this is a conveyance of his own righteousness this is a rehearsal of his own accomplishment this is a recognition that is for the intention to promote himself of all that he isn't in terms of the rabble that he finds around them so notice verse 11 the pharisees stood and prayed thus with himself god i thank you that i am not like other men extortioners which again it's good to not be an extortioner it's a blessing that i'm not unjust again we should seek to be just i'm not an adulterer or even as this tax collector as any of you who've been a christian for any amount of time knows there's awkward things that happen in the christian life it's awkward things whenever you're in any society of people and christians aren't immune to that awkward things happen in church awkward things happen in bible study awkward things happen when you're mixing and chucking and jiving with the people of god but one awkward thing i have never experienced is having somebody in my presence thanking god that he wasn't me now i'm not suggesting that everybody loves me that everybody respects me that everybody is favorable toward me but again i don't ever remember somebody saying thank you god that i'm not this and i'm not like him imagine the hutzpah of somebody actually engaged in this brethren as he's teaching this parable again this isn't what would have shocked the first century hearers what would have shocked the first century hearers is the report that the the publican went home justified this was pretty commonplace at the time when jesus gives the way that men should pray in matthew chapter 6 he's not making things up he says don't be like the hypocrite who stands on the street corner and engages in long prayers so that he may be seen by men this was actually happening in the religious culture in israel in the first century it actually happens today though i think it's a bit more subtle we can't engage in the same sort of thing thank you thank you god that i'm not an armenian thank you god that i'm not a dispensationalist thank you god that i'm not like this rebel that fills the churches around us we need to be on guard and we need to understand that at the throne of grace above all places we ought to manifest a spirit of humility and that is contrary to what the pharisee is engaged in here so he doesn't judge his own sin rightly rather he judges his sin in light of those around him in other words i'm not as bad as these guys i'm not as bad as those guys i'm certainly not as bad as this particular tax collector so he thanks god for what he was not but then notice he boasts in what he does verse 12 i fast twice a week i give tithes of all that i possess again just as a basic principle brethren as you go to the throne of grace that's the last place you want to offer up your religious resume that's the last place you want to say god i'm a great guy god i'm a great girl i i'm splendid i'm wonderful i'm awesome i'm excellent that's what this man is doing this man has no regard whatsoever for sin for sinners for the law for himself for the holiness of god it's evident by the fact that he thanks god for the fact for the reality that he's not this this publican but as well he celebrates what he practices calvin says we must not swell with confidence as if we had satisfied god and next we must not look down with disdainful contempt upon our brethren so you see how these two things go hand in hand he is a proud man he trusts in himself that he is righteous and that accompanies with it this disdain for others unjust extortioner adulterer and tax collector this man is the embodiment of whom jesus is speaking to relative to this particular parable self-righteousness in religion does not promote ephesians 4. self-righteousness in religion does not endeavor to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace self-righteousness does not promote what paul tells us the church is to be about in ephesians chapter four it is the imputed the imputed righteousness of christ received by faith alone that puts us in our proper place again not that we never color outside the lines not that we never get uppity not that we never get a bit judgmental not that we never get to that point where we might be despising others but as the overarching concern of our lives if we're self-righteous we're going to disdain others if we have christ's righteousness we're going to be charitable and kind and large-hearted and gracious to others we're not going to say or even as this tax collector it is a horrific commentary on the sinfulness of man that at the throne of grace instead of expressing his dependence on god and his worship of god that he celebrates is that he celebrates his own activity before god now notice the difference with reference to the public end verse 13. verse 13 describes his manner and the tax collector standing afar off would not so much as raise his eyes to have it but beat his breast so he stands afar off which indicates something of his humility and his unworthiness remember the pharisee stands and he he prays thus with himself the pharisee in matthew's gospel in chapter 6 sort of blows the horn before he puts his money in the box the pharisee in matthew chapter 6 is the guy who stands on the street corner so that people can see him pray that is absolute ludicrous ludicrousness in terms of our approach to god most high that's not so with the public head he stands afar off he's not worthy to enter into the presence of god almighty he's not worthy