Confronting Self-Justification: Embracing God's Truth

Devotional

Day 1: The Danger of Self-Justification

The Pharisees' love of money and self-justification blinded them to the truth of Jesus' message. Their sneering at Jesus reflects a deeper contempt for divine authority, a common reaction among those outside the kingdom of God. This challenges us to examine our own hearts and attitudes towards Christ. Jesus' confrontation with the Pharisees in Luke 16:14-18 reveals the stark contrast between human values and divine truth. The Pharisees, who prided themselves on their righteousness, were deeply offended by Jesus' teachings on stewardship and the kingdom of God. Their reaction is emblematic of the world's response to Jesus, where outward respect often masks an inner disdain. As followers of Christ, we must be vigilant against the temptation to justify ourselves through our deeds or status, recognizing that true righteousness comes from repentance and faith in Christ. [03:38]

Jeremiah 17:9-10 (ESV): "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? 'I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.'"

Reflection: In what ways might you be relying on self-justification rather than seeking true repentance and faith in Christ?

Day 2: God's View of Sin

God's view of sin is not as benign as often portrayed. While He loves sinners, He abhors sin and those who persist in it without repentance. This understanding should drive us to seek genuine transformation and alignment with God's will. The Pharisees' reliance on self-justification and good deeds as a means to enter the kingdom of God is a futile endeavor, as true entry requires repentance and faith in Christ. This challenges the prevalent notion of unconditional divine love, urging us to recognize that God abhors sin and the sinner who remains unrepentant. It is a call to genuine transformation, where we align our lives with God's will and seek His forgiveness. [06:14]

Isaiah 59:1-2 (ESV): "Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear."

Reflection: What is one sin in your life that you have been minimizing? How can you bring it before God in repentance today?

Day 3: The Enduring Relevance of the Law

The law of God remains relevant and authoritative, serving as a mirror to reveal our sinfulness and a guide to what pleases God. Antinomian views that dismiss the law's importance are contrary to Jesus' teachings. Jesus underscores the permanence of the law, stating that not even the smallest part will fail. This challenges modern antinomian views that dismiss the law's significance for Christians. The law serves as a mirror, showing us our sinfulness and driving us to Christ, while also guiding us in what pleases God. It is a reminder that God's standards are unchanging and that our lives should reflect His holiness. [21:45]

Psalm 19:7-8 (ESV): "The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes."

Reflection: How does your life reflect the enduring relevance of God's law? What changes can you make to align more closely with His standards?

Day 4: The Sacredness of Marriage

Marriage, as instituted by God, is sacred and should not be undermined by cultural trends or lax interpretations. Upholding biblical standards in marriage is crucial for societal stability and reflects our commitment to God's design. Jesus condemns the Pharisees' lax views on divorce, highlighting the erosion of marriage and family stability as a grave concern. This sermon calls for a return to biblical principles, emphasizing the importance of discipline within the church to uphold God's standards. As believers, we are called to honor the sacred institution of marriage, recognizing its significance in God's design for humanity. [23:01]

Malachi 2:15-16 (ESV): "Did he not make them one, with a portion of the Spirit in their union? And what was the one God seeking? Godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and let none of you be faithless to the wife of your youth. 'For the man who does not love his wife but divorces her,' says the Lord, the God of Israel, 'covers his garment with violence,' says the Lord of hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not be faithless."

Reflection: How can you honor the sacredness of marriage in your own life or support others in doing so?

Day 5: Pressing into the Kingdom

True Christianity involves a passionate pursuit of God's kingdom, characterized by a longing for His presence and a commitment to His truth. This zeal should be evident in our lives, driving us to press into the kingdom with fervor. The sermon emphasizes the need for a passionate pursuit of God's kingdom, where believers are characterized by a longing for His presence and a commitment to His truth. This zeal should be evident in our lives, driving us to press into the kingdom with fervor. It is a call to move beyond nominal Christianity and to live with a fervent desire for God's kingdom and His righteousness. [12:00]

Matthew 11:12 (ESV): "From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force."

Reflection: What steps can you take today to passionately pursue God's kingdom and make His presence a priority in your life?

Sermon Summary

In today's exploration of Luke 16:14-18, we delve into the profound teachings of Jesus as he addresses the Pharisees, who were known for their love of money and self-justification. Jesus confronts them, highlighting the stark contrast between human values and divine truth. The Pharisees, who prided themselves on their righteousness, were deeply offended by Jesus' teachings on stewardship and the kingdom of God. They sneered at him, revealing their contempt for the very Son of God. This reaction is emblematic of the world's response to Jesus, where outward respect often masks an inner disdain.

Jesus' words remind us that what is esteemed by men can be an abomination to God. This challenges the prevalent notion of unconditional divine love, urging us to recognize that God abhors sin and the sinner who remains unrepentant. The Pharisees' reliance on self-justification and good deeds as a means to enter the kingdom of God is a futile endeavor, as true entry requires repentance and faith in Christ.

