TWO men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself: God, I thank Thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other." (Luke 18:10.)
In this parable of the Pharisee and the Publican Jesus plainly connects the confession of sins and the justification of the sinner. "God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified.”
This is a point of the deepest practical importance. Observe, the poor publican does nothing but confess his own unworthiness, take the ground of a sinner before God, and cast himself entirely on His mercy. Well, now, in such a case what could God do? What could He say? Could He say to the poor helpless soul, "There is no mercy in God for thee?”
Impossible! That would be to deny Himself, and the whole truth of the Bible; for therein we learn that "God is love," and that He "delighteth in mercy.”
What, then, would be the Lord's answer to such a one? We have it from His own lips. "I tell you, this man went down to his house justified.”
Oh! mark the precious emphasis of these three words. "I tell you." "I," the truth itself, "I," "the Faithful Witness," "I tell you, this man went down to his house justified.”
The same moment that he was in his true place, acknowledging his true condition, and cast entirely on the mercy of God, he was a justified man, an eternally saved sinner. He was pardoned and justified, according to the riches of divine mercy, and the value of the sacrifice of Christ.
Three things seem naturally and inseparably connected in the justification of a sinner, and will actually be experienced, if we simply follow the Scriptures.
1. There is the sinner confessing his sins, and condemning himself.
“God, who is rich in mercy," acting from Himself by virtue of Christ's precious blood, forgives the sins, and declares the sinner “justified from all things." (Acts 13:39.)
Faith listens to this gracious announcement, receives it as the word of God, and the soul finds peace and rest therein. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
“Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 John 1:9. Rom. 5:1.)
These three things, which go together in the word of God, ought never to be separated in the believer's mind; but alas! they often are. So few know their true place as sinners; and consequently most are ignorant of the true grace of God, and are strangers to that peace, which the knowledge of grace alone can give. Let me beseech you, dear reader, to receive, in the simplicity of faith, these blessed truths. Many go halting nearly all their days from not seeing them; I mean, from not seeing that God immediately justifies the sinner who believes in Jesus.
But, oh! let me ask, Are you a poor publican?
Are you crying out, from the depths of your souls, "God be merciful to me a sinner"?
Is this really the ground you are on? Are you truly crying to Him, the fountain of mercy, in the name of Jesus?
If so, rest assured, my dear friend, that you are justified already, that your many sins are blotted out, and that) on have everlasting life (Rom. 6:23.) But remember, you must believe this in order to have peace. Oh! for mercy's sake, for the truth's sake, for your own soul's sake, do not separate what the blessed Lord here joins together. Mark well these two points, namely, the sinner's true confession, and God's full justification.