Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes - A Message of God's Transforming Grace

Idea: God sees through an outward show of religion, calling us and enabling us to truly depend upon him and worship him.

Intro: In this passage, God confronts the Jews who had come to place their confidence in a mere outward show of religion. IS indicates that God sees through such an outward appearance and does not accept it. Instead, he calls for and enables us to truly depend upon him and worship him.

1. Wrongheaded hope (vss. 1-8) - The vanity of trusting in outward religion.

2. Blind eyes (vss. 9-14) - God sees through outward appearances, and judges those who blind themselves to God with blindness.

3. A New Heart (vss. 15-24) - God calls for and enables genuine faith through His divine transforming grace.

Conclusion - What does God use to work this transformation? 1. Jesus - You must be born again. 2. His Word - Scripture as a mirror to see past promises, future kingdom, present faith.