Pharisees Glory in Their Connection to Godly Men
The sermon warns against glorying in one's connection to godly men, emphasizing the importance of personal holiness and a genuine relationship with God.
Zac Poonen emphasizes that merely being associated with godly individuals or a reputable church does not guarantee one's own holiness or salvation. He warns against the Pharisaical attitude of relying on connections to claim righteousness, highlighting that true godliness must come from within and not from external affiliations. Poonen stresses the danger of unrepented sin and the false security it brings, urging believers to examine their hearts and lives rather than resting on the laurels of their church membership or associations. Ultimately, he calls for a personal relationship with God that transcends mere association with the righteous.
Text
"Do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our father'" (Matthew 3:9).
A Pharisee knows he is not godly himself, and so he seeks to be associated with "Brother X", who has a reputation as a godly man, so that he can claim godliness by association. There are many carnal Christians today who glory that they are members of a church that is led by a man who has a reputation for godliness. They live off that reputation, even though they have zero holiness themselves. Pharisees mingle with godly people and imagine that they are holy too.
You can be part of a very good church and yet go to hell, if there is un-repented sin in your life, or if you have a grudge against another. If you imagine that God will condone and ignore all your backbiting and evil speaking, just because you are a part of a good church, you are mistaken. You will get a big surprise in the day of judgement. Maybe you were saved once upon a time. But you are probably lost today. So don't ever glory in your connection with godly people.
Sermon Outline
- The Pharisee's attitude towards godly men
- The dangers of glorying in connection to godly men
- The importance of personal holiness
- Repented sin and its consequences
- The danger of unrepented sin in a good church
- The need for a personal relationship with God
Key Quotes
“Do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our father'” — Zac Poonen
“You can be part of a very good church and yet go to hell, if there is un-repented sin in your life, or if you have a grudge against another” — Zac Poonen
“Maybe you were saved once upon a time. But you are probably lost today” — Zac Poonen
Application Points
- You must regularly examine your own heart and life to ensure you're living a life of holiness and obedience to God.
- Don't rely on the reputation of your church to cover your own sin and unrepented behavior.
- Make sure you're not just mingling with godly people without true holiness in your own life.