Tomorrow I will be preaching at my church: Antioch Fellowship Baptist Church. Below is the outline of the message.
In approaching God there are two ways: the right way and the wrong way. To be acceptable, it’s His way, ‘no highway option,’ (to quote Vin Diesel in "The Pacifier"). In Luke 18, we see both ways portrayed. We will be looking at this today.
Luke 18.9-14 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.' But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up 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, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted."
The Proud Approach v.9-12(The Pharisee)
*The Pharisee prayed like he was doing God a favor.
*Some translations say that Jesus said he “prayed to himself.”
*His prayer was rejected
The Humble Approach v.13 (The Tax Collector)
*(Also referred to a “a sinner” by the Jews)
*Prayed in humility “would not even lift up his eyes to heaven”
*Sought God’s forgiveness
The Justified Approach v.14 (The Repentant)
*The Pharisee felt he had something to offer God
-We have nothing to offer God to earn our own salvation
-Our best works are nothing (Isaiah 64.6: We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment.)
*The tax collector felt he was worthless before God
-The tax collector was right
-The tax collector was repentant
*We can be justified also
FOR US:
Recognize without Christ we are sinners (Romans 3.10-11, 23)
Romans 3.10-11 “as it is written: ‘None is righteous, no, not one; 11no one understands; no one seeks for God.’”
Romans 3.23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”
Sin has a price (Romans 6.23a)
Romans 6.23 “For the wages of sin is death…”
God gives us a gift of salvation (Romans 6.23b)
Romans 6.23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Believe and confess to be saved (Romans 10.9, 10, 13; 6.23b)
Romans 10.9-10, 13 “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved… 13For ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’”
Become a child of God (John 1.12)
John 1.12 “to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God”
Go and share the Gospel and make Disciples (Matthew 28.19-20)
Matthew 28.19-20 “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
INVITATION:
Unbelievers: If God is leading you to come to Him in repentance, come and receive Him today (2 Corinthians 6.2: “Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”)
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