Sinners He Receives!

All the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Jesus to hear Him. And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.” Luke 15:1,2

In a recent sermon I shared that Jesus receives sinners. What follows is a summary of my sermon for that day. Jesus receives sinners. This is clear from the text here which says, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.” This was the accusation of the Pharisees and scribes who complained about how Jesus associated with such sinners, even sharing a meal with them. To the religious leadership these people were simply beyond hope. But still the sinners came. They sought out Jesus. They came to be to saved.

As I shared that day, Jesus receives sinners - who repent and receive Jesus! So, Jesus receiving does not mean Jesus excusing their sins as people sometimes say. Jesus is said to practice a kind of radical inclusivity, calling to all but not calling them to change. People tend to read into these verses their own ideas. For, yes, Jesus is forgiving, but Jesus receiving sinners means changing their lives! For as I have shared, people come to him as they are but never leave as we were! So then, at the end of the parables in this section, Jesus added, there is joy over one sinner who repents.

To repent means to renounce our sins, turning back to him daily. The Lord calls us to renounce all in order to follow as disciples. This means owning up to our sins, honest before God! For, all people sin daily but as God's children we have a desire to please him, to serve him daily rather than our own sinful selves. And so, we see that the Lord does not excuse our sins but rather forgives them, changing us into his image day to day. This is because our Lord desires our eternal best. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy our lives but to save them, as he says elsewhere.

So, the life of the Christian is the story of lost and found, of Jesus seeking until he finds, changing lives! For yours is a Father both merciful and patient, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon him in truth. His mercy and love are most clearly displayed in the life, death and resurrection of his Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. In response to God’s grace then let us leave it behind this day! For in God’s church sinful sons and daughters have come home. There they remain safe and sound where Jesus forgives as he changes our lives day to day. For Jesus receives sinners - who repent and receive Jesus!

Pastor