22010.278 We Come to God Only Through Jesus

“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed about himself like this: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people: extortionists, unrighteous people, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of everything I get.” —Luke 18:10–12

Ever thought about talking “big” before God—trying to give Him an explanation of your greatness, exclaiming that you are far better than other people? Not really a good idea! The Pharisee in today’s parable certainly had a high-minded opinion of himself. As he compared himself with those around him, he developed a distorted view of his own righteousness.

In reality, we all need a good dose of Job’s final analysis of himself after coming face to face with God:

“Therefore I despise myself, and I repent in dust and ashes!” —Job 42:6

You might be thinking how someone whom God called “blameless” could have such a low view of himself. It is because Job understood that each one of us is totally sinful before a Holy God apart from Christ. If we have an elevated opinion of our own righteousness, we must remember that it is only Christ’s sacrifice for us on the cross that allows us to come into God’s presence. We can neverstand in our own right before our Holy God. Jesus is our only access to God’s heavenly throne. Jesus himself taught:

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” —John 14:6

It is not the blood of animals that gives us entry into God’s presence (as practiced by the Jews for centuries):

“But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year after year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.” —Hebrews 10:3–4

It is not our acts of “righteousness” and “good works” that save us:

“We are all like one who is unclean, all our so-called righteous acts are like a menstrual rag in your sight. We all wither like a leaf; our sins carry us away like the wind.” —Isaiah 64:6

Rather, it is Christ’s blood that cleanses us from all sin:

“You know that from your empty way of life inherited from your ancestors you were ransomed – not by perishable things like silver or gold, but by precious blood like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb, namely Christ.” —1 Peter 1:18–19

We are redeemed from the empty way of life through the precious blood of Christ!

“For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so that no one can boast.” —Ephesians 2:8–9

God alone is worthy of our praise! We all fall short of His glory and righteousness.

Become More

“Our nature struggles fiercely against being saved without our works and tries to deceive us with a grand illusion of our own righteousness. So we may find ourselves attracted to a life that merely appears to be righteous. Or because we know we aren’t righteous, we may be frightened by death or sin. Therefore, we must learn that we should have nothing to do with any other way of becoming righteous, except through Christ alone.” —Martin Luther

“‘God be merciful to me a sinner,’ is a prayer easy to be said, but hard to be felt. One eye upon the perfection of God’s laws, and another upon your own heart, may bring you up to it. But the Spirit’s light is also needful, for which you must pray earnestly.” —K. H. Von Bogatzky

Further Reflection

“Humility never pulls rank, never gloats in victory, never demands its rights. Humility accepts responsibility for wrong doing.” —Chuck Swindoll

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