Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not a sinner like everyone else. For I don’t cheat, I don’t sin, and I don’t commit adultery. I’m certainly not like that tax collector!  I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’ “But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’  I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”-Luke 18:9-14 NLT

Warrior;

Justification is by faith alone. Justification is being declared righteous by God – just as if you never sinned – just as if you always obeyed- which you NOR any other human being can NOT claim! Many Christians move from justification by faith alone to sanctification by mostly “me alone” with a little help from the Holy Spirit. Sanctification is being set apart for holiness and growing in Christ-likeness. For we who worship by the Spirit of God are the ones who are truly circumcised. We rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us. We put no confidence in human effort, (Phil 3:3)

Leader, we must remember that Salvation is of the Lord.  Is 57:12 reminds us; I will expose your righteousness and your works, and they will not benefit you! God cannot accept anything that we creatures do to be JUSTIFIED in God’s WHITE LIGHT of HOLINESS- our HANDS have made it unclean and thus UNACCEPTABLE!  That is why we keep our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. (Hebrews 12:2)

Conduit, you have not come to a physical mountain, to a place of flaming fire, darkness, gloom, and whirlwind, as the Israelites did at Mount Sinai.  No, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless thousands of angels in a joyful gathering.  You have come to the assembly of God’s firstborn children, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God himself, who is the judge over all things. You have come to the spirits of the righteous ones in heaven who have now been made perfect.  You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks of forgiveness instead of crying out for vengeance like the blood of Abel. (Heb 12:18,22-24) The Law EXPOSED the sinfulness of man, the HOLINESS of GOD and the NEED for a REDEEMER. We know that a person is made right with God by Faith in Jesus Christ, NOT by obeying the law! (Gal 2:16)