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God, a friend of sinners!
Psalm 28:5 "Good and upright [is] the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners
in the way" Jesus Christ = the Way
John 14:1-6 "1 Let not your
heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if not, I would have told
you. I go to prepare a place for you.3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself;
that where I am, ye be also.4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither
thou goest; and how can we know the way?6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto
the Father, but by me" The Lord Jesus Christ trusted in His Father; the same Spirit of Christ
is given to His chosen people; chosen sinners saved by Grace.
Matthew 21:28-32 "28 But what think ye? A man
had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.29 He answered and said, I will not:
but afterward he repented, and went.30 And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I sir: and
went not.31 Whether of them twain did the will of father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say
unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.32 For John came unto you in the way of
righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen, repented
not afterward, that ye believe him"
Publican = The tax collectors were as a class, detested not
only by the Jews, but by other nations also, both on account of their employment and of the harshness, greed, and deception,
with which they did their job.
Luke 18:9-14 "9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted
in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee,
and the other a publican.11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men,
extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.13
And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God
be merciful to me a sinner.14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified than the other: for every one that exalteth
himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted"
Pharisee = Sought for distinction
and praise by outward observance of external rites and by outward forms of piety, and such as ceremonial washings, fastings,
prayers, and alms giving. Prided himself on their fancied good works. Stoutly upheld the theocracy and his country's cause,
and possessed great influence with the common people. A bitter enemy of Jesus and his cause; and was in turn severