Jesus Calls Sinners

You make it.

Proverbs, 221 tells us that God's word is what the Lord uses to make us into the upright ones. Of Integrity who inherit God's promises. And so, if you have your copy of God's word with you today and I hope you do, please turn to Luke chapter 5. we're going to be looking at verses 27 through 32 this morning of Luke Chapter 5 and as return in there I want to remind you that our author 1st Century. Doctor named Lucas. Getting us here in this gospel and orderly account of Jesus, Christ's life. In other words, Lucas taking the events of Jesus's life and he is putting them in a specific order. Not, not necessarily chronologically, always like John, or Matthew does, but always thematically. In other words, Luke take certain eyewitness accounts from Jesus his life, and he Stacks them together in a roughly chronological fashion. In order to communicate to us one single Grand overarching. Truth And the first true that Luke is systematically been teaching Us in this gospel, is that Jesus is the Messiah, he's the divinely promised saving Sovereign of all. This was explicitly presented in chapters 1, through 3 ways. We saw Gabriel Zechariah. Elizabeth John, the Baptist Simeon Anna, the Angels, the Jewish records of the genealogy and finally got himself all testify. That Jesus is God the son. The Chosen One, the spirit anointed Messiah, and King will it builds off of all these testimonies. By then showing us in chapters four and five. That Jesus has the authority of the Messiah. He has the authority that matches the claim he has been Divine Authority in the spiritual realm as you triumphed over. As we saw Satan and his demons. He is divine authority over the Physical Realm. Is he delivers people miraculously from, leprosy in from paralysis and from all sorts of illnesses and then finally, we seen the Jesus has Divine Authority or the Mortal realm is, we saw that climaxed last week, as Jesus turns to a paralytic. And he says, man, your sins are forgiven you That is the D moment. The truth that Luke has been building up to Is verse 24 of Luke 5 says, all this has happened. So that you might know that the son of man, that Authority on Earth to forgive sins. Jesus is exactly who he says he is and he's the authority to back it up. He's the Messiah and if you will come to him and Faith, you can and he will forgive you of all of your sins and cleanse, you from all unrighteousness in set you on a path of total and complete Redemption, physically spiritually. Mentally Jesus has the authority and so Jesus has the authority to forgive sins, but the question that this morning's passage asked is, how far though does Jesus is forgiveness go. How far does his forgiveness reach in the answer? That went to see this morning is it Jesus's forgiveness reaches to the lowest of the low. The greatest of Sinners Jesus is forgiveness. Is so great. And it reaches to the most perverted, the most vile, the most hard in the most hopeless of all Humanity. And I know this for three reasons. First, look at the Bible. Second, look around you. In third. Look at yourself. Can I say is, I was thinking about it this week, the simple fact that I'm even in church this morning is a miracle of epic proportions.

I know my heart. I know my actions. I know my past. And too often. I know my present. I know that by All Rights. Is that consider the Holiness of God in Scripture that I should be hurled into Everlasting judgment, where I stand because of the crushing record of Shame and guilt and sin, that I've committed against my creator. and then to think, That I'm not just among the people of God this morning, but I am one of his children today, viewed as holy and his righteous and is undefiled, is God the son himself to think that I am forgiven totally absolved of all wrongdoing in the eyes of God. Brothers and sisters. This is an extraordinary thing.

See there's a tragic forgetfulness and this is what I started to see in their passage this morning. There's a tragic forgetfulness. They can overtake us who have been saved for any length of time. A forgetfulness. Of the fact that we are sinners.

And nothing. Absolutely nothing separates us from the druggie and the ditch for the prostitute in the streets. Other than the merciful Grace ineffectual, forgiveness of our Lord, Jesus Christ, apart from Jesus, we would be right there in the ditch and I'm streets. As well. If you doubt this, our sinful flesh reminds us of The Stumbling truth. Every single day, it reminds us of who we were and who we still would be without the Forgiveness of Jesus Christ in our lives, And yet too, often we Overlook all of that. Return to the Sea those who are enslaved and sent in our world. And in our tragic forgetfulness, we start to view them, not with eyes of compassion and sympathy. We start to view them with eyes of Pride and disgust. And our mission field. Becomes a Battlefield.

and, Our mission becomes our enemies when we see them in the grocery store, along the street at the mall. We often too often forget the Glorious truth. It's changed our souls. That Jesus calls. Sinners Jesus saves sinners. Jesus. Forgives, sinners. Just like Jesus did with you. This passage. Is very convicting cuz it speaks to where we are. Jesus calls, Sinners and that's the lesson. The very simple lesson that's in store for us today. From Luke 5:27 through 32, we're just going to break this account down into three, very basic points where to look at the recipients of Christ call to be gay verse 27, who is Jesus call them where to look at the radicalness of Jesus is Calling in 2 verse 27 and verse 28. What you call on those who missed call is given what you calling them to do and then finally going to look at their response to Jesus is Calling vs. 29 through 32, the response of those who understand their sinfulness and the response of those who yet do not. And it's very telling the recipients, the radicalism the response to Christ call. And so with that in mind if you're able, please stand on the out of reverence in Readiness to the word of God, as I get to read our passes before us today from Luke Chapter 5 Ruby reading from verse 27 on the verse 32.

Luke under the inspiration. Holy Spirit. Writes these words for us today.

After this, she went out. And saw a tax collector named Levi. Sitting at the tax booth. and he said to him, follow me. And leaving everything Heroes and follow him.

I believe I made him a great feast in his house and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them and the Pharisees in their scribes grumbled at his disciples saying, why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?

Jesus answered them. Those who are well, have no need of a physician. But those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but Sinners to repentance. This is the word of God who causes us to rejoice in those who fear Him and hoping his word. Let's pray. Father, I just pray for two things today, in light of your word.

Remind us of Who We Are.

And remind us and show us the glory of your son, Jesus Christ. so that the Forgiveness that he extends to sinners, Might be steamed sweet in our eyes today. And that she is our savior. Might be deeply treasured and loved.

We asked this to be the work that you do in our hearts, by your spirit, in Jesus Christ name. Amen.

So Luke begins to show us how far price saving Authority and forgiveness reaches by describing for us at the beginning of verse 27, the recipients of Christ call. It doesn't begin verse 27. After this, he went out that is out of the house that he had been any capernium where he had just killed that paralytic. Jesus saw a tax collector, they're named Levi sitting at the tax spoof now Matthew and his gospel identifies. This tax collectors being himself, which is no surprise. Since having two names back then, was quite, we've already seen how Peter was called. The time in Bartholomew was also called Nathaniel in like fashion. Matthew was also called Levi. And so, Jesus goes out of the house after he's just filled is paralytic and declared to him by the authority of God that your sins are forgiven and Rise. Take up your bed and walk. He was out of the house to walk along the seashore Inn at each the crowds. Is Mark 2 verses 13 through 14. Make clear. And we're told that has Jesus leaves the house and he has the walk along the shore. He sees Matthew sitting at his tax booth and it makes sense, by the way, for the tax collector for a tax collector, to be there capernium was a vibrant fishing Village in Northeast Israel, with a major trade route that ran through it. And so it was natural. That Rome would want to set up a customs Booth with tax collectors. There to make a profit off of that. But what is unnatural though? Is for Jesus, a Jewish rabbi and faithful adherent to the laws. We've seen the single out and show focused attention and interest to a tax collector. Truly, truly grasp. The significance of this moment, we need to remember what Tax Collectors were like back then. We talked about this a little bit back in chapter 3, but Tax Collectors, like Matthew were viewed as criminals of the worst kind having an earned reputation of being characteristically. Dishonest, do you remember back in chapter 3 verses 12 through 13? Some tax collector, came up to John the Baptist and they asked him, what should be the evidence of our repentance and John, the Baptist replies to them just collect what you're supposed to collect and nothing more. So that was what they were known for being characteristically. Dishonest then on top of that, the money that tax collectors were gathering was going to support, not the Jewish state of Israel. But rather their unwanted Pagan occupy or the Roman empire into a tax collector. Was someone who abused his own people. Extorting money from them in order to then turn around and give that money to their gentle overlords And so no one was resented more in that day. Then tax collectors. In the public mind, Tax Collectors were grouped with the most vile Pagan centers imaginable, evildoers adulterers, prostitutes Etc. They were so dishonest, in fact that tax collectors could even give a testimony and public court, and they were excluded from Worship in the synagogue because their lifestyle of Perpetual cruel dishonesty. And then just finally, one last picture to kind of fill out this painting for you Tax. Collectors would take more money than they were supposed to buy stopping people on the street. And they would tax people for their letters for their produce and even their journey to take the groceries back home saying that was an Import and Export tax. And then to make matters worse, if you can pay the tax that these collectors were demanding from you, you could always alone it from The Collector itself, but with a 50% interest, and then, if you couldn't pay off the taxes that you were owed, why? Then he would send his thugs to beat you up? So that's a tax collector. This is Matthew. He's basically a government-approved Organized Crime, Boss. A traitor above all traitors. I wonder how many times he said you disappoint me Tony, right?

