What is a Sinner and Why Does It Matter? (page 2)

Separating the Sheep from the Goats

At the end of time, God promises to send Jesus to separate the Goats from the Sheep. The goats are those people who rejected the free gift of Grace; God calls them evildoers. But, on the other hand, the sheep received the gift of Grace, the free gift of God’s righteousness and eternal love.

Luke 13:27 - “and He will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you are from; depart from Me, all you evildoers.’ “

Matthew 25:33 - "and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left."

Some people want to be goats; some want to be sheep. But, at the end of this life, as we draw our last breath, our decision is final.

1 Corinthians 10:13 - "No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it."

But God Loved Us More Than We Can Imagine

Romans 5:8 - "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

God’s plan is a plan of redemption. It’s a plan of absolute redemption. God’s plan involves the redemption of ALL SINNERS who repent. To “repent” means you turn 180 and move in a new direction, a direction toward God. Seek Him and He will be found, it's a promise!

Romans 5:19 - “For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.”
Jesus, through His sacrifice, torture, faith, death, more faith, and then resurrection DID IT ALL for us. Meaning, Jesus provided EVERYTHING for the sinner to BE FULLY RESTORED.

Luke 15:10 - “In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Every sinner has been cleansed and made righteous by the blood of Jesus, but you must BELIEVE to receive this free gift of grace to be saved. God wants everyone to come to repentance and be saved.

Matthew 9:10 - “Then it happened that as Jesus was reclining at the table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were dining with Jesus and His disciples.”

Jesus provided the way for EVERYONE. Jesus loved the sinner. Jesus hung out with sinners and did not let the sin separate Himself from the sinner. However, the sinner can refuse to receive.

Luke 15:7 - “I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”

There is no way to measure Jesus’ love for the sinner. His love for the sinner is just too incomprehensible to understand. It’s too big and expansive and unnatural to the mind of man. Many people hated Jesus and rejected Him because of His love for the sinner.

Matthew 9:10 - “Then it happened that as Jesus was reclining at the table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were dining with Jesus and His disciples.”

The religious people of Jesus' day hated him so much; they falsified charges against him for Jesus to be put to death. Yes, the religious order of Jesus day insisted that Jesus be crucified, and the Romans obliged.

Matthew 9:11, 13 - “When the Pharisees saw this, they said to His disciples, “Why is your Teacher eating with the tax collectors and sinners? But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire compassion, and not sacrifice,’ for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Jesus Loves Everyone, Especially the Sinners - He Came to Serve Them and to Love Them

The Pharisees were the religious pious people of Jesus' day. They hated Jesus and His love for sinners. They despised Jesus and wanted Him killed BECAUSE He loved sinners.

Mark 2:15 - “And it *happened that He was reclining at the table in his house, and many tax collectors and sinners were dining with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many of them, and they were following Him.”

Jesus came to suffer for those who were lost, the sinner, those who were without God and no hope for eternal salvation. Jesus is the only answer!

Mark 2:17 - “And hearing this, Jesus *said to them, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Jesus came to love the sinners without measure and to show the world the love of God. In doing so, the love of Jesus destroyed the works of darkness and devoured the devourer.

Luke 5:32 - "I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”

Men without the love of God are men of flesh, men who are out for themselves only, men who are fearful of death - evildoers who are motivated by self-centeredness - get what they can while they can.

Hebrews 7:26 - “For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens;”

Jesus was the perfect lamb of God, the perfect sacrifice for our sins. Jesus knew no sin, and no sin was found in Him. When Jesus was crucified, He took on the sin of the WHOLE WORLD, and EVERYONE was saved.

James 5:20 - “let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.”

But Jesus himself was sinless, so satan could not hold Him in Hell. So God raised Jesus from the dead, and Jesus left all our sin in hell with satan. Plus, Jesus, when He was resurrected, he took back everything satan had stolen from us and promised to return it to us 7-fold.

Hebrews 12:3 - “For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

By sharing the good news of the Love of God toward man, by sharing the sacrificial love of Jesus our Lord and Savior, you can save people from eternal damnation. It's extremely important that we know what sin is, and what sin isn't. More importantly, we need to know that Jesus took our sin and gave us His righteousness so that we are SAVED, praise God!

James 5:20 - “let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.”

This article is the first of 5 articles for the week. This Bible Study was derived from studying the Clearview Guiding Principle #1, "I Choose Love!"

Monday - The Best News Ever!
Tuesday - When Does Eternal Life Begin?
Wednesday - What is a Sinner and Why Does It Matter?
Thursday - If I Do Not Have Love?
Friday - I ALREADY HAVE IT! GOD DID IT ALL