Faith Over Performance: Living in Christ’s Freedom – Sermon – Pastor Dave Page

The Problem: Drifting Back into Performance-Based Religion

Let’s talk about Peter here for a moment. Peter knew that salvation came through faith in Jesus, but when he was around certain people (Jewish Christians), he acted differently.

Now, before you begin to think too poorly of Peter, consider what we know about Peter from his past. Peter, one of Jesus’ closest disciples, who, at the time of Jesus’ arrest, let fear and what others were saying about him and his relationship with Jesus create the setting for Peter to deny Jesus 3 times. So, this behaviour, for Peter, is nothing new.

Secondly, think about a kid who feels free and playful at home. Free and comfortable with being themselves but, when at school, tries to act “cool” to fit in. We all know of a situation like that. Even think of yourself, do you sometimes act differently around one group of people than you do around another because of how you perceive that group treating you? That is something each of us can struggle with, isn’t it?

Sometimes, we live confidently in grace, but when we’re around ‘religious people’ or feel pressure to be “good enough,” we start performing instead of resting in Christ.

Paul reminds Peter, and us, that no amount of rule-following, no amount of performing, can make us right with God. “A person is not justified by works of the law, but through faith in Jesus Christ” (Galatians 2:16).

There is a parable of Jesus that Luke relates of the Pharisee and the tax collector (Luke 18:9-14)

Read – Luke 18:9-14

⁹ Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: ¹⁰ “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. ¹¹ The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. ¹² I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ ¹³ And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ ¹⁴ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

The Pharisee in the parable is a religious man who appears to have everything in order. He fasts, he tithes, and he follows the laws of his faith meticulously. In fact, he goes beyond what is required by the law, thinking that his actions make him righteous in God’s sight. His prayer reveals a spirit of self-righteousness and pride, as he compares himself to others, especially the tax collector. Note that the Pharisee’s prayer is centred on himself, his accomplishments, and his perceived goodness.

He focuses entirely on his works, believing that his own actions are what makes him worthy. He says, “God, I thank you that I am not like other men,” essentially congratulating himself for his supposed righteousness.

I want each of us to clearly understand the danger here! The danger lies in the Pharisee’s understanding of righteousness. He places his trust in his ability to perform religious duties and follow rules, rather than acknowledging that true righteousness comes from God alone. And the reality is that in his heart, he is distant from God, for he doesn’t recognize his need for mercy or grace. He fails to see that, despite his outward works, he too is a sinner in need of forgiveness.

The Tax Collector, on the other hand, represents someone who is deeply aware of their own sinfulness and shortcomings. Tax collectors were despised in Jewish society for collaborating with the Romans and often engaging in corrupt practices. This man, standing far off, cannot even look up to heaven but beats his chest, a gesture of deep sorrow and repentance. His prayer is simple, yet profound: “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” That very simple prayer is soaked in humility, it wreaks of personal inadequacy, and it demonstrates recognition that only God’s mercy can bring about true justification. Unlike the Pharisee, the tax collector does not rely on his own deeds but on God’s grace. Jesus concludes the parable by emphasizing that the tax collector, not the Pharisee, goes home justified before God.

Faith, not works, justifies us: The Pharisee’s works—though they may have been righteous in the eyes of humans—were insufficient to make him right with God. Justification before God is not based on how good we are or how many religious duties we perform, but on our faith and dependence on God’s mercy.

We cannot earn our righteousness through our works, but must receive it through faith in God’s grace.

This parable challenges us to examine our own hearts.

Do we come before God with humility, recognizing our need for His mercy, or do we rely on our own righteousness?

Are we trusting in our good works to justify us, or are we placing our faith in God’s grace?

Jesus’ message is clear: it is not the self-righteous who are justified, but the humble and repentant who find mercy.

Paul reinforces this messaging through his own example when he says, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). What Paul is encouraging is that, through Jesus, and our reliance up on the work that He did, our old self—the one trying to prove, earn, and strive—is dead. We now live by faith in Christ’s finished work.

Don’t miss this Church family! What Paul is communicating here is not just a theological concept, it is a complete transformation of our identity. When we are crucified with Christ, it means our old way of living, thinking, and striving dies with Him. We are no longer defined by our failures, successes, or efforts to earn God’s favor. Instead, Jesus’s righteousness becomes our righteousness, and His life is now our life.

Think of a phone that’s completely dead. You don’t try harder to make it work, you plug it into the charger. We are powerless on our own, but when we are connected to Christ, His power flows through us.

Application: Living in the Freedom of Christ

So, how do we live in this truth?

1. Stop Trying to Earn What’s Already Yours – You don’t have to prove yourself to God. His love and acceptance are already given through Jesus. For example, instead of feeling guilty when you miss a morning devotion, remind yourself that God’s love for you doesn’t change. Focus on spending time with Him out of joy, not obligation.
2. Be Consistent in Every Space – Don’t act one way with your church friends and another way in the world. Walk in the same freedom everywhere. For instance, if you pray and worship freely at church but feel embarrassed to mention your faith at work, challenge yourself to be the same person in both places. Start small—perhaps by offering to pray for a coworker who is struggling.
3. Rest in Christ’s Work, Not Your Own – When you fail, instead of spiraling into guilt, remember that Christ already paid it all. If you fall into an old habit or make a mistake, instead of condemning yourself, confess it to God and remind yourself of His grace. Read Scriptures like Romans 8:1 (“There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”) to renew your mind.

Conclusion: The banquet has already been paid for, stop trying to pay again. Live free. Live in Jesus Christ.

This is the call to every believer. Real freedom is not found in striving or working for approval. Your salvation is not, nor will it ever be, based on your performance. It’s found in resting in the finished work of Jesus. Christ’s work on the cross, His life, death, and resurrection, is sufficient. It’s a free gift that we receive by faith, not something we can earn or repay. And when we live in the light of that freedom, we experience true peace, joy, and assurance, knowing that our standing before God is not based on what we do, but on who we are in Christ. We are His.

So, I invite you today to ask yourself:

Am I living as if Jesus isn’t enough?

Am I still striving in my own strength to earn something that has already been given to me?

If your answer is yes, then I encourage you to surrender that mindset today. Let go of the notion that you have to earn God’s favour or that your actions can add anything to what Christ has already done.

Rest in His grace – and then walk in the freedom that comes with knowing you are fully accepted, fully loved, and fully forgiven in Jesus.

His grace is sufficient.

The work is finished.