No one was resented more than these guys. And that is why it is so shocking, and verse 27, to read it. As soon as Jesus walks out of that house there, in Burnham from healing and forgiving this paralytic, man, Jesus, this righteous Messiah.

Walked right over to a tax collector. Named Levi, who is sitting at a table smooth, and that can actually says that Jesus. He says he saw him that we're settled gays, no worries. Jesus, Quintana house, she noticed, Matthew, and he just kind of starts watching him. I wonder what Matthew was thinking in that moment. I'm sure the day started off for Matthew. Pretty normal sees a huge crowd gathered outside the house. This is great. This is a financial opportunity. A lot of people that acts, right? But Matthew got more than he expected that day. If you heard from, I believe outside that house that are you teaching of Jesus, the gospels make it clear that this cash Booth was rather close and location for the pure lips of Jesus Matthew. Here's for went in the house about the riches. I believe of God's righteousness for more poverty, a man sitting here. Jesus hear that preached? The same message. Did he preach there in capernium? He magnifies the Glorious freedom is found in the damning slavery, that's exposed and experienced by those who were still captive. And since Jesus hears Matthew, here's Jesus expound on the moral Clarity, that God's spirit in God's word brings in the blindness. This thing always produces and perhaps is he sitting outside of that. House looking for a way to tax people, he has cut to the heart of the sudden realization that though. He thought himself rich. She's actually poor. No, he thought himself free. Is actually slate. Louis thought himself clever. He's actually blind. Perhaps the Holy Spirit began convicting. Matthew at that time of the scent of his Judgment of God's offer forgiveness. There was any doubt. In Matthews mind about whether Jesus's offer of forgiveness was legitimate. Suddenly he hears Jesus's voice Rise Up from within the house staying but that you may know that the son of man has Authority on Earth to forgive sins, rised, take up your bed and go home. And out comes leaping out of the house. A paralyzed, man. You just seen taking up to the roof. I believe Matthew heard the message that day that the year of the Lord's favorite come in that Jesus can forgive sins. I can't help. But Wonder still if Matthew, realizes this in his Spirit, still in turmoil, as many peoples are, as they hear the gospel, as he considers, all the people that he's swindled all the lies, he's told all the treachery, he's performed. All the cruelty that he's committed as she considers, the sooner that he is. I can't help but think that Matthew since they're in despair, thinking there's nothing better than my tax Booth. This is all I'll have Yes. The man inside the house. Can forgive sins. You can do extraordinary things, but is there hope for me? In Jesus's forgiveness, reach even to me. any number when Jesus comes out of the house and you look straight at Matthew with a settled gaze,