to stand there as if he's the he he's the proud man and say look god how how great and accomplished i am he can't do that he can't even look up into heaven all he can do is beat his breast you see the absolute opposite in terms of the public end and the pharisee the pharisees full of pride he's full of arrogance he's full of insolence not so with the public yet this man can't even look up into heaven and then he beats his breast and notice what he says literally he says god be merciful to me the sinner god be merciful to me a sinner is a right sort of translation but the word is articular that means it has the article as far as this publican is concerned there's nobody else on the face of the earth but him and god and as far as god is concerned he comes before him not with his own righteousness not with his despising of others not with his self-trust not with what he practiced but all he can say is god be merciful to me the sinner notice what distinguishes the publican from the pharisee in the first place he acknowledges what the pharisee does not the pharisee doesn't have this time of contrition the pharisee doesn't say lord forgive me the the pharisee doesn't invoke the mercy of god but that is precisely where the publican begins he begins with his own sin j.c reil says the publican did not speak for his neighbors but himself vagueness and generality are the great defects of most men's religion doesn't speak about the sins of the nation or the sins of my family or the sins of whatever no god be merciful to me the sinner have you ever found how easy it is to confess other people's sins it's simple isn't it it's easy it's great it's it's wonderful c.s lewis has an essay on that the danger of national repentance the danger of national repentance what oftentimes happens is that the repenting one puts on people sins that they have never committed it's easy to confess the sins of the people out there the sins of the publicans and the sins of the pharisees it's easy to confess everybody else's sin that's not what this man does he can't even look up into heaven he beats his breast he says god be merciful to me the sinner john gill says this is his prayer a short but a very full one and greatly different from that of the pharisee and which is a confession that he was a sinner a sinner in adam who had derived a sinful nature from him being conceived and born in sin and to center by practice having committed many actual transgressions attended without aggravating circumstances a guilty and filthy sinner a notorious one deserving of the wrath of god and the lowest hell he speaks of himself as if he was the only sinner in the world at least as if there was none like him if you're not a believer here this morning may i encourage you to get something of what this man has the idea that you're okay the idea that you've never done anything really bad is absolutely folly you have done bad things you have sinned against a holy god you have done that which is deserving of god's wrath and curse both in this life and that which is to come those persons when they're met with the gospel of our salvation and say well you know tell it to the sinners around us tell us to the people who are really bad i know i was brought up roman catholic my default response to anybody who would ever give me the gospel or at least a bit of it was to say well i haven't been that bad i've never committed murder i've never committed adultery sort of the benchmark since interestingly david committed both and nevertheless enjoys the marriage supper of the lamb it's not our works of righteousness but it's the active and the passive obedience of our lord jesus christ if you have not embraced the reality that you're a sinner may i encourage you to do so there is no salvation without first understanding the problem that's why the catechism starts with guilt that's why it emphasizes how do you know your sin and misery the law of god tells me so that's why we preach the ten commandments that's why we extol the law of god yes to tell people what we ought to be about as christians but as well to show non-christians where they have sinned against a holy god and why they need jesus christ you're not good you're not polished you're not righteous you're not upright yeah you may not be joseph stalin you may not be chairman mao but you are a sinner who is justly liable to the wrath and curse of god most high right here and right now as well the pharisee or rather the publican acknowledges what the pharisee does not notice god be merciful to me the sinner so as a sinner he understands his need for mercy as a sinner he understands it's not time to congratulate myself for being a great guy as a sinner he understands that it's not his time to you know sort of bring his resume before a holy god no he acknowledges his need for mercy see if you're off uh if you are following and you understand the reality that you are a sinner it's not moral reform that you need it's not try a little bit harder do a little bit better no it's cast yourself upon the mercy of god almighty so the public acknowledges what the pharisee does not he stands in mercy but as well he acknowledges what the pharisee does not also that listen to this god is merciful see we just thought about that or referred to that in hebrews chapter 11 11 6 it says that those that believe that god is or and those who come to god must believe that god is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him you need to know that