One of the most beautiful truths in all the world is this: Christ receives sinners. The religious leaders of Jesus’ day accused Him of being “a friend of sinners,” and they meant it as an accusation. But what they intended as an insult became one of the greatest descriptions of our Savior. Jesus really was a friend of sinners. He came into a sinful world to seek and save the lost. He did not come because humanity was worthy of Him. He came because humanity needed Him. And if Jesus were not a friend of sinners, He could not be my friend, and He could not be your friend. (Luke 19:10)
He welcomes sinners. Jesus never told the broken, the rejected, the ashamed, or the guilty that they had to clean themselves up before coming to Him. He said, “Come to Me.” The invitation of Christ is extended to those who are weary, burdened, thirsty, hungry, and lost. He welcomed Zacchaeus when everyone else despised him. He received the woman who had been living in sin. He allowed the repentant thief to come into His kingdom. He welcomed Peter after Peter had denied Him. The arms of Jesus are not closed to the sinner who comes to Him in repentance and faith (Matthew 11:28; Luke 19:5-10; Luke 23:42-43)
He washes sinners. Jesus does more than welcome us. He cleanses us. The sinner who comes to Christ does not remain what he was. Christ washes away the guilt and stain of sin through His blood. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” There is no stain too deep for His cleansing power and no past too dark for His mercy. We cannot wash ourselves. Religion cannot wash us. Good works cannot wash us. Only Christ can make the sinner clean. (Isaiah 1:18; Revelation 1:5)
He warns sinners. The friendship of Jesus is never a friendship that ignores sin. Because He loves sinners, He tells them the truth. Jesus warned about judgment, hell, hypocrisy, unbelief, and the consequences of rejecting God. His warnings were not expressions of hatred but of holy love. A doctor who knows a disease is killing his patient does not prove his love by remaining silent. In the same way, Jesus loved sinners enough to warn them to repent. His grace does not excuse sin. His grace calls us out of sin and into a new life (Luke 13:3; John 5:14; John 8:11).
It is wonderful that Jesus was called a friend of sinners. He did not become a sinner to be our friend, but He came near to sinners so that sinners could become friends with God. He touched the diseased without becoming unclean. He ate with sinners without approving their sin. He went into the homes of the rejected without compromising His holiness. He was holy enough to confront sin and compassionate enough to receive the sinner. That is the Savior we need.
Perhaps you have a past you wish you could erase. Perhaps there are sins you are ashamed to remember. Perhaps you have failed God more times than you can count. Do not run from Christ because you are a sinner. Run to Christ because you are a sinner. The church should never forget that every redeemed person was once a sinner in need of grace. We stand before God, not because we were good enough, but because Christ was merciful enough (Romans 5:8; Ephesians 2:8-9)
Christ receives sinners. He welcomes sinners. He washes sinners. He warns sinners. And He calls sinners to follow Him. The same Jesus who opened His arms to the prodigal still calls the wandering home. The same Savior who forgave the repentant still offers mercy today. The gospel is not good news for people who think they do not need saving. It is glorious news for sinners who know they need a Savior. Jesus Christ is still the friend of sinners, and that means there is hope for you and there is hope for me.
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Lord Jesus, thank You for receiving sinners like us. Thank You for welcoming us when we were lost, washing us when we were stained, and warning us when we were walking in the wrong direction. Help us never to forget that we need Your grace every day. Give us hearts that receive others with the same mercy You have shown us, while never compromising the truth of Your Word. May our lives point sinners to the One who came to seek and save the lost. Amen.
BDD