I don't know what I've done to the Gaze of my parents sometimes and I can barely handle it. Can you add him being under the settled gaze of Christ himself? Imagine the shame that must have been his if you suffer beneath the piercing gaze of Christ Jesus new He knew it all. And he still does by the way. All things are naked and exposed before the eyes of him to whom you must give an account. Is there be any doubt in your mind this morning? Whether you be a sinner in the eyes of the holy God? I just want you to consider not the faint taste of it. Do you having a hard time understanding the shame that will come when you stand before? God someday I want you to consider every action that you've ever done. Every thought that you've ever had every word that you never spoken, being played up here in front of all of you this morning for everybody else in this congregation to see If an event like that happen, I guarantee you every single one of you would probably jump out of your seats and run out of this and never want to look at another person in this congregation ever again. That's just a small taste of what it will be like to be before the god of the universe. There is no one here today, that will be accepted before God in heaven on the basis of your own works. We are all Sinners by nature and by choice, by All rights Christ. Should pass Us by.

But we see here at Matthew that he doesn't And his Divine Authority. And love, he stops. And he makes the Divine appointment with a center. These. Are the recipients of Christ's call. Sinners Christ calls, sinners. He doesn't call you to get your life straightened out first. He just wants you to acknowledge. Your life is broken and that you need him and he calls on you but we'll get to that next at the end of verse 27, in the verse 28 years, the radicalness of Christ's call

Jesus says, is he comes up to Matthew, he said to him, follow me. What do you imagine? Nicki Minaj in the shock that must have been in been there for those crowds in that moment, I mean, of all people Jesus asked the tax collector to be his disciple. We come on. Jesus isn't there? Someone more qualified.

And the answer is, I want you to see this morning. Absolutely no. Is that Matthew In This Moment? Who's more qualified to follow Jesus. The many of the people in that house because the only people who ever follow Jesus are those who know that they're Sinners and are in need of a savior. Isaiah 66 verse 2 teaches. This is the one to whom I will. Look he who is humble and contrite in spirit and who trembles at my word, why I follow a seizure that you don't even need, and that's exactly why. So many people I believe today don't bother with coming to Jesus and following in faith. It's because they haven't been shown their need for him today. They've been told by culture and often by many Christians, you're fine. Just the way you are. Nothing could be further than the truth. if you stay, Just the Way You Are,

You are headed to Eternal condemnation. A change has to take place. You must be born again.

You now have to show people their sinfulness before they'll ever care about a savior. Hello. I want to see the gracious calling of Christ 44. Jesus goes right up to this tax collector. The vilest of sinners, in the eyes of most of that culture day and he said, Tim you I want you follow me. In other words, Jesus Takes that brand new life at total forgiveness that unmerited Grace, that he's been, proclaiming, he goes up to Matthew. He says here, take it, you follow me. Verse 28 tells us this and leaving everything Heroes and followed him. So just like that. Matthew Rose. He left everything and he followed Jesus, you say hell in the World remix with a radical decision, right? On the spot in the answer is because by God's grace, he understood the radical reward that was before him in Jesus total forgiveness of his sins and turtle life before. God, Matthew had found, as Jesus Will describe leader in this gospel, a pearl of great price and he does not care what it cost him to obtain it.

John Bunyan, reflected on this great, spiritual reality, at the beginning of his Pilgrims Progress, when he writes, after Pilgrim was shown At Last by evangelist, the way that you would be relieved of his burden. And finally, escaped the city of Destruction, John Bunyan, write I saw in my dream that the man begin a run. Now, he did not run far from his home with his wife and children, receiving a banana cry after and do a turn with a man. Put his fingers in his ears and ran on crying life, life eternal life until we look not behind a but fled towards the middle of the plane. That's Matthew here. Spiritually as a simple man, he runs after him will loan it. The power to forgive his sins leaving everything he's ever known behind because he knows that obtaining. Jesus is worth the loss of all things.