not only is there a god but this god is full of mercy scott is full of grace this god is full of kindness this god does save to the uttermost all who draw nigh unto him through his son the lord jesus christ so the publican acknowledges this reality not only do i need mercy but god is in the business of giving mercy it's a most blessed arrangement we're wretched we're undone we're messed up were wrecked and ruined by sin and god in the gospel comes to people just like us it is most wondrous it is most glorious it is most awesome and then he does again what the pharisee doesn't do he casts himself upon god's grace and goodness notice what he says god be merciful to me a sinner in other words he understands rightly the problem he understands rightly the holiness of god he understands rightly that apart from god there is no acceptance and so what does he do he casts himself on mercy he throws himself on the mercy of the court he says god be merciful to me i've heard this with the hearing of the ear i've seen people that have actually been saved i go to a church where these things are preached i don't want to just leave them out there but rather i want to try and test and show that god is true in terms of being merciful to sinners it is a most glorious thing literally he says god be propitious to me and this means to cause to be favorably inclined or disposed to propitiate or to conciliate he understands the basics god is holy he is not but god is in the business of saving wretched sinners just like he is so before we move on to the summary i ask you to consider that i ask you to contemplate that i ask you to think through that are you a believer here this morning after the wedding a fellow asked me at the reception the other night you don't ask questions and you're preaching it kind of cost me caught me a bit off guard what do you mean we should stop and have question time i don't think that's what he meant i think he meant that the rhetorical device that preachers sometimes notice sometimes not always they sometimes employ where they ask questions of the hearer again not for you know group participation you need to stand up and raise your hand and you know give the actual answer but but ask yourself in your heart of hearts right now if i were to die today am i going to end up in heaven if god says right now your soul i require of you which is not outlandish luke 12. in fact turn to luke 12 for just a moment to see something of this possibility this reality luke 12 13 then one from the crowd said to him teacher tell me tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me but he said to him man who made me a judge or an arbitrator over you and he said to him take heed and beware of covetousness for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things that he possesses then he spoke a parable to them saying the ground of a certain man a certain rich man yielded plentifully this guy is already introduced to us as being a success i mean he was on the the magazine of you know agriculture inc in his community the ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully and he thought within himself saying what shall i do since i have no room to store my crops imagine that problem brethren what shall i do i don't have a place to put all my money i don't have a place to put all my loot i don't have a place to store all my goods so he said i will do this i will pull down my barns and build greater and there i will store all my crops and my goods and i will say to my soul soul you have many goods laid up for many years take your ease eat drink and be merry great everything's wonderful he's a success he's a self-made man he's a billionaire his biggest problem is that he has a storage situation so what does he do he doesn't make more barns he tears down the old ones and he puts bigger ones in their place and then in his soliloquy he says to himself you're doing great everything's fine you've got many goods laid up for many years isn't this the way that we plan isn't this the way that we think isn't it the case that we think for sure we got another 20 25 30 years if you're younger you can add you know a decade or two to that we don't ever think we're going to die today we just don't we don't ever think we're going to die tomorrow we just don't it's not something that comports with us it's outside of our frame of reference we are oriented in such a way that we like this rich man will say soul you have many goods laid up for many years take your ease eat drink and be merry verse 20 but god said to him fool this night your soul will be required of you then whose will then whose will those things be which you have provided so back to luke chapter 18 i'm not trying to scare anybody i'm not trying to rain on anybody's parade i'm not trying to trigger you or make you unhappy or make you sad but to bring to you the reality of what james says in james ford don't boast about tomorrow we're just a vaper that appears for a time and then is gone if you are living in rebellion against god almighty if you are a sinner against the majesty of the most high listen to the text beat your breast actually that's not requisite it's not the case well you didn't beat your breath so therefore now cast yourself by grace upon the mercy of god in christ jesus our lord that's the point that's the blessed message that's the reality and jesus confirms that in the summary of the parable in verse 14. notice i tell you this man went down to his house justified