The sermon also emphasizes the enduring relevance of the law, which reveals God's character and our need for a Savior. Jesus underscores the permanence of the law, stating that not even the smallest part will fail. This challenges modern antinomian views that dismiss the law's significance for Christians. The law serves as a mirror, showing us our sinfulness and driving us to Christ, while also guiding us in what pleases God.

Furthermore, the sacred institution of marriage is highlighted, with Jesus condemning the Pharisees' lax views on divorce. The erosion of marriage and family stability is a grave concern, as it undermines societal foundations. The sermon calls for a return to biblical principles, emphasizing the importance of discipline within the church to uphold God's standards.

Key Takeaways

1. The Pharisees' love of money and self-justification blinded them to the truth of Jesus' message. Their sneering at Jesus reflects a deeper contempt for divine authority, a common reaction among those outside the kingdom of God. This challenges us to examine our own hearts and attitudes towards Christ. [03:38]
2. God's view of sin is not as benign as often portrayed. While He loves sinners, He abhors sin and those who persist in it without repentance. This understanding should drive us to seek genuine transformation and alignment with God's will. [06:14]
3. The law of God remains relevant and authoritative, serving as a mirror to reveal our sinfulness and a guide to what pleases God. Antinomian views that dismiss the law's importance are contrary to Jesus' teachings. [21:45]
4. Marriage, as instituted by God, is sacred and should not be undermined by cultural trends or lax interpretations. Upholding biblical standards in marriage is crucial for societal stability and reflects our commitment to God's design. [23:01]
5. True Christianity involves a passionate pursuit of God's kingdom, characterized by a longing for His presence and a commitment to His truth. This zeal should be evident in our lives, driving us to press into the kingdom with fervor. [12:00]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:09] - Introduction to Luke 16:14-18
[00:28] - Pharisees' Love of Money
[02:00] - Misinterpretation of Scripture
[03:38] - Pharisees' Contempt for Jesus
[04:53] - God's View of Sin
[06:30] - Self-Justification and the Kingdom
[07:44] - The Law and the Prophets
[08:26] - John the Baptist's Role
[09:13] - Pressing into the Kingdom
[10:53] - Nominal Christianity
[12:00] - Longing for God's Presence
[13:28] - Historical Revivals
[15:07] - The Reality of God's Kingdom
[16:44] - The Enduring Law
[21:45] - The Law's Role for Christians
[23:01] - Marriage and Divorce
[25:23] - Cultural Trends and Marriage
[26:28] - Church Discipline and Standards

Sermon Clips

The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard these things, and they derided him. And he said to them, you are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God. [00:20:52]

The Pharisees were seriously offended by Jesus' teaching on stewardship, and their response to the message that our Lord gave to them in the parable of the unjust steward was not to flee to him in repentance, but rather to stand back and deride him or rather to sneer at him. [00:28:04]

We live in a culture that exalts people of unspeakable immorality. People are praised in our culture while at the same time they are an abomination to God. Let me just stop for a second here. Do you ever think about that, of anything's being an abomination to God? [00:30:08]

God absolutely hates sin. He loves the sinner, but he hates the sin. Where do you find that in the Bible? You read in the Psalms, you read in the prophets, that God abhors the evil doer, that the evil doers and abomination in his sight. [00:36:01]

How many people do you know who are relying on living a good life to get themselves into heaven, who are practicing self-justification, who are resting on their good deeds and their performance to pass the bar of God's justice? There's no more foolish endeavor. [00:41:00]

The law and the prophets were until John. Not that they were until Malachi, the last book of the Old Testament, but when he talks about the law and the prophecy, he's talking about the whole progress of the Old Testament, which he said goes right up to and includes John the Baptist. [00:45:58]

Since John, the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it. I love this text. Jonathan Edwards preached an entire sermon just on those words entitled pressing into the kingdom of God, and he talked to those multitudes of people who, when they heard Jesus speak about this Kingdom, they flocked to him. [00:55:20]

The kingdom of God has never been a casual affair. Jesus rebuked the church that led to save because it was lukewarm. He said I'd rather that you be cold or hot, but if you're lukewarm, I'm going to spit you out of my mouth. We talk about nominal Christianity. [01:03:37]

How lovely is your Tabernacle O Lord of hosts. My soul Longs yea even faints for the courts of the Lord my heart and my flesh cry out for the Living God. Does that sound like you? Do you think about coming to church on Sunday morning and think about entering into the sanctuary? [01:10:00]

The law of God reveals to us our utter hopelessness and hopelessness of saving ourselves, and so as the Apostle Paul said, it acts like a Schoolmaster that drives us to Christ, that drives us to the gospel, but not only that, the law acts as a restraint on wickedness in the world. [01:16:09]

The Pharisees were supposed to be the experts in the law, and at the same time they were legalists and antinomians. They were legalists in that they added to the law of God principles and traditions that were not the law of God. They kept people in Chains where God had left them free. [01:22:09]

The rabbis had looked at the Old Testament law regarding divorce where God in the pentateuch said there was only one ground for divorce and that was sexual immorality, as Jesus explained when the Pharisees tried to trap him in Matthew's gospel, and Jesus said, from the beginning there was no divorce. [01:27:39]

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