Luk 18:9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt:
Luk 18:10 "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
Luk 18:11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.
Luk 18:12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.'
Luk 18:13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!'
Luk 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, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted."
This tax collector was not asking for the lack that he could not give, to be deposited for him. No, he beat his breast and said, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” He was confessing that he had nothing to offer, “I am totally dependent on you, God” he declared.
A quote from Dr. C. Samuel;
“The first possibly most fundamental characteristic of divine grace is that it presupposes sin and guilt. Grace has meaning only when men are seen as fallen, unworthy of salvation, and liable to eternal wrath….
Grace does not contemplate sinners merely as underserving but as ill-deserving….It is not simply that we do not deserve grace; we do deserve hell!
Grace ceases to be grace if God is compelled to bestow it in the presence of human merit….Grace ceases to be grace if God is compelled to withdraw it in the presence of human demerit….Grace is treating a person without the slightest reference to desert whatsoever, but solely according to the infinite goodness and sovereign purpose of God.”
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