A FRIEND OF SINNERS

ARE YOU A FRIEND OF SINNERS?

     I can just imagine the response of some people if you were to ask them that question. Who me…no…I don’t think so! If this is your response, then you must be a very lonely person because GOD’S WORD makes it very clear that we are all sinners and “There is none righteous, no, not one...For all have sinned and fall short of the GLORY OF GOD” (Romans 3:10 & 3:23). “Just as through one man (Adam) sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned” (Romans 5:12).

     If you do not consider yourself to be one of this group, then this GOSPEL is not for you because JESUS said, “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance” (Luke 5:32). “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that CHRIST JESUS came into the world to SAVE SINNERS” (1 Timothy 1:15).

     There has never been but one sinless person born of woman who has walked on this earth and that was the SON OF GOD...the LORD JESUS CHRIST! Yet HE is the one whom they called “A FRIEND of tax collectors and sinners” (Luke 7:34c). I am so thankful that JESUS is a friend of sinners, for I am one, and so are you!

But Acts 16:31a says, “Believe on the LORD JESUS CHRIST, and you will be saved.” That I did on February 16, 1975, and GOD SAVED ME! And now, “In HIM I have redemption through HIS BLOOD, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of HIS GRACE” (Ephesians 1:7).

     And if you are a CHRISTIAN, then like me, you are just a sinner who has been SAVED BY GRACE “For by GRACE you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the GIFT OF GOD, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

     “GOD demonstrates HIS OWN LOVE toward us, in that while we were still sinners, CHRIST DIED FOR US” (Romans 5:8). JESUS SAID, “For GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, THAT WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE” (John 3:16).

     Have you received GOD’S GIFT OF SALVATION by believing on the LORD JESUS CHRIST? “If you CONFESS with your mouth the LORD JESUS and BELIEVE in your heart that GOD HAS RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD, you will be SAVED. For with the heart one believes to RIGHTEOUSNESS, and with the mouth confession is made to SALVATION. For ‘WHOEVER CALLS upon the NAME of the LORD shall be SAVED’” (Romans 10:9-10 & 13).

     If you have done that, then thank GOD that JESUS is a friend of sinners! “For there is NO OTHER NAME under HEAVEN given among men by which we must be SAVED” (Acts 4:12b). And now, may you, “Grow in the grace and knowledge of our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST. To HIM be the GLORY both now and forever. AMEN” (2 Peter 3:18).

     THINK ABOUT IT...OK!

     Note...Scripture references from the NKJV.

     IN CHRIST...WRT