And this is exactly what the other disciples. By the way, in the Gospel of Luke are going to do repeatedly. Do you remember back in Luke 5 verse 11, we've already seen it. Jesus has been teaching from the boat and when they had come ashore Jesus calls his disciples through Peter to follow him and Luke tells us that they left everything. They left, his their boats and they followed him. This is a common theme that is seen throughout the gospels and Mark 10 verse 28 and Matthew 19 27, Peter says twice to Jesus, see we have left everything and followed you later on and Luke 14:26. Jesus will say if anyone comes to me and does not hate that is in comparison to their love. For me, does not hate his own father and mother and wife, and children and brothers and sisters. Yes, even his own life, you cannot be my disciple. And they got a few chapters after that and Luke 18. We're going to meet a fine young man very upstanding moral individual. A wealthy young leader of the synagogue was going to come up to Jesus and ask him what must I do to inherit eternal life and you know what Jesus says sell everything you have and follow me, leave everything behind Whenever Jesus calls his disciples, he calls on them to leave absolutely everything and follow him. this means at the very least, That when someone truly trust in Jesus Christ for their salvation, they are acknowledging at that moment than nothing is more important to them than who Jesus is what he is done and obeying. Whatever he says And you who have received the Lord Jesus Christ in that way. So walking him, this is going to be the message of the Gospel of Luke. The refrain of those to follow. Jesus is repeated over and over again. They left everything and followed him. This is Jesus's radical called every song and I want you to know this is Jesus's radical call to you today.

Flee from your sin. Flee from your self-righteousness, flee from your selfish Ambitions and pride free from your plans for the future. And the life that you wish you had drop it off. Run to Jesus and find mercy and forgiveness, a new life in him. Follow him as your savior and Lord.

We need to remember this. The Jesus doesn't say add me to your old life. Jesus says, abandon your old life and take whatever new life. I decide to give you.

Follow me. Matthew did that? He really truly did. By the way, leave everything to follow Jesus, your tax collector and you give up your position. You turn your back on the Roman Empire. There's no coming back.

so, Matthew really did leave everything I do to follow Jesus, but I also want to give a full point that Matthew found everything that day as well. Jesus will teach us later and Luke 9:24 for whoever would save his life will lose it but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. Matthew in that moment found the Stephen Promises of Christ were true. He found forgiveness as a sinner she found salvation be found at the power of sin and greed and selfishness over and then broke into her life she found a bundle of Life freely given to him. He found everything. Is he found Jesus that day.

Is the song writers have put it? You can have all this world. Just give me Jesus. I'd rather have Jesus than anything in this world affords today. This is the heart of a disciple of Jesus Christ as Peter, or is Paul mentions in Philippians 3, verse 8, indeed account everything is lost because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ. Jesus, my Lord. Yes, Jesus is going to ask you to do some radical things in life. But it'll be worth it all to walk with Jesus. On this path of life is a grand Adventure greater than any that you could plan for yourself.

It is a radical call, but you obtain a radical reward, Eternal forgiveness, a new life in him. And that's what Matthew Found. Jesus has Authority, forgive sins. Jesus has Authority, forgive me. And when you trust in Jesus, saving promise when, you know that all of your sins are gone Without a Trace. And that you was a sinner now stamp, you and accepted in the sight of God, men, nothing can keep you silent.

I will see that in versus 29 through 32, this is the response to Christ call the response to cry School. Put a 29 and says, in Levi's made him a great feast in his house. Matthew honored Jesus, he threw Jesus not just a feast to tell them that Matthew through Jesus. A great feast. He had no regrets at all. He wanted to celebrate and notice know, math. You didn't keep that celebration of forgiveness to himself, it wasn't like a Jesus. How about you and me, get together in the Holy huddle in my house and just celebrate together for what you've done for me. He brings everyone, he's known all along with him. He had to tell all of his friends. It says, at the end of his 29th and there was a large company of tax collectors and others. Reclining, it table wisdom from Matthew was real. I was gripped by this realization that if Jesus can forgive the likes of me, then you can forgive anyone. Show me invites. All of his friends were flipping, the spirit of Psalms 40 verse 10. Which states, I am not hitting your righteousness within my heart. I have spoken of your faithfulness in your salvation time, not concealed your loving-kindness new troops from the great congregation Matthew is amazed at what Jesus had unformed historian, B. All of his friends saying you've got to meet this man, was forgiven me of everything I've ever done. This man is worth giving up everything for why goodness sakes it's worth even putting up this from this relationship on the line to tell you about Jesus.

So Jesus and his disciples come to Matthew's house that day and enjoy a huge feast, with a large company of the most reviled thinners in that culture that day. Don't want you to imagine if this happened today. What would people think? Man, what would happen on Christian Twitter. It blow up.

We don't have to guess what would happen because we see the example and the answer from the Pharisees and the very next verse. Verse 30. And the Pharisees in their scribes grumbled at his disciples saying, why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners? Notice how they just separated themselves from an entire group of people? Which is, by the way, what Pharisees means. It means separated ones. They literally thought were the righteous ones. Everybody else or centers.

And I love this. By the way, they don't go to Jesus and ask that question, because I think they're a little bit too intimidated by their last run in, right? When they did that in the house. So, instead they go after Jesus's disciples. Why are you all eating and drinking with tax collectors and sinners to the Lawless Godless hopeless. Ones were appalled. Why you do this? And what they didn't realize is that even though they were accusing Jesus's disciples of displeasing God, they were, in fact, the ones that were just pleasing him like a 68 says he has told you. Oh man, what is good? And what does the Lord require of you? But to do justice and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. They're merciless unloving, uncaring proud stance towards others with an indication that they themselves were not in the position of having, please God. In fact, that's what Jesus tells them directly in Matthews, record in his account. When Jesus says in Matthew 9 13th, go home and learn what this means. I desire mercy, and not sacrifice. Jesus to come to show Mercy to Sinners, but not to the self-righteous ones. And he was showing them that those who offer. No mercy to others will receive no mercy themselves. The fact that these Pharisees cared more about their outward appearance of Separation, then Eternal Souls of Sinners around them showed that they were truly lost.

So this is where we need to back up and say, Okay, can this attitude exist in modern-day Christianity Today? Yeah. You bet. You know, right before I started college, I just studied the Life of Christ in the gospels. And the thing that I was convicted by with how Jesus was a friend for Sinners, it was, it was the lesson I needed to learn. And still, I took it on as a personal challenge to myself that I wanted to be in the same place as where I believe Jesus would be and because of that, I heard similar concerns often like those that the Pharisees raced here. For example, I used to have a lunch after class with a fellow classmate that was a homosexual and some of his friends. Those at the table new that we talked about God, the Bible true soon in Jesus. But several Christians who worked at that table came up to me throughout the year and saying, hey, do you know who these people are? Just doesn't look good. Another time I was paired up with the three interesting fellows for science lab. They did drugs, they had prostitutes over on the weekends and they got drunk every evening they were crude immoral, obscene and absolutely miserable. The chance came for me from the first semester into the second to switch groups. Everyone in the class. I would take it including those three guys but I didn't and it's because I started to know those guys and they start to get to know me and they began asking me about what I believe is a Christian. What the Bible teaches a Christian classmate, came up to me. And rather than me excited for the opportunity of evangelism I had with them. They said, okay, I get 10 in this group together but why are you here you don't belong here? And then one final example, I'm sorry, I know I'm breaking. The cardinal rule of preaching where you ever get an illustration about yourself, but I've only lived one life. It's mine. And so this very strictly after my wife and I got married, I just finished an exhausting day at concreting. And I and the crew were told to drive over to a restaurant, to get paid for the day, and to have an early dinner while I walk in. And it's not a restaurant at all at the bar, all the guys sit down, all the order beers and I'm more than a little uncomfortable and as I'm trying to decide what to do. When the guys, I worked with turns around slaps, the empty stool next to me says rev, that's what they would call me rev. I've been meaning to ask you, what made you want to study to be a pastor? Can you tell, can I tell you? I sat down at that bar right next to him ordered a Coke and I gave him the gospel. I was so thrilled about that opportunity that I shared it excitedly with an older Christian that next Sunday only to have them frown at me and say, you know you probably shouldn't have done that. It didn't look very good.

It's not an excuse. That we often tell ourselves, isn't it? When it comes to sharing the gospel with others, it's an excuse that I sadly told myself many times. Sometimes we're across from someone in the grocery store. Next to us in the gym across the counter from us and we think, you know, I could talk to this person. I could keep the conversation going. I could get to know them as a person but maybe it wouldn't look good. Now it doesn't look good, just doesn't look good. Brothers and sisters. We need to remember who we are. We're sinners. Sinners, the greatest of Sinners who have received the greatest of forgiveness. And if our definition of Holiness means that we can't be seen reaching out to and sitting down with someone who needs Jesus. Then something about our definition of Holiness is terribly off cuz it doesn't look like the Holiness of Christ anymore.

The fact that we're supposed that were forgiven isn't supposed to be a barrier to evangelism actually supposed to be the motivation, that drives us to get to introduce others to Jesus. We are to be in the world while not being of it. And so, yes, it is possible for us to have the same attitude as Pharisees have had at least Pharisees had. In fact, in our pride and self-righteousness, it is probably often the attitude. We most default two words, We can forget that, we are sinners and we care more about their appearances than Eternal Souls of others. We can look on others. With prideful discussed in our culture today, rather than to consider who will reach them in Humble. Mercy, we can act more like Pharisees, then, like Jesus. And Jesus had some Choice words for that type of attitude is he jumps to the defense of his disciples and verses 31 through 32, by saying this, Jesus answered them. Those two are, well, have no need of a physician but those who are sick, I have not come to call the righteous but Sinners to repentance. Now, let's be clear with Jesus. The saying he's not saying that there was some people there, that needed his forgiveness and other people there. That didn't need his forgiveness. Know, everybody clearly they're needed his forgiveness, everyone. There was a sooner just as it is today in Romans 3, verse 10, Paul quote in the Old Testament says, there is none righteous. No, not one. And so, when Jesus says, I come for the Sinners, not for the righteous, it's not because there were some there that were genuinely righteous and there were and did not need Christ. Know, all of them needed to repent and all of them needed, forgiveness, it's just that some people there didn't think they did. And that's why Jesus was there. He was there to call Sinners to repentance. And in fact, he does it to all people here, just calling the people that he ate with their repentance and then he goes out and he talks to these calling them to repent as well. He doesn't during the feast and he doesn't with these Pharisees, he meets with them. He talks with them, he cares for them. Pay calls on them to repent. You know, our culture loves to talk about Jesus being a friend of sinners and getting us. But what is often implied? Is that because Jesus Drew near to Center see therefore approved of their sinfulness and that is not at all true. Yes, Jesus loves Sinners with a merciful love and so he eats with them and he drinks with them and he talks with them. But you also calls on them to repent of their sins. And that's why Jesus met with those two were truly lost. There was no other reason why Jesus did any of those things. Except that he intended to call the loss, to repentance for their salvation. And there is no reason ultimately, why? Any of you do any of those things as well? Except with the intention to call them to repentance and Faith as well? This can be a danger. I had a friend who once made it a habit of going to a bar with his co-workers after work, everyday, however, rather than directing the conversation towards the gospel. And the things of God, he would just engaged in the same activities. They did talk with them about art or politics excetera. And that was it. Can I tell you the end result? Is that my friend ended up acting more like his co-workers than they ended up acting like him? It's not enough simply to be with those who have entrusted in Jesus. If you were to be like Christ, then you have to be like Christ and you have to speak, to call them to repentance that. They might be saved. If you love them enough, you don't just share a coffee with them. You share with them the gospel. Otherwise, what in the world are you doing with that relationship? Jesus never came to Sinners and said, you know what? You're really, okay. Now, he came up the Sinners with an infectiously holy and loving life. And he says, you know what, repent believe, and follow me. Jesus calls, Sinners and he calls them to repentance and that's why Jesus came to this earth. That's why you and I are still in it. This is the response to Christ call Jesus lovingly called us in our sin, to forgiveness. And we are 11 leaked, all others in their sin to forgiveness as well. Jesus, this morning can forgive you of every sin, Remember and the sins you do not his sacrifice is sufficient for them all this morning. You can be free indeed.

