Thursday, August 10, 2006
I Don't Want to Be a Pharisee
I beg you to read the Piper sermon link below. It has rubbed me the wrong way (thank God!) and caused me to question whether or not I too am the Pharisee who trusts in his own righteousness.
http://www.desiringgod.org/library/sermons/06/080606.html
I have to confess that it is really easy to start thinking more highly of myself than I ought when people repeatedly praise me, or when I begin comparing myself with others. The truth, of course, is that there is no room in the body of Christ for comparison of arms and feet and ears; more importantly, the only comparison that ought to be made is Ben to Christ, which of course yields very disappointing results for Ben.
Please consider your own sin whenever you, like me, are tempted to esteem your own righteousness. God is actually quite merciful to us in allowing us to make a mess of ourselves; if he didn't, we might be some of the ugliest bunch of Pharisees you've ever seen. When we are conscious of our unholiness and tresspasses, we are miraculously healed of our self-love; we become rightly cognizant of who and what we should be trusting in-- Christ alone.
Flee from your false self-perception, your works, your good deeds, your mercies. Run fast away from your 9 Rotary Streets and the scores of vain compliments from others that you have stored up for your self-esteem.
Christ's righteousness is your righteousness. He is all you've really got to cling to. Run to Him.
http://www.desiringgod.org/library/sermons/06/080606.html
I have to confess that it is really easy to start thinking more highly of myself than I ought when people repeatedly praise me, or when I begin comparing myself with others. The truth, of course, is that there is no room in the body of Christ for comparison of arms and feet and ears; more importantly, the only comparison that ought to be made is Ben to Christ, which of course yields very disappointing results for Ben.
Please consider your own sin whenever you, like me, are tempted to esteem your own righteousness. God is actually quite merciful to us in allowing us to make a mess of ourselves; if he didn't, we might be some of the ugliest bunch of Pharisees you've ever seen. When we are conscious of our unholiness and tresspasses, we are miraculously healed of our self-love; we become rightly cognizant of who and what we should be trusting in-- Christ alone.
Flee from your false self-perception, your works, your good deeds, your mercies. Run fast away from your 9 Rotary Streets and the scores of vain compliments from others that you have stored up for your self-esteem.
Christ's righteousness is your righteousness. He is all you've really got to cling to. Run to Him.
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go do a better more thorough job! i only gave it 2 paragraphs!
everyone: greg pointed me to this sermon
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everyone: greg pointed me to this sermon
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