A Passing Gospel Thought: Jesus friend of Sinners
Friday Gayline and I shared the gospel with two people: one a 40 year old God-cursing, foul, furious sinner, the other a smiling, smug, 80 year old God-refusing do-gooder. The first hated God because he'd been molested by a priest. The other refused God because, well, she was simply so good that she couldn't conceive how she needed Him.
Both were equally doomed; both equally in need of grace; both equally savable at the foot of the cross. But probably the first will find that salvation long before the second. Unlike her he won't have to dig through mile-deep self-righteousness before he finds the filth within and sees his need.
He's the kind the Savior came to save, for Jesus is the friend of sinners. On the other hand, the 80 year old is in trouble for Jesus is the worst nightmare of the self-righteous.
Food for thought.
Both were equally doomed; both equally in need of grace; both equally savable at the foot of the cross. But probably the first will find that salvation long before the second. Unlike her he won't have to dig through mile-deep self-righteousness before he finds the filth within and sees his need.
He's the kind the Savior came to save, for Jesus is the friend of sinners. On the other hand, the 80 year old is in trouble for Jesus is the worst nightmare of the self-righteous.
Food for thought.
Labels: friend of sinners, Gospel, Grace
posted by Tim Shorey at
4:57 AM
1 Comments:
I work with both of these as well.
It does seem to us that the one is self righteous, but as I talk with the obvious sinner, I find that he too is filled with self righteousness, thinking that he is far above those who have offended him. The great news is that God can break them both, a self righteous Saul, and a foul, filth spewing demoniac. Yes, Jesus, friend of sinners. Halelujah!
Press on, partners in the gospel.
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