This Sunday

This Sunday’s message is:  The Pharisee and the Tax Collector, from Luke 18:9-14. 

In it we will learn about pride & humility, the ruin of religion, empty worship, self-righteousness, the inaccuracy of limited atonement, and how universally merciful God is towards all people, even the most wicked.

So often, God’s way of looking at things is much different than ours.  Although the tax collector's sins were many, because of his honest and contrite confession he experienced God’s forgiveness and justification.

Not the Pharisee, who was proud, very religious, and trusted in election and his own goodness.  But in the sight of God he had committed one of the worst sins of all – spiritual pride.  It oozed out of him with his holier-than-thou attitude that caused him to look down his nose at others outside his select club.  He was narrow minded, intolerant, and judgmental.

No wonder Jesus said, “Harlots and tax collectors will go into God’s kingdom before you” (Matthew 21:31).