Embracing Grace: Overcoming Self-Righteousness in Faith

Devotional

Day 1: The Blindness of Self-Righteousness

Self-righteousness can obscure our understanding of grace. The older brother in the parable of the prodigal son exemplifies this blindness. Despite being physically close to his father, his heart was far from understanding the true nature of grace. He believed that his good deeds and obedience entitled him to his father's favor, and he was angered when his repentant brother received grace. This attitude reveals a fundamental misunderstanding: grace is not earned but freely given by God. We must examine our own hearts to ensure we are not blinded by self-righteousness, missing the beauty of God's unmerited favor. [32:37]

Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV): "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."

Reflection: Think of a time when you felt entitled to something because of your good behavior. How did this sense of entitlement affect your relationship with others and with God? Ask God to help you see and appreciate His grace in your life.

Day 2: Entitlement vs. Grace

Feeling entitled to God's blessings because of our perceived obedience is a sign of self-righteousness. The older brother felt he deserved more because of his obedience, missing the point that everything the father had was already his. This sense of entitlement can lead to frustration and bitterness when others receive grace. We must recognize that God's blessings are not earned but given out of His abundant grace. Understanding this helps us to live in gratitude and humility, knowing that all we have is a gift from God. [39:18]

Romans 11:6 (ESV): "But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace."

Reflection: Reflect on an area of your life where you feel entitled to God's blessings. How can you shift your perspective to one of gratitude for His grace instead of entitlement?

Day 3: The Futility of Comparison

Comparing our righteousness to others' perceived sins is a futile exercise. The older brother tried to justify his anger by highlighting his brother's sins, forgetting that all have sinned and fall short of God's glory. This comparison only leads to pride and division. Instead, our focus should be on our own relationship with God, seeking His grace and mercy for ourselves. By doing so, we can better extend grace to others, recognizing that we are all in need of God's forgiveness. [47:37]

Galatians 6:4-5 (ESV): "But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load."

Reflection: Think of a person you have compared yourself to recently. How has this comparison affected your attitude towards them? Ask God to help you focus on your own walk with Him and to extend grace to others.

Day 4: Rejoicing with Heaven

Heaven rejoices over every sinner who repents. The older brother's refusal to join the celebration for his returning brother shows a disconnect from the heart of God. We are called to rejoice with heaven when others receive grace, recognizing that we too are recipients of unmerited favor. This heavenly perspective helps us to celebrate others' victories and transformations, fostering a community of grace and love. [35:17]

Luke 15:7 (ESV): "Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance."

Reflection: Think of someone in your life who has recently experienced a positive change or received grace. How can you join in celebrating their transformation and show them support and love?

Day 5: Grace is Given, Not Earned

The core message of the parable is that grace is a gift, not a reward for good behavior. The older brother's belief that he had to earn his father's favor through obedience is a misunderstanding of grace. We are loved and accepted by God because of His grace, not because of our works. Embracing this truth frees us from the burden of trying to earn God's love and allows us to live in the joy and freedom of His grace. [52:47]

Titus 3:5-7 (ESV): "He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life."

Reflection: Reflect on your own life and identify areas where you might be trying to earn God's favor. How can you rest in the assurance that His grace is a gift, freely given to you?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

In today's sermon, we explored the profound message of Luke 15:25-32, focusing on the parable of the prodigal son's older brother. This parable reveals the often-overlooked reality that one can be lost even while being in close proximity to the Father. The older brother, despite his physical presence in the father's house, harbored a self-righteous attitude that distanced him spiritually. He was angered by the grace extended to his repentant younger brother, revealing his own misunderstanding of grace and entitlement.

We delved into the nature of self-righteousness, highlighting how it manifests in feelings of entitlement and frustration when others receive grace. The older brother's reaction to his sibling's return and celebration was not one of joy but of anger and refusal to participate. This attitude is a stark contrast to the heavenly rejoicing that occurs when a sinner repents. The sermon challenged us to examine our own hearts and attitudes towards grace, both received and extended.

The key message is that grace is not something we can earn through our actions or righteousness. It is a gift from God, freely given through Jesus Christ. Our good deeds, church attendance, and moral actions do not earn us God's favor; rather, they are a response to the grace we have already received. The sermon concluded with a call to lay down our self-righteousness and embrace the grace that God offers, understanding that we are loved and accepted by God not because of our works, but because of His grace.

###

Key Takeaways

1. Righteousness and Grace**: Self-righteousness blinds us to the true nature of grace. The older brother's anger at his father's grace towards the prodigal son reveals a heart that believes in earning favor through good deeds. True grace, however, is unearned and freely given by God. [32:37]
2. Entitlement vs. Grace: Feeling entitled to God's blessings because of our perceived obedience is a sign of self-righteousness. The older brother felt he deserved more because of his obedience, missing the point that everything the father had was already his. We must recognize that God's blessings are not earned but given out of His abundant grace.

3. Comparison and Self-Righteousness: Comparing our righteousness to others' perceived sins is a futile exercise. The older brother tried to justify his anger by highlighting his brother's sins, forgetting that all have sinned and fall short of God's glory. Our focus should be on our own relationship with God, not on others' shortcomings.

4. Heavenly Rejoicing: Heaven rejoices over every sinner who repents. The older brother's refusal to join the celebration for his returning brother shows a disconnect from the heart of God. We are called to rejoice with heaven when others receive grace, recognizing that we too are recipients of unmerited favor.

