18:9 Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 18:10 "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 18:11 "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. 18:12 'I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.' 18:13 "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!' 18:14 "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." (New King James Version)

Our most favorite hymn may be "Amazing Grace." We love this song. But how many are really amazed by that grace? "Grace" is neither prayer before a meal, nor the name of a blond lady. It is God's favor to us which we do not deserve. What do you know about God's grace?

The Pharisee did not know the grace.

The Pharisee in this parable was a typical man who did not know God's grace. Please pay attention for what he was giving his thanks. He prayed, "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." His prayer was just thanks for his goodness and righteousness. He was just thankful that God gave him a good life. But is God's grace just for keeping our life in good condition?

There are two kinds of grace; "General Grace" and "Special Grace." When we receive good things like the light of the sun and rain from heaven, we call them God's general grace. Jesus mentioned this general grace saying, "He (The Father) makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust." in Matthew 5:45. When we say that the grace of sun, or rain of grace, we refer to this general grace.

"Special Grace" is spiritual while "General Grace" provides us with material things. Ephesians 2:9 says, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." This grace is the special grace. This does not just mean becoming rich or having many good friends. By this grace and only by this grace, we can have the forgiveness of sin, the status of being a child of God, eternal life, and the Kingdom of God. God made a plan for our salvation from the very beginning of the world, developed it, and put the plan into practice through Jesus Christ. We call this grace "Special Grace." Because God treated us in a very special way.

We need grace in its general meaning. But we need this special grace more. We cannot be saved without this grace. However, only a few people seek and appreciate this grace. Most of us just seek the general grace. We are thankful when we get unexpected money or are able to spend time with our best friends or when we can find kindness and generosity among our Christian brothers and sisters. We are also thankful that we can volunteer at church. It may be wonderful. It may make your life happy. But it is still only in the world of general grace. Do not think that God's grace is just like that. When we come to worship, we should remember God's grace by the knowledge that we were saved from sin and destruction. We should thank God because of his act of grace in salvation. The Pharisee has totally forgotten this kind of grace.

The Pharisee did not seek the grace

The prayer of Pharisee showed that he was satisfied with himself. He did not feel the need for God's grace.

He thanked God in his prayer. It's good for him, and great for all of us. It's true that the Bible commands, "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks."(1 Thess. 5:16-18) However, "In everything give thanks" does not mean that we do not distinguish just from unjust; right from bad. We cannot rejoice when people do injustice. Jesus cried for the lost people. Apostle Paul also wept for the people without Christ. If we thank God without crying for our own sins or lost people, we may live a self-content lifestyle. The Pharisee stayed just he was. He never sought to come closer to the Lord.

When we search ourselves, we cannot say that we are all right. Even Paul says, "I do not count myself to have taken hold of it; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."(Philippians 3:13-14) We need God's grace when we seek growth. The person who seeks growth can recognize his/her own weaknesses or short-comings. Each person is to seek God's grace humbly, like the tax collector.

"Give me grace." are the words of beggars. We can say, "Thank you, God." without humbling ourselves, but we cannot say, "Give me grace." without a humble spirit. We need to be a person who can say, "I am sinful, powerless, and nothing. I need your forgiveness, your power, and your wisdom." Then we will find God's grace. God exalts only the one who humbles himself/herself.

The Pharisee did not live in the grace

The Pharisee was living in comparison and competition with others. He saw a tax collector praying at the temple. His eyes were not straight toward God. His whole heart was not dedicated to God. His heart was still on worldly things. Therefore his eyes was toward the tax collector with criticism.

He prayed, "I thank you God that I am not even as this tax collector." This was not a true thanksgiving. He criticized others in his prayer, and boasted of himself. It was not true prayer. In most cases, when we criticize others, we try to lift ourselves up.

The one who does not know God's grace, cannot live in the grace of God. Such person lives in comparison with others. Sometimes we feel proud of ourselves, and sometimes we feel inferior. We admire the people who are rich and healthy, and say, "They got God's grace, but I did not." Don't we have His grace? Riches, health, and power are only earthly things. These belong to only the world of general grace. We should know how much spiritual grace we have in Christ.

The one who is living in comparison and competition cannot have the right relationship with others. The one who knows God's grace and is standing in that grace can become gracious to others. The Bible says, "The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself." The phrase, "with himself" seems to show us that he never prayed for others and with others.

Why are there troubled relationships among Christians? One of the reasons is that we do not know God's grace and we do not live in His grace. 2 Corinthians 8:9 says, "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich." This verse teaches us that grace is not cheap. It is precious enough that Jesus gave His glory, honor, power, and even His own life away for purchasing it. We can be willing to give ourselves up and serve others knowing this precious grace. Do you really know the grace of Jesus?

Prayer

Gracious Heavenly Father, we always call you "Gracious Father," but we doubt that we really know how gracious You are. Open our eyes and show us the richness of your grace. Cause us to be amazed by Your grace when we go to You in prayer and worship. Like Jesus became poor to give us grace, make us humble before You. Allow us to live in Your grace, and make us people who serve others with Your grace. We pray these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

(Preached at JCC of Vista, Oct. 3, 1996)