What are you going to do with that message? Grace Chapel? God is providentially, kept you on Earth to this day and he is put you in the position that you were in and he is giving you the relationships that you have shown that you might be like Christ to them.

There's so many times when I get done with this Sherman and some of his old Pastor that was that was all right. But what is today?

Then why you think you heard it? Will you pass it on to them? If God wanted me to be engaged, all your relationships, you would have created three. Hundreds of pastors that he didn't, he created one and he created you. To the, you would talk to your friends about Jesus, that you were talk about your about Jesus to your family members, and your neighbors, that's your mission. It's to get to know them, to love them, to sit down with them, to talk to them, to not judge them. And it give them the gospel to call them and them to repent to say let's follow Jesus together.

Jesus mission is to be the same as ours. And Matthew got it right off the bat. To be converted is to have a commission.

We need to avoid. Forming a holy huddle. We need to look and mercy upon those around us and we become a friend for sinners. Because they are in need of a physician. I need a savior. and, you know, one His name is Jesus. So I want you to consider this to be your homework this week because this is your mission is a Christian. I want you to think about one person, you know, one person that you know, that does not yet know the Forgiveness of Jesus Christ. They might be someone that you get along really well with or they might be someone who's very difficult for you to even have a conversation with I want you to Grace Chapel. If we all did this, I want you to purposely seek out to do one activity with them this week. Go out for coffee, go on a hike, invite them over to your house for a meal. Show us settled interest in them. So the god might you to call them to repentance, might use you to call them to repentance just as he use someone in your life to call you cuz Jesus and mercy came to Sinners. Jesus, and mercy came to you. Jesus in Mercy, call centers, Jesus and mercy called you And how can we do any less than a carry-on that work for Jesus called Sinners? And Jesus is Calling You hallelujah. Praise the Lord. What a privilege. This is the word of God from Luke 5:27 through 32, which I consider a great privilege to be able to share with you today, which I now commit to your further study. In your faith, will be dense this week until Jesus, our savior returns to that end, as the men come forward for communion this morning, let's pray.

Through father, I thank you so much.

Or Jesus. Thank you. Father. That he is the savior for Sinners at the reason why we have joy and hope and purpose.

Today is because of him.

Tell her I said, thank you that you have saved us.

4 M Nadeem hell. Are you a cave? Destiny drawn us to yourself or we can enjoy your glory for all of eternity. I think you for the joy of knowing that our sins are forgiven through the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Father.

Let us throw a great feast.

For what you've done for us. May we live a life of Joy Living Sacrifice for you and invite everyone. We know into the celebration. Because Jesus is worth it all.

Make a bold for the gospel in our day.

Make us more like Jesus. Truly holy. I'm truly loving.

Father, I thank you that you have a quipus. For this Mission, you have given us the truth. You've poured your loving To Us by the Holy Spirit has been given and you have given us all these relationships. That we get to be missionaries into. That we get to proclaim the gospel to help us to be faithful and doing that this week. And father, we just thank you. For calling us use as father as you seek to call others. Do yourself. We ask this in Jesus name in it.

What this time was a joy for us as a church to be able to gather together and celebrate communion together as God's people. This is Ava.