CHURCH
LUTHERAN
Our Savior's of Elderon
20th of Pentecost 16 INI Luke 18:9-14
Think of how blessed you are. Thank God that after our service this morning, you can go home in the same condition this tax collector did, justified before God. Paul wrote in Romans 5:1; “Being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Years ago there was a rancher in Africa who was a Christian. Every evening he would invite the field hands to come into his home and join him and his family for devotions. One night he was reading this parable to them. One of the natives, as he heard the Pharisees prayer, “God, I thank you that I am not like the others, I tith and I fast…” groaned. Then he said; “Ah, me, I cannot say that about myself, so good I have never been; that way I can never pray.”
But when the rancher read of the tax collector who beat his breast and said; “God, have mercy on me, a sinner;” the same worker looked up and excitedly proclaimed; “That’s me. That fits. That’s the way I’ll pray; God have mercy on me, a sinner.”
After that this African was a changed man. He was newly created, born again. He heard the parable and understood it correctly. Like the penitent tax collector, he went home justified before God. That is, he was acquitted, declared righteous, forgiven by God in heaven.
Do you realize that there is nothing, nothing in all the world that is more important, nothing more glorious than going home justified before God?
YOU TOO CAN GO HOME JUSTIFIED BEFORE GOD
How did that despicable, guilty thieving tax collector end up being so blessed? The answer lies in his confession (1), “God be merciful to me, a sinner.”
“On me, a sinner,” he said. Not on me the tither, not on me the hearer and doer of the Law, not on me the good person. No, at this moment as he stood before God in the temple he could only think of himself as a sinner. A person who constantly violated God’s Laws. He knew he didn’t deserve even one little bit of God’s mercy.
Notice also that he didn’t try to excuse his sins. He didn’t say, “well, yes, I’m a sinner. But I do have my good points too. I’m not really all that bad, especially compared to some people.” No, he didn’t say anything like that. Instead as he stood before God he spoke only of his sinfulness.
However, he not only spoke of his sins, he felt them too. Can’t you just see him standing in the temple as Jesus describes him? He was standing way toward the back. He was afraid to come toward the front because he felt so unworthy. He was so ashamed of his sins that he was afraid to look up to heaven. Instead he beat his breast. He did that because that’s where he felt the pain of his sins. His feelings of guilt were like a cardiac seizure. And so from his heart he simply and sincerely cries out, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.”
And that humble prayer was acceptable to our Lord. It was so acceptable that he tells you and I to use it as a model for our prayers. You and I need to be careful that we never pray like that Pharisee did; no matter how much we have tithed or fasted, not even if we’re known in the church and community as very respectable people. God wants us to hate self-righteousness.
In chapter 17 Luke records these words of our Lord; “When you have done all those things which you are commanded to do, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants.’” Remember also that the Bible tells us that all our righteousness is like filthy rags in God’s sight. They’re all tainted with sin. So you see, you and I have no reason whatsoever to boast. But we have every reason to pray, “God have mercy on me, a sinner.”
The question is, “Are you ready to do that or does this parable offend you?”
In the year 1523 the wealthy lord of a large province went to hear Martin Luther preach. The sermon touched his heart so much that he contacted Luther personally because he wanted to confess his sins to him. Now Luther was blunt and truthful with people no matter who they were or what position they held. So he said to the man, “You are a great lord and no doubt you are also a great sinner.” The nobleman wasn’t offended. Instead, he said, “You’re right. It’s God’s mercy I crave.” This proved his penitence was real and his confession sincere. And so he left and went home as the tax collector did, justified before God.
When you came into this church building this morning, what did you do? Did you take your seat and bow your head for a moment of prayer? If so, what did you say? “God have mercy on me a faithful church goer, a hearer and doer of your Word.” Did you say; “Have mercy on me because I am so much better than those who are despising your Word by not being here in your house today?” No never! Never say that! Instead bow your head and pray; “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”
When evening comes, before closing your eyes in sleep and you want to say a brief word to your heavenly father, what will it be? God be merciful to me, a tireless worker, who from morning until evening has been busier than most people in doing good deeds and spreading the good news?
No! Never! Instead, “God have mercy on me, a sinner who in spite of good intentions has failed in countless ways to do your will.
When the evening of your life comes, when your hour of departure is at hand, what will you say? “God be merciful to me an outstanding citizen, a model person respected by all?
No! Never! But rather, “God be merciful to me, a sinner,” “For if you O lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand.”
“On me, a sinner,” cried the tax collector. Notice that there wasn’t anything impersonal about his confession, nothing routine. Standing before God he didn’t think of others as being as terribly sinful as he was. He didn’t try to snuff off his guilty feelings by saying, “Well, that Pharisee over there, standing so conspicuously in the sanctuary, bragging of his good deeds, is really no better than I am, those church people have their faults too. I’m a sinner and I admit it. I’m no hypocrite.”
