A few weeks ago we contemplated that our understanding of grace would go no deeper than our understanding of our sin and our sin nature. The same is true for judgment. Our secular culture scorns such an event or a “God who would judge.” That doesn’t dismiss that God is just to judge sin. Greg will remind us that the more we face the judgment that was due us, the greater will be our wonder at God’s grace.

1. Instead of Judgment

2. Luke 18:9 To some who were confident of their own
righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus
told this parable: 10 "Two men went up to the temple to
pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.

3. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: 'God, I
thank you that I am not like other people - robbers,
evildoers, adulterers - or even like this tax collector.
12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.'

4. 13 "But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would
not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said,
'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'

5. 14 "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went
home justified before God. For all those who exalt
themselves will be humbled, and those who humble
themselves will be exalted."

6. Self-Righteousness v Self-Awareness
Luke18:11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed:
'God, I thank you that I am not like other people
robbers, evildoers, adulterers - or even like this tax
collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I
get.'

7. Self-Righteousness v Self-Awareness
13 "But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would
not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said,
'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'

8. The "Good" Guy vs The Not So Good Guy
The 'Good' guy
I am not like other men –
I don't rob, cheat on my wife,
I fast, give…
The 'not so good' guy
Wouldn't even look up to heaven
Prayed that God would have mercy on him

9. Sinfulness – What form does it take in each man?
We are blind to our sinfulness but:
Romans 2:1 You, therefore, have no excuse, you who
pass judgement on someone else

10. Sinfulness – What form does it take in each man?
for at whatever point you judge the other, you are
condemning yourself because you who pass judgment
on others do the same things.

11. Just Deserts
Romans 2:2 Now we know that God's judgment against
those who do such things is based on truth. 3 So when
you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and
yet do the same things, do you think you will escape
God's judgment?

12. Just Deserts
In the immortal words of Scooby-doo, 'ro roh'

13. The Evidence
Romans 2:5 But because of your stubbornness and your
unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against
yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous
judgment will be revealed.

14. The Judgment
Romans 2:6 God "will repay each person according to
what they have done."

15. The Judgment
We deserve judgment but we are washed clean in the
blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.
So our story is happy one, ending in relationship with
God.

16. The Grace moving toward Joy
2 Corinthians 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be
sin for us, so that in him we might become the
righteousness of God

17. Moving to Joy
No one will escape standing before a righteous Judge
and giving an account for how we lived.

18. Moving to Joy
But..
What looked to be the grim reality of getting what we
deserve turns out to be the miraculous reality of mercy
that leads to being saved by Grace.

19. Grace Moving to Joy
James1:2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,
whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you
know that the testing of your faith produces
perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that
you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

20. Grace Moving to Joy
If you love the Lord and recognize the gift of salvation,
lets live our lives with Purpose and joy.

21. Grace Moving to Joy
Proverbs 27:19 As water reflects the face, so one's life
reflects the heart.

22. I hope this song makes you smile
And remember what you have in our Lord Jesus