UNWORTHY
Luke 18:13 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.’ (NIV)
Read Parable: Lk 18:9-14
Continuing with our series of breaking free from the law; let’s look at the subject of being worthy. There is an inbuilt default psyche in many Christians of being unworthy, hence when we sin or make mistakes we see ourselves as unworthy before God. This is to misunderstand the position and relationship we now hold with God.
We’ve used the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector to teach Christians not to become proud or arrogant about our status in life but to remain humble and to remind ourselves we are but sinners saved by grace.
I would like to challenge this view. The Pharisee was proud and arrogant because he was a religious hypocrite who had a knowledge of God but didn’t know the power of God; whereas we as Christians have been created anew in God’s image. We are no longer sinners but are righteous beings. Christ has made us Kings and Priests to God and we co-rule and reign with Him in His now Kingdom. God has lifted us out of the rubbish heap of sin and death and He’s seated us among Princes. We are now seated with Christ on His throne at the right hand of God.
Therefore we are not unworthy sinners who daren’t lift our heads in the presence of God. No a thousand times NO. We’ve been made worthy by the Father who has clothed us in the royal robes of righteousness, robes of glory and honour. Robes of distinction, esteem, authority and power.
So let us behave in life as befits our station as sons of God; and if there is found any pride or arrogance, God has His ways of revealing such and how we can rid ourselves of it. We must hold our heads up high, throw back our shoulders and walk with confidence and speak with boldness.
We come before God’s presence and use such phrases as: we are so unworthy, without you we can do nothing, I am but a weak man/woman etc etc. Friends, all those things may be true in the natural but you and I are now in Christ and are to approach God’s throne with boldness and confidence.Prov 28:1 The righteous are as bold as a lion. (NIV)
It’s knowing who we are in Christ that sets us free to be worthy, sets us free to walk and talk as a King. It’s this revelation that breaks the power of low self esteem, insecurity, shame, fear and rejection. John the Apostle encapsulates this truth in 1 John 3:2 Now are we the sons of God (KJV).
Meditation point: God has imparted His righteousness to me as His son and made me completely worthy.
Rom 5:19 corrects the error of believing that we are only positionally righteous; If we were literally sinners then, we are literally righteous now. (Steve Mcvey)
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