Is that what he said? No! Instead he was so sorry for his sins, so repentant, that he thought only of his own sinfulness. It seemed to him like he was the only sinner, the greatest sinner and that all other people were angels compared to him. Not on us, but on me, a sinner, have mercy, O God.
All too often this personal admission of guilt is missing from our confessions. We talk about doom and judgment hanging over our world in the last times and say; “Judgment day has to come soon because the world is so wicked. People have become godless, even our own country.”
But is that all? Is it just the people, the world and the nations? What about ourselves. All of us have contributed to the condition of the world, whether we want to admit it or not. Therefore, we need to pray; “O God, on me, a sinner, have mercy.”
Rely on God’s mercy (2).
We also need to realize that such personal confession of sin doesn’t in itself make us justified before God. There have been those like Cain and Judas Iscariot who confessed their sins with terror and still remained in despair.
So it’s important to know and understand that our souls become justified and forgiven before God only through reliance on God’s mercy revealed to us in Jesus. And that’s the reason the Lord tells us that the penitent tax collector called for mercy, and only mercy, nothing but mercy. God have mercy.
Can you imagine anyone asking for anything greater or better? The mercy of God is a wide term embracing all that us poor sinners need for both body and soul; for both time and eternity; something infinitely more than a preacher can describe in words. We have a Savior through whom we have perfect forgiveness from all our sins. Through him we are acceptable to God. Through him we are justified by grace and assured we have an eternal home in heaven.
The tax collector knew he didn’t deserve any of this. He knew he could never earn it. Even if he were to live a perfect life from this moment on, which he couldn’t, that would never atone for past sins.
Even if he had mountains of gold and hills of silver, he could never buy forgiveness, not even for one single sin. Buying, meriting, deserving, we all out. His only chance at God’s mercy, his only chance of going home justified before God, was to throw himself on God’s mercy.
Someone once said that the account of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector is one of the most important stories in the Bible because in it Jesus answers the question; “How does a sinner get right with God? Or, how is he or she justified?”
That’s true because in this simple story Jesus teaches the central truth of Christianity. That is, justification, by grace, through faith, in him. It’s a truth that’s stated time and time again in bot the Old and New testaments. Habakkuk wrote; “The just shall live by faith.” The Psalmist wrote; Have mercy on me, O God, according to your loving kindness, according to your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.” We also read; For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus…Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the Law.” (Ro. 3) Also in Ephesians 2:8-9; 8 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.”
How tragic that this glorious, powerful and life transforming truth of the Gospel was lost in the medieval church. It’s soul converting comfort was hidden from people until the reformation led by Martin Luther. God led Luther to rediscover this truth and to proclaim it with renewed zeal and clarity; “since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,” (Ro 5:1)
As a result of the reformation multitudes of sinners who were terrorized by the Law rejoiced when they heard the good news of the Gospel. It sparked their faith and filled them with joy. Pleading nothing but the all-embracing mercy of God they went home like the tax collector did; justified before God.
One of them, a Lutheran father in Europe, was filled with so much love for this truth that he ordered it to be engraved on his tombstone. Above his name were the words of Jesus; “The tax collector beat his breast and said, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” And then below his name he had inscribed these words; “This man went home justified before God.”
A theologian was speaking at a seminary one day. He said; “My whole life may be summed up in the phrase, ‘I’m a poor sinner.’ And the last report my dear ones shall give of me is; Jesus Christ saved him.” He too went home justified before God.
Do you want this blessing? If so, it’s very important for you to know and confess that you are a sinner; that you are guilty and helpless. But even that isn’t enough. You must take one more step. With the hand of faith, you must accept that mercy, believe it with all your heart. Believe, rely on, trust that through Jesus Christ you are justified, declared not guilty. Through him and him alone God has provided you with acquittal.
As you leave here today, take that good news with you. Carry it with you wherever you go. Cling to it always because without God’s mercy there is no going home justified before God, not to our earthly home and not to our heavenly home.
Fight the good fight of faith. Don’t let the devil make you doubt your salvation as old age and illness bring you closer to eternity. Instead counter every doubting thought and respond with this parable of Jesus and its assurance to us poor sinners. “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God.”
Understand this also. Even while we are here on earth, being justified before God brings countless blessings. Blessings such as love, faithfulness, peace, purity, joy and fellowship. But who can describe the celestial blessings it guarantees in the life to come. Isn’t it written; “Who he justified, he also glorified.”
You can be certain that he who justified you will someday lift you out of the troubles and trials of this world. He will open the gates of heaven to you and welcome you home with his abiding love and crown you with everlasting glory. Amen.
20th of Pentecost 16 INI Luke 18:9-14
Think of how blessed you are. Thank God that after our service this morning, you can go home in the same condition this tax collector did, justified before God. Paul wrote in Romans 5:1; “Being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Years ago there was a rancher in Africa who was a Christian. Every evening he would invite the field hands to come into his home and join him and his family for devotions. One night he was reading this parable to them. One of the natives, as he heard the Pharisees prayer, “God, I thank you that I am not like the others, I tith and I fast…” groaned. Then he said; “Ah, me, I cannot say that about myself, so good I have never been; that way I can never pray.”
But when the rancher read of the tax collector who beat his breast and said; “God, have mercy on me, a sinner;” the same worker looked up and excitedly proclaimed; “That’s me. That fits. That’s the way I’ll pray; God have mercy on me, a sinner.”
After that this African was a changed man. He was newly created, born again. He heard the parable and understood it correctly. Like the penitent tax collector, he went home justified before God. That is, he was acquitted, declared righteous, forgiven by God in heaven.
Do you realize that there is nothing, nothing in all the world that is more important, nothing more glorious than going home justified before God?
YOU TOO CAN GO HOME JUSTIFIED BEFORE GOD
How did that despicable, guilty thieving tax collector end up being so blessed? The answer lies in his confession (1), “God be merciful to me, a sinner.”
“On me, a sinner,” he said. Not on me the tither, not on me the hearer and doer of the Law, not on me the good person. No, at this moment as he stood before God in the temple he could only think of himself as a sinner. A person who constantly violated God’s Laws. He knew he didn’t deserve even one little bit of God’s mercy.
Notice also that he didn’t try to excuse his sins. He didn’t say, “well, yes, I’m a sinner. But I do have my good points too. I’m not really all that bad, especially compared to some people.” No, he didn’t say anything like that. Instead as he stood before God he spoke only of his sinfulness.
However, he not only spoke of his sins, he felt them too. Can’t you just see him standing in the temple as Jesus describes him? He was standing way toward the back. He was afraid to come toward the front because he felt so unworthy. He was so ashamed of his sins that he was afraid to look up to heaven. Instead he beat his breast. He did that because that’s where he felt the pain of his sins. His feelings of guilt were like a cardiac seizure. And so from his heart he simply and sincerely cries out, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.”
And that humble prayer was acceptable to our Lord. It was so acceptable that he tells you and I to use it as a model for our prayers. You and I need to be careful that we never pray like that Pharisee did; no matter how much we have tithed or fasted, not even if we’re known in the church and community as very respectable people. God wants us to hate self-righteousness.
In chapter 17 Luke records these words of our Lord; “When you have done all those things which you are commanded to do, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants.’” Remember also that the Bible tells us that all our righteousness is like filthy rags in God’s sight. They’re all tainted with sin. So you see, you and I have no reason whatsoever to boast. But we have every reason to pray, “God have mercy on me, a sinner.”
The question is, “Are you ready to do that or does this parable offend you?”
In the year 1523 the wealthy lord of a large province went to hear Martin Luther preach. The sermon touched his heart so much that he contacted Luther personally because he wanted to confess his sins to him. Now Luther was blunt and truthful with people no matter who they were or what position they held. So he said to the man, “You are a great lord and no doubt you are also a great sinner.” The nobleman wasn’t offended. Instead, he said, “You’re right. It’s God’s mercy I crave.” This proved his penitence was real and his confession sincere. And so he left and went home as the tax collector did, justified before God.
When you came into this church building this morning, what did you do? Did you take your seat and bow your head for a moment of prayer? If so, what did you say? “God have mercy on me a faithful church goer, a hearer and doer of your Word.” Did you say; “Have mercy on me because I am so much better than those who are despising your Word by not being here in your house today?” No never! Never say that! Instead bow your head and pray; “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”
When evening comes, before closing your eyes in sleep and you want to say a brief word to your heavenly father, what will it be? God be merciful to me, a tireless worker, who from morning until evening has been busier than most people in doing good deeds and spreading the good news?
No! Never! Instead, “God have mercy on me, a sinner who in spite of good intentions has failed in countless ways to do your will.
When the evening of your life comes, when your hour of departure is at hand, what will you say? “God be merciful to me an outstanding citizen, a model person respected by all?
No! Never! But rather, “God be merciful to me, a sinner,” “For if you O lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand.”
“On me, a sinner,” cried the tax collector. Notice that there wasn’t anything impersonal about his confession, nothing routine. Standing before God he didn’t think of others as being as terribly sinful as he was. He didn’t try to snuff off his guilty feelings by saying, “Well, that Pharisee over there, standing so conspicuously in the sanctuary, bragging of his good deeds, is really no better than I am, those church people have their faults too. I’m a sinner and I admit it. I’m no hypocrite.”
