Astore

Monday, May 15, 2006

Jesus friend of sinners?

Was Jesus a friend of sinners?

Many claim that they do what they can to bring sinners into the church, even if it means not talking about sin, righteousness, judgment, and the wrath to come or any doctrine that is distasteful. They base this on the fact Jesus was friend of sinners. I ask you is Jesus a friend of sinners? Prove it!

Well what about Matthew 11:19 were Jesus says He is a friend to sinners? Well let’s look at it.

The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.

If you notice Jesus says that they say He is a friend of sinners. So far no proof yet that Jesus was indeed a friend of sinners. Luke 7:34 records also that Jesus was accused of being a friend of sinners.

In fact Jesus said in John 15:14,15 that we are His friends if we abide by His commandments.

Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.


So the scripture does not actually say that Jesus was a friend to the sinner. You could ask, “ but didn’t Jesus hang out with sinners.” Yes He did. In fact, Jesus went to were sinners were, whether it is the Temple of God or a party. The truth is that there is no scriptural evidence that suggests that Jesus brought (unrepentant) sinners into the Temple. An abundance of evidence shows that Jesus took the Temple to the (unrepentant) sinners. (John 2:19)

Jesus never brought a sinner into the House of God, Jesus always took God to the sinner’s house.

So do you want to love the sinner like Jesus did, then ask Him to help you. Study how He interacted with sinners and do the same.

You want to be like Jesus, are you sure? Jesus took the gospel to the sinners were the sinners hung out. Jesus in fact kicked some sinners out of the Temple (John 2:14,15) So quit trying to modify you church service, removing things that offend (unrepentant) sinners so you can draw them in.

The very thing that you remove because it offends is more than likely the very thing that God has chosen to convict sinners of their sin and therefore drive them to the cross.