"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE FOR THOSE WHO THINK GOD WOULD NOT WANT THEM"

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE FOR THOSE WHO THINK GOD WOULD NOT WANT THEM"

Luke 5:30 And their scribes and the Pharisees complained against His disciples, saying, “Why do You eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”
Luke 5:31 Jesus answered and said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.
Luke 5:32 “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

Some explanatory notes and application:

1. One of the criticisms of Jesus was that He ate with the worst of the worst. He was called by His enemies the friend of sinners.
Mt 11:19* “The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by her children.”

2. It's a little hard to imagine how people could be critical of  Jesus for reaching out to people, ( sinners ) but, sure enough they did, and they still do. And, so does the devil. Only he criticizes you and I for our sin, and then tries to get us to believe that Jesus does not love us, or care for us, or want us. But, the Devil is a liar. 

3. The truth is that God is love. 1Jo 4:16* And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. And, His love has been demonstrated at the cross, where He died, not just for the sins of some, but for the sins of the whole world. 1Jo 2:2* And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.

4. Please notice what Jesus said in Luke 5:31-32 above. He came for sinners. Yeah, that's you and me. Sinners. So, contrary to what anyone may say, or what you may be feeling within yourself, the Bible tells us the truth, and that is, that not only is God love, but, Jesus specifically came for sinners. 

5. One last thing. God loves us so much, that He does not want to leave us in our sinful condition, so, He calls us to repentance, that is to turn to Him, believe in Him, and receive Him. If you have done that, then You have become His child, and You are a joint heir with Christ, and You have eternal life, and nothing can separate You from His love. Isn't that wonderful. 

A prayer:

Lord, we would like to take just a moment to say how wonderful it is, that You have given us Your Word to tell us the truth about life, about ourselves, about the future, and most of all about Your love, grace and mercy for each of us. Help us to keep ourselves in Your Word, and help us to believe it, and to obey it, and to enjoy the benefits of doing all those things. There is no one like You Lord. And, we have no love and appreciation for anyone, or anything, as we do for You. We love You. 

Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia