Luk_18:13. The Publican<\/p>\n
"God be merciful to me a sinner."’97Luk_18:13<\/p>\n
Refer to the account given of the two characters; their visit to the temple; their views of themselves; opposite modes of address to God; the rejection of the one and the acceptance of the other. Notice,<\/p>\n
1. The Publican’s Confession.<\/p>\n
He confessed that he was "a sinner." Refer to the generally profane character of the publicans Yet this confession contains,<\/p>\n
1. A truth applicable to all men.<\/p>\n
For all have sinned, &c.; all gone astray, &c.; none righteous, &c.; all guilty before God, &c.<\/p>\n
2. This is a truth involving very momentous consequences.<\/p>\n
Sin is rebellion, treason, contempt, and hatred of God; exposes to his displeasure wages, death; disqualifies for heaven "The soul that sinneth shall die."<\/p>\n
3. This is a truth which it is well for us to feel and confess.<\/p>\n
Few feel it; many try to conceal or cover their sin, extenuate it, &c. Confession of sin necessary; God requireth it; has connected it with pardon. But if we confess our sins, &c. He that confesseth &c. 1Jn_1:9; Pro_28:13. Our confession should be free, full, humble, and with contrition of heart. Notice,<\/p>\n
II. The Publican’s Prayer.<\/p>\n
"God be merciful to me a sinner."<\/p>\n
The excellence of this prayer will be evident if we consider,<\/p>\n
1. The Being to whom it was addressed.<\/p>\n
To God. God is the only proper object of prayer. He is the hearer and answerer of prayer. All other gods are dumb idols; and confounded are all they who trust in them.<\/p>\n
2. It was the result of keen conviction and desire.<\/p>\n
His eyes were opened; he saw his ruined state, his perilous condition, his imminent danger; he longed for deliverance; and to God he directed his petition; and in bitterness of spirit sought for mercy as a sinner.<\/p>\n
3. The blessing he sought for was peculiarly appropriate.<\/p>\n
He sought mercy, not justice; mercy, not merit, not reward. Just what every sinner needs; what God has promised; and what the gospel alone reveals. The Publican’s prayer,<\/p>\n
4. Was offered in a right state of mind.<\/p>\n
He was evidently,<\/p>\n
(1) Humbled before God. "Did not so much as lift up his eyes unto heaven." How necessary to feel this selfabasement! An indispensable fruit of genuine repentance. He displayed,<\/p>\n
(2) Great earnestness and compunction of soul. He smote upon his breast. Conscious of his demerit, his vileness, yet his great anxiety to obtain forgiveness. He exhibited,<\/p>\n
(3) Some degree of faith. Believed in God; had some confidence in his mercy, &c. His prayer,<\/p>\n
5. Was successful.<\/p>\n
God saw him, and heard his cry, and graciously condescended to answer his request. He rejected the proud boasting Pharisee; but the broken and contrite heart he did not despise. Those who come unto him through the person and work of his Son, he will in nowise cast out.<\/p>\n
Application<\/p>\n
1. The Publican’s condition is our own. 2. Let his confession and prayer be ours. And then, 3. We shall in like manner obtain mercy. 4. The self-righteous and proud in heart God will assuredly abase.<\/p>\n
Autor: JABEZ BURNS<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Luk_18:13. The Publican "God be merciful to me a sinner."’97Luk_18:13 Refer to the account given of the two characters; their visit to the temple; their views of themselves; opposite modes of address to God; the rejection of the one and the acceptance of the other. Notice, 1. The Publican’s Confession. He confessed that he was … Continue reading “118. LUK 18:13. THE PUBLICAN”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-19947","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sermons"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19947","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19947"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19947\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19947"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19947"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19947"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}