Sinner to Saint

Have you ever felt to far gone for Christ?

Has redemption ever seemed to be for everyone BUT you?

Maybe you have family members you would consider as “righteous people” but that is far from you?

Manasseh Reigns in Judah

Manasseh was the son of a wonderful king, the greatest king Israel had ever known, Hezekiah 2 Kings 18:5

2 Kings 18:5 NKJV

He trusted in the Lord God of Israel, so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor who were before him.

2 Kings 20:21 NKJV

So Hezekiah rested with his fathers. Then Manasseh his son reigned in his place.

Manasseh fit the bill for being to far gone for redemption, he certainly had much sin in his life and at times it seemed like there would be no way out for him.

Read through 2 Kings 21:3-16

Read Through 2 Chronicles 33:9–16

Let’s really focus on 2 Chronicles 33:13, how can we be heard by God, entreat His favor, and have our evil sins washed away?

2 Chronicles 33:13 NKJV

and prayed to Him; and He received his entreaty, heard his supplication, and brought him back to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord was God.

How do we go from Sinner to a Saint

We know that Christ died for the sinner Romans 5:8

Romans 5:8 NKJV

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

He came to call sinners to repentance Mark 2:17

Mark 2:17 (NKJV)

When Jesus heard it, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

All people have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God Romans 3:23

Romans 3:23 NKJV

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

God calls us through the gospel 2 Thessalonians 2:14

2 Thessalonians 2:14 NKJV

to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ 1 Corinthians 15:1-4

1 Corinthians 15:1–4 NKJV

Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,

Without faith it is impossible to please God Hebrews 11:6

Hebrews 11:6 NKJV

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Christ is the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Hebrews 5:9

Hebrews 5:9 NKJV

And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him,

We must believe in the Son of God John 6:28-29

John 6:28–29 NKJV

Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”

Just like Manasseh did we must turn to God, and away from our sins 2 Chronicles 33:14-16, 2 Corinthians 7:9-10. We must repent Luke 13:3

Luke 13:3 NKJV

I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.

Just as Manasseh openly proclaimed his belief in the Lord, we too must confess Christ before men Acts 8:36-37 and Matthew 10:32

Matthew 10:32 NKJV

“Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.

Acts 8:36–37 NKJV

Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”

In order for us to enter into a covenant relationship with the Lord our God, in order for us to call upon the name of the Lord, to have our sins forgiven by Him, we MUST be immersed in water for the remission of our sins, just like the apostle Paul and all Christians in the New Testament Acts 2:38, Acts 9:6, and Acts 22:16

We must remember that the gospel is God’s power to save. Romans 1:16

Romans 1:16 NKJV

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

If we go to God on His terms He will accept us, for there is no other way to be saved Acts 4:12 Peter says, “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.””

If we humble ourselves in the sight of the Lord, He will lift us up James 4:10

James 4:10 NKJV

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

Are we willing to humble ourselves greatly before the Lord? If we are then what of the rest of the world? Are we willing to boldly proclaim this message to others?

Who will tell your best friend? Who will tell your family?

1 Peter 4:17–18 NKJV

For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? Now “If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?”

For Paul says in 2 Corinthians 6:2 “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”