5. Grace is Given, Not Earned: The core message of the parable is that grace is a gift, not a reward for good behavior. The older brother's belief that he had to earn his father's favor through obedience is a misunderstanding of grace. We are loved and accepted by God because of His grace, not because of our works.

### [32:37]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[13:56] - Embracing Technology for Worship
[14:31] - Re-Vision: Seeing Opportunities in Challenges
[15:02] - Celebrating Our Hosts
[15:27] - Honoring Our Worship Leader
[16:11] - Everyone Matters Series
[17:27] - Prayer for Our World
[18:40] - Reading Luke 15:25-32
[20:12] - Lost in Plain Sight
[21:22] - Jesus Attracts Sinners
[22:22] - Three Parables of Jesus
[23:13] - The Lost Coin
[23:57] - The Lost Son
[25:32] - Lost but Loved
[26:06] - Lost at Home
[28:05] - Trusting in God's Grace
[30:11] - The Older Brother's Anger
[32:37] - Frustration with Grace
[35:17] - Heaven Rejoices
[36:38] - God Seeks the Lost
[39:18] - Feeling Entitled
[47:37] - Comparing Sins
[52:47] - Grace is Given, Not Earned
[56:05] - Resolving Self-Righteousness
[59:34] - Prayer for Grace
[60:02] - Invitation to Connect
[63:02] - Giving Affirmation
[64:07] - Bible Study Invitation
[64:41] - Closing Remarks

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What was the older brother's reaction when he found out about the celebration for his younger brother's return? ([31:47])
How did the father respond to the older brother's anger and refusal to join the celebration? ([36:00])
What did the older brother claim about his own behavior in contrast to his younger brother's actions? ([39:18])
According to the father, what had the older brother always had access to? ([51:31])

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think the older brother felt entitled to more recognition and blessings from his father? ([40:54])
How does the older brother's reaction to his sibling's return reveal his misunderstanding of grace? ([32:37])
What does the father's response to the older brother teach us about God's grace and our own self-righteousness? ([51:31])
How does the parable illustrate the concept that grace is given, not earned? ([52:47])

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you felt frustrated by the grace extended to someone else. How did that experience affect your relationship with God and others? ([32:37])
In what ways might you be harboring a sense of entitlement in your spiritual life? How can you shift your perspective to one of gratitude for God's grace? ([40:54])
How can you actively celebrate and rejoice when others receive grace, even if you feel they don't deserve it? ([35:17])
What steps can you take to ensure that your good deeds and church attendance are responses to God's grace rather than attempts to earn His favor? ([52:47])
Identify a specific area in your life where you struggle with self-righteousness. What practical steps can you take to lay down that self-righteousness and embrace God's grace? ([56:05])
How can you cultivate a heart that rejoices with heaven over every sinner who repents, rather than comparing your righteousness to others? ([35:17])
Think of someone in your life who might be struggling with self-righteousness. How can you gently and lovingly help them understand the true nature of grace? ([36:38])

Sermon Clips

1. "And what I'm realizing is that we can either see this pandemic as a problem or we can see it as an opportunity. Amen. Amen. We can see it as a problem or we can see it as an opportunity, not just the pandemic, everything in your life. You can either see it as something that's going to take you out or something that's going to build you up." [15:02] (15 seconds) ( | | )

2. "Every one lost person matters to God. And so every lost person should matter to us. If you're believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, here's the reality. Every person that is not connected to God, that is far from God, it matters to him. And therefore, if you're a believer, man, it should matter to you." [16:11] (16 seconds) ( | | )

3. "If Jesus attracted sinners, why does it seem like sometimes the church repels him? You've got to raise that question. If people love to be around Jesus, people who were broken and fallen and had sins, why does it seem like people don't love to be around his church?" [21:22] (15 seconds) ( | | )

4. "Those who put their faith in their own righteousness and fail to recognize and rejoice in God's grace for themselves and others are lost. Wow. Wow. Let me just say it to you. This is a tweetable one, man. Those who trust in their own goodness instead of God's grace are lost." [27:33] (19 seconds) ( | | )

5. "If you're somebody who believes you're in good standing with God, whether you're in church or not, it's going to cause you to examine why do you believe you're good with God. That's the question you need to wrestle with right now through the sermon is why do you believe you're good with God." [28:05] (17 seconds) ( | | )

6. "When grace upsets you, hear me, you've missed God. Let me say that again. If you're the type of person, or if you know some people, man, and grace upsets them, let me help you and say, when grace makes you mad, you've missed God. When you hear stories of people who are guilty of wrong, but somehow receive God's grace, and your inclination is to be angry, that's not God." [34:00] (21 seconds) ( | | )

7. "You won't get closer to God by trying to make other people seem further away. Let me say that again. Let me help you real quick. Y'all, you won't get closer to God by trying to make other people seem further away." [48:55] (13 seconds) ( | | )

8. "The issue is not that you don't have access. The issue is you think you've got to earn it. The issue is not that God isn't wanting to bless your life. The issue is not that God isn't wanting to open the door for you. The issue is not that God isn't wanting to send the man. The issue is not that God isn't wanting to bless your life, send the woman, give you the house. The issue is none of those things. The issue is you think you gotta earn it." [52:47] (60 seconds) ( | | )

9. "We don't have to work to be loved. We are loved and therefore we work. I don't have to obey God to be accepted by God. I am accepted by God and therefore I have the strength." [58:56] (12 seconds) ( | | )

10. "Jesus says, if you're trying to earn grace, then you've missed God. So the answer is not you have to do something. The answer is you need to accept what's being done." [59:34] (12 seconds) ( | | )

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