CHRIST RECEIVING SINNERS

LUKE 15:2

A. "THIS MAN RECEIVETH SINNERS"
  1. The Pharisees were our Lord's greatest enemies:
    1. They sought occasion to accuse him of being a false prophet.
    2. They were filled with spiritual pride and paraded it at the street corners and in the market places - Matt. 6:5
    3. To them it was a disgrace to come in contact with what they called 'sinners'.
  2. When they saw our Lord being surrounded by tax collectors and publicans, they sought to mark him as a false teacher because he received sinners:
    1. That attitude, by the supposed leaders in Israel, revealed that they were blind to both the plan of redemption and also to the mission of the Son of God - Luke 6:39; Matt. 15:14; 23:16
    2. That shows, further, that it is possible to have the form of truth, yet be totally ignorant of our mission in this world.
B. "THIS MAN RECEIVETH SINNERS"
  1. This statement, by the Pharisees, was intended to be a taunt, a stigma:
  2. But, unwittingly, they expressed the very heart of the mission of our Lord:
    1. "For I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." - Matt. 9:13
    2. "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which is lost." - Luke 19:10; Matt. 18:11
    3. Said the angel, "thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins." - Matt. 1:21; Acts 3:26
    4. "For there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." - Acts 4:12
  3. "This man receiveth sinners." Let us note a few implications of this statement:
    1. Since all men have sinned and come short of the glory of God - Rom. 3:23; 6:19
    2. And since sin has brought all men under condemnation - Rom. 5:12-19
    3. It is an expression of God's love to invite sinners to come to Him through Jesus Christ, our Lord - John 3:16
    4. What would poor sinners, under condemnation, do with their sins if they could not come to Christ -
      1. The Lamb of God which alone can take away sins - John 1:29
      2. It is Christ, who died for our sins - 1 Cor. 15:3
C. CONDITIONS AND BLESSINGS OF CHRIST'S RECEIVING SINNERS
  1. Conditions:
    1. Come and confess our sins is a basic condition to be received by Christ -
      1. The prodigal son - Luke 15:18
      2. The thief - Luke 23:38-44
    2. Make restitution as far as it is in our power - Luke 19:8
    3. Sin no more - John 5:14; 8:11
  2. Heavenly assurance:
    1. "Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out." - John 6:37
    2. "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." - Matt. 11:28
    3. "Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed." - Rom. 10:11
  3. Yes, Christ does receive sinners:
    1. I personally know it from experience!
    2. If you have not experienced the joy of salvation -- why not come to Him now?
    3. His arms are still stretched out to receive you - Isa. 65:1, 2; Luke 15:20
    4. Thank God for His mercy when He sent Jesus to receive sinners -- that is the heart of the plan of redemption!


Design © John Bryant 2011