that my brothers and sisters again would have shocked the original audience him the tax collector the publican the guy who couldn't even stand and pray thus with himself the guy whose prayer was only that long the guy who said god be merciful to me the sinner that's the one who has mercy that's the one who's justified that's the one who's going to heaven absolutely isn't that what we have found believing the gospel for those of us who by god's grace are saved today isn't it the truth we didn't have to work we didn't have to labor we didn't have to resolve we didn't have to say god i'll give you 10 years of hard service and when that's all over i expect that you'll receive me to my to yourself no whether we said god be merciful to me the sinner or not that's what happened by god's grace he showed us our sin he showed us his son and he showed us the way of approach through the lord jesus christ in faith this man went to his house justified he had acceptance with god the word means just that to justify to declare righteous the perfect looks at the completed state the state of having been declared to be right the passive indicates that it's god who's the one doing the justifying so this man who was justified had acceptance with god and as we see in the context that i want to go too far afield but it was declarative rather than transformative he wasn't automatically made a great guy no he received great mercy he wasn't automatically changed into something that hopefully he would have become 10 or 15 or 20 years later he's accepted not on the basis of his own righteousness not on the basis of his own works he's accepted not on the basis of his own performance but he's accepted on the basis of christ what christ had done what christ does in his life and his death and resurrection this man knew experientially what the divines at westminster would include in their shorter catechism westminster shorter catechism number 33 what is justification justification is an act of god's free grace wherein he pardons all of our sins and accepts us as righteous in his sight only for the righteousness of christ imputed to us and received by faith alone when you met this man walking home and you asked him how is it that you're now justified he wouldn't have said because of what i practice because of what i'm not he would have said because of what christ has accomplished in his life death and resurrection he found acceptance with god not based on his own works but based on what christ does so going back just a bit to when i asked a question are you a believer in jesus christ the lord you have to understand that the way of salvation is very closely connected to that question the answer isn't go out and do better go try harder go be more excellent attend church more be around no it's believe on the lord jesus christ and you shall be saved this man would have surprised the original hearers and i suspect that he surprises some today those who aren't in tune with the doctrine of justification by faith alone they might say wait a minute how is he justified he hasn't promoted his own faithfulness he hasn't contributed his own works well as paul teaches us in galatians it's not about faith plus works it's faith alone in christ alone by god's grace alone so that's the disposition the summary statement concerning the publican but notice the pharisee verse 14 i tell you this man went down to his house justified rather than the other what does that indicate he wasn't saved okay so he wasn't unjust he wasn't an extortioner he wasn't an adulterer he wasn't this tax collector but he wasn't saved either he tithed all that he possessed he fasted a couple of times a week he he showed his rigor in terms of religious accomplishment but he wasn't saved see there's this mindset out there that the more that i do the more saved i'll be no it's about what christ has done please get that today if you don't get anything else well try to get everything else but when you go home today and ponder the reality that god is holy and i am not listen to the remedy believe on the lord jesus christ and you shall be saved so rather than the other so what does that mean with reference to the pharisee he's not justified he's liable to the wrath to the curse and to the fury and judgment of god almighty so as our brother pointed out in the last hour we focus upon the love of god in the evangel in the presentation of the gospel we tell sinners god is full of love and he has a wonderful plan for your life that's half the story if you resist and you reject and you continue in your unbelief you persist in your rebellion against god most high it's not the love of god that you're going to experience in the age to come it's the wrath of god it's the judgment of god it is in the language of the book of revelation it is the lake of fire it is torment it is suffering it is heartache it is no rest for the the wicked it is god's justice and righteousness and judgment vented on those who engaged in patterns of rebellion against him he was rejected and would receive the wrath of god due to his sin and rebellion and he found what was true throughout the rest of scripture that it's not faith plus works it's not works alone but it's faith in jesus that avails us with god in the marrow of modern divinity not modern 20th or 21st century but 17th century edward fisher writes so that if you desire to be justified before god you must either bring to him a perfect righteousness of your own and holy renounce christ or else you must bring the perfect righteousness of christ and holy renounce your own christ jesus will either be a whole savior or no savior he will either save you alone or not save you at all it's christ alone it's belief in him it's faith in the redeemer that brings redemption not moral reform not trying a little harder not fasting an additional time during the week turn to galatians chapter 2. the apostle brings this in sharp relief we'll bring this to a close in just a moment but look at what paul says in galatians 2 he's discoursing on justification by faith alone we see that in verse 16 knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in jesus christ even we have believed in christ jesus that we might be justified by faith in christ and not by the works of the law for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified and in context he's talking about faith plus these works it's not even talking about just works it's not saying you're messed up if you try to approach god with your works no he says you're messed up if you try to approach god with your works and faith see get that down fisher's not joking it's either we come to god with our righteousness or we come to god with the righteousness of another even jesus that's how paul concludes his his his uh summary or concludes in a summary form in verse 21 he says i do not set aside the grace of god for if righteousness comes through the law then christ died in vain it's either all christ or all you and if it's all you it better be perfect it better be exact it better be entire and it better be the case that you have perpetually obeyed god in every jot and tittle of the law there's no curve god doesn't give bonus points because you tried real hard it's either obey the law perfectly and enter into heaven based on your righteousness or look to christ who obeyed the law perfectly and enter into heaven based on his righteousness listen to jay gresham machine commenting on verse 21 in galatians 2. this verse is the key verse of the epistle to the galatians it expresses the central thought of the epistle the judaizers those were people that were saying believe in jesus and get circumcised in order to be saved they're not saying believe in jesus and you can get circumcised it doesn't really have any religious significance no believe in jesus and get circumcised in order to be saved or accepted by god the judaizers attempted to supplement the saving work of christ by the merit of their own obedience to the law that says paul is impossible christ will do everything or nothing earn your salvation if your obedience to the law is perfect or else trust holy to christ's completed work you cannot do both you cannot combine merit and grace if justification even in the slightest measure is through human merit then christ died in vain that's the point of galatians 2 21. when you arrogantly assert that part of my conduct is the basis upon which god accepts me then you're saying the cross was vanity why would he have to do that if we could conjure up in obedience calvin makes the same observation on galatians 2 21 for if we do not renounce all other hopes and embrace christ alone we reject the grace of god luther same thing for whoever seeks righteousness apart from faith in christ whether it be through works of satisfactions or afflictions or the law of god is nullifying the grace of god and despising the death of christ even though he may speak otherwise with his mouth typically they don't say well i despise the work of christ but that's what they're conveying in light of galatians 2 21. so in summary god is a holy god you're not i'm not no one in this room is we have all sinned against god the response to that isn't go try harder go fast more go tithe more but rather it is to cast yourself by the grace of god upon the mercy of god in our lord jesus christ believe in him and you'll be saved believe in him and you'll be forgiven of your sins and you will receive a righteousness by which you'll enter in to heaven so jesus summarizes everything at the end of verse 14 by saying for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled and he who ex humbles himself will be exalted i want to close with two quick thoughts first the theological benefit of the parable what is this uh what does this parable teach us about god the parable is helpful with reference to the law of god it doesn't mention the law of god but when we see this pharisee think that somehow he's accomplished the law of god by these measly things that he has done he has no conscience consciousness of that law the pharisees were supposed to be the guys skilled in the law if you're skilled in the law of god you're not going to parade yourself as a model of obedience if you're skilled in the knowledge of the law of god you're going to be hopefully humbled by the power of that law the parable is helpful with reference to the doctrine of justification i'll tell you flat out roman catholicism teaches that thing you need faith plus this church in order to get to heaven you need faith plus the seven sacraments of this church i don't mean this fgbc i mean the roman catholic you need faith plus the seven sacraments of the holy catholic church in order to enter heaven that's the galatian heresy that's adding faith and works together for our acceptance with god but as well the parable in terms of theology proper what it communicates to us about god is that god is merciful god is merciful i i tell you jesus