Was it Sherlock Holmes that said, "There but for the grace of God go I"? It would have been far better, if looking upon that drunk, he said, "There go I". The Pharisee on the hill looked upon the publican and said something similar to "There but for the grace of God go I." The Pharisee said, "God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are… or even as this publican (Luke 14:11)." He thought that he was giving God's grace glory, yet our Lord clearly condemns him as a lost man.
Meanwhile, the publican looked upon God and said, "God be merciful to me a sinner." Or better translated, "God be propitious to me the sinner." He is saying, "God, provide a blood sacrifice to this sinner." Brethren, we must not compare ourselves with one another, or with how much we've improved; we must always compare ourselves with Jesus Christ Himself. This will keep you humble and in a right state of mind. (II Cor. 10:12) "For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise."
Yes, we are more than sinners. Believers are new creations, and we possess the Spirit of God. In regeneration, the Holy Spirit begat you with the Word of Truth in the image of Jesus Christ (Col. 3:10). Your new man believes, loves God, and is strengthened by faith. Yet, our faith is always in Christ. The new man knows that the old man corrupts his every deed, so that we cannot meritoriously present any of our works to God (I John 1:8). We may be something before other men, but before God, we merit nothing. Jesus Christ was the only Man who came to God without a mediator. He said, "… for I do always those things that please him (John 8:29)." However, you and I must always come to God through the mediating blood of the Son (I Pet. 2:5 / John 3:14-16). No matter how strong we become as new creations, our acceptance with God is always through the remission of sins and the imputation of Christ's righteousness.
One of the great dangers in any local church and for any individual believer is seeing ourselves as having attained. When I can look upon my fellow man and see myself above him, I cannot properly minister to him. When I've improved so much that I can thank God for what I'm not, I'm moving away from Christ's blood that's made me what I am. God give you grace to judge yourself by Jesus Christ, judge your attainments as gifts of unsought grace, and trust Christ alone for all mercy, reconciliation, forgiveness, future grace, and acceptance. YOU shall go home justified– "… for everyone that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."
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