Why Is Redemption Necessary?نموونە

Acknowledging that redemption is necessary

In Luke 18:9-12, Jesus tells the parable of two people who went to the temple to pray.

“Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’”

This Pharisee was boasting. He exalted himself, justified himself, and was flaunting toward God about how great he was.

He did all the right things: he fasted, he prayed, he visited the synagogue, he gave his tithes, and so on.

This is also how it works for many believers today. They think they are doing all the right things and, therefore, are holy. That is religiousness and legality.

They are just like this Pharisee, righteous in their own eyes and in those of their religious friends.

But that is ‘self-justification’ as we have read yesterday.

Jesus continues in verse 13:

“And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ “

This tax collector had nothing to boast about. He didn’t even dare to lift his eyes to Heaven.

He knew about himself that he was a sinner, that he made mistakes in his life, and that he couldn’t save himself, couldn’t redeem himself, and therefore hoped on the grace of God.

The Jesus continues His story in verse 14:

“I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

The tax collector was redeemed and justified, in contrast to the Pharisee who exalted ‘himself’ and boasted in his works. The tax collector acknowledged that he was worth nothing without God. He hoped on a little bit of grace to be forgiven and redeemed. And he received that.

It makes me think of the moment that I lay crying on the floor of my prison cell. I knew that I deserved nothing other than death. But God came with His love and grace and forgave me. I received redemption.

This pure grace is for everyone. The desire to receive it comes when you acknowledge that you need it.