says this man went to his house justified what does that tell you the worst people in society can go to heaven yeah that's what it tells you i know that's an offense to the world i know that's an affront to the world well that's not right i've you know lived an upright life i've cut my grass i've washed my car i've paid my taxes i've worked hard and you tell me i'm going to go to hell and this crack dealer over here is going to go to heaven that's an offense why because it underscores god's grace amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me i once was lost but now i'm found was blind but now i see it's not an offense to the believer the believer sees it as his blessed benefit there is mercy to be had in god secondly there is a practical benefit of the parable just backing up a distance talking specifically to the blood-bought children of god encouraging each of us in light of our responsibilities as god's people not in order to become god's people that's by grace through faith but as god's people we have responsibilities we're to endeavor to keep the unity the spirit and the bond of peace or to do so with all lowliness and long-suffering and gentleness we're to do so in a manner in disposition of what humility he told this parable to some who trusted in others and despite trusted in themselves and despised others these two things go hand in hand the parable in the first place should aid the believer in their approach to others humility is the watchword for the people of god not pride not arrogance thank you god that i'm not like this guy i'm sitting next to in the pew man he's a mess thank you that i'm not him royal says we're all naturally self-righteous it is the family disease of all the children of adam from the highest to the lowest we think more highly of ourselves than we ought to do we secretly flatter ourselves that we are not so bad as some and that we have something to recommend us to the favor of god ryle's right brethren if you have not embraced that reality call me email me i will send you that quote secondly the parable should underscore the necessity of humility in the christian life verse 14 be for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled and he humbles himself will be exalted there is division in the church today i don't know what the consequences going forward are going to be with the kinds of division that we've seen not only in the church but in society as a whole humility and lowliness will go a long way for all of us to facilitate a right going forward in the fear of god this is requisite the parable thirdly should remind believers of the close connection between self-righteousness and judgmentalism if as a manner of habit you are judgmental to others you may have a problem in terms of your salvation because when we're justified by grace through faith when we understand who god is and who we are before him god be merciful to me the sinner it is a it is still doable because we're that bad but it's not as much of a prone nest to look down upon others or disdain them or despise them fourthly the parable should remind the believer upon of the foundation upon which he stands it's a merciful god and justification by faith alone and then the parable should remind the believer of the stark difference between justification by a mix of works and faith and justification by faith alone i want to close by quoting john murray on john romans 3. he says justification by works always finds its ground and that which the person is and does thank you god that i'm not like this guy thank you god that i fast thank you god that i tithe justification by works always finds its ground in that which the person is and does it is always oriented to that consideration of virtue attaching to the person justified i'm a great guy i'm wonderful just ask me the specific quality of faith is trust and commitment to another it is essentially extraspective i think we all know the word introspection that's when we focus on ourselves i like murray's use of extraspective get your eyes off self on to jesus so the specific quality of faith is trust and commitment to another it is essentially extraspected and in that respect is the diametric opposite of works faith is self-renouncing works are self-congratulatory faith looks to what god does works have respect to what we are it is this antithesis a principle that enables the apostle to base the complete exclusion of works upon the principle of faith believe on the lord jesus christ and you shall be saved let us pray our father thank you for your word thank you for the clarity in this parable concerning the two men and god help us to learn the theological richness of the parable concerning your mercy concerning justification by faith but as well practically help us to be humble help us to be lowly help us to be in light live in light of holy scripture and the reality of a of a great and glorious god and salvation by grace through faith in christ and help us to honor you and to praise and to worship and to serve you and lord god for those who are not believers in jesus we pray that today would be the day of salvation we pray that your holy spirit would do that work which is impossible with us bring conviction for sin and set forth christ in all of his offices as savior to them and may they by grace believe on him and receive that forgiveness and that righteousness that avails with god and we ask in jesus name amen we'll close with a brief time of meditation you