"I came to call sinners."

I. Jesus’ call extends to the treasonous and the wicked.

Levi was an example of Christ’s undeserved goodness and power, showing in his person that the calling of all of us depends, not on the merits of our own righteousness, but on his pure kindness. . . . In the same manner Paul says: This is a faithful saying, the Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief, ().” -John Calvin

II. Jesus’ call effectually draws the treasonous and the wicked.

“From a [tax collector] he became an apostle, and a writer of the first book in that New Testament, which is now known all over the world. This is a truth of deep importance. Without a divine call no one can be saved. We are all so sunk in sin, and so wedded to the world, that we should never turn to God and seek salvation, unless He first called us by His grace.

God must speak to our hearts by His Spirit, before we shall ever speak to Him. Those who are sons of God . . . are “called according to God’s purpose by His Spirit working in due season.” Now how blessed is the thought that this calling of sinners is committed to so gracious a Saviour as Christ! -J. C. Ryle

III. Jesus’ call leads into sinners’ lives.

IV. Jesus’ call goes unheard by hypocrites.

V. Jesus’ call is the medicine for the sin-sick soul.

“We are reminded that the grace of Christ is of no advantage to us, unless when, conscious of our sins, and groaning under their load, we approach to him with humility.” -John Calvin

“I will save them from all the backslidings in which they have sinned, and will cleanse them; and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.” () and “by grace you have been saved” ().

“. . .We have now been justified by his blood” () because “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness” ().

because “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.” ()

“If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you” ().

“. . . and those whom he justified he also glorified” () “and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus” ().

“. . .He predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,” () “ . . . to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.” () so “you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”” ().

“Wretched man that I am!” ()

“. . . I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.” ()

“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.” ()

“Who will deliver me from this body of death?” ()