Jesus told one of the greatest parable of all when He spoke the parable of the religious man and the unrighteous sinner (Luke 18:9-14). If you are unfamiliar with this parable, this is the one in which our Lord said that two men went up to the temple one day to pray. One was a religious man (Pharisee) and the other an average joe. The religious man kneels down to pray and thanks God that he is not like the “average joe” man that he is with and that he pays his tithes, prays, goes to church, etc., etc. The average man won’t even approach the temple but beats on his chest and declares “God I am a sinner, have mercy on me”. Our Lord said that that man was more justified in God’s sight than the religious man.
Why is this? Well, this explains the nature of God. It also shows the entire purpose of the Gospel message. God, a righteous God, having mercy and justifying the unrighteous sinner. When Jesus went to the cross, He bore your sins and mine, that whoever might believe on Him would be saved. This is a righteous God justifying an unrighteous man, and the message of the Gospel which we preach.
To further explain this, there was a man who was dying while our Lord was on the cross. This man asked Jesus if he would remember him when Jesus came into His Kingdom. The man at the same time confessed his unrighteousness and asked for God’s mercy. Jesus told the man that “Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:43)
Did the man deserve Eternal Life? Of course not. He even confessed that.
Luke 23:40-41: 40But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
41And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. [speaking of our Lord]
But the Lord had mercy upon him because he humbled himself, just like the man in the parable. In fact, there were religious men mocking Jesus at the crucifixion. In their own eyes they were self righteous and didn’t need Him. But now we see why it says that “God gives grace unto the humble, but opposes the proud.” (James 4:6)
Just as Jesus promised Eternal Life to the dying criminal on the cross, He will do the same for you. If you have never accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour, do it now. Open up your heart and ask Jesus to come into your life. Pray this little prayer:
“Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner. I confess that I can not do it on my own. You alone have the keys to Eternal Life and true joy. I accept you into my heart as my Personal Lord and Saviour. Thank you for forgiving me of my sins Lord. Thank you for laying down your life for me, that I might have a new life and live eternally with you in your glorious Kingdom. Thank you Lord Jesus. Amen”.
If you have just said this prayer and accepted Jesus into your heart for the first time, congratulations. Thank God for all that He has done for you, and know that you are a Child of the Father and that you will live eternally with Him. Wherever you are, Jesus will be there with you (Matt. 28:20). You are free to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and to speak to God whatever is on your heart. You have a new life in Christ. To God be the glory. God bless and Amen!