Is that what he said? No! Instead he was so sorry for his sins, so repentant, that he thought only of his own sinfulness. It seemed to him like he was the only sinner, the greatest sinner and that all other people were angels compared to him. Not on us, but on me, a sinner, have mercy, O God.
All too often this personal admission of guilt is missing from our confessions. We talk about doom and judgment hanging over our world in the last times and say; “Judgment day has to come soon because the world is so wicked. People have become godless, even our own country.”
But is that all? Is it just the people, the world and the nations? What about ourselves. All of us have contributed to the condition of the world, whether we want to admit it or not. Therefore, we need to pray; “O God, on me, a sinner, have mercy.”
Rely on God’s mercy (2).
We also need to realize that such personal confession of sin doesn’t in itself make us justified before God. There have been those like Cain and Judas Iscariot who confessed their sins with terror and still remained in despair.
So it’s important to know and understand that our souls become justified and forgiven before God only through reliance on God’s mercy revealed to us in Jesus. And that’s the reason the Lord tells us that the penitent tax collector called for mercy, and only mercy, nothing but mercy. God have mercy.
Can you imagine anyone asking for anything greater or better? The mercy of God is a wide term embracing all that us poor sinners need for both body and soul; for both time and eternity; something infinitely more than a preacher can describe in words. We have a Savior through whom we have perfect forgiveness from all our sins. Through him we are acceptable to God. Through him we are justified by grace and assured we have an eternal home in heaven.
The tax collector knew he didn’t deserve any of this. He knew he could never earn it. Even if he were to live a perfect life from this moment on, which he couldn’t, that would never atone for past sins.
Even if he had mountains of gold and hills of silver, he could never buy forgiveness, not even for one single sin. Buying, meriting, deserving, we all out. His only chance at God’s mercy, his only chance of going home justified before God, was to throw himself on God’s mercy.
Someone once said that the account of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector is one of the most important stories in the Bible because in it Jesus answers the question; “How does a sinner get right with God? Or, how is he or she justified?”
That’s true because in this simple story Jesus teaches the central truth of Christianity. That is, justification, by grace, through faith, in him. It’s a truth that’s stated time and time again in bot the Old and New testaments. Habakkuk wrote; “The just shall live by faith.” The Psalmist wrote; Have mercy on me, O God, according to your loving kindness, according to your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.” We also read; For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus…Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the Law.” (Ro. 3) Also in Ephesians 2:8-9; 8 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.”
How tragic that this glorious, powerful and life transforming truth of the Gospel was lost in the medieval church. It’s soul converting comfort was hidden from people until the reformation led by Martin Luther. God led Luther to rediscover this truth and to proclaim it with renewed zeal and clarity; “since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,” (Ro 5:1)
As a result of the reformation multitudes of sinners who were terrorized by the Law rejoiced when they heard the good news of the Gospel. It sparked their faith and filled them with joy. Pleading nothing but the all-embracing mercy of God they went home like the tax collector did; justified before God.
One of them, a Lutheran father in Europe, was filled with so much love for this truth that he ordered it to be engraved on his tombstone. Above his name were the words of Jesus; “The tax collector beat his breast and said, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” And then below his name he had inscribed these words; “This man went home justified before God.”
A theologian was speaking at a seminary one day. He said; “My whole life may be summed up in the phrase, ‘I’m a poor sinner.’ And the last report my dear ones shall give of me is; Jesus Christ saved him.” He too went home justified before God.
Do you want this blessing? If so, it’s very important for you to know and confess that you are a sinner; that you are guilty and helpless. But even that isn’t enough. You must take one more step. With the hand of faith, you must accept that mercy, believe it with all your heart. Believe, rely on, trust that through Jesus Christ you are justified, declared not guilty. Through him and him alone God has provided you with acquittal.
As you leave here today, take that good news with you. Carry it with you wherever you go. Cling to it always because without God’s mercy there is no going home justified before God, not to our earthly home and not to our heavenly home.
Fight the good fight of faith. Don’t let the devil make you doubt your salvation as old age and illness bring you closer to eternity. Instead counter every doubting thought and respond with this parable of Jesus and its assurance to us poor sinners. “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God.”
Understand this also. Even while we are here on earth, being justified before God brings countless blessings. Blessings such as love, faithfulness, peace, purity, joy and fellowship. But who can describe the celestial blessings it guarantees in the life to come. Isn’t it written; “Who he justified, he also glorified.”
You can be certain that he who justified you will someday lift you out of the troubles and trials of this world. He will open the gates of heaven to you and welcome you home with his abiding love and crown you with everlasting glory. Amen.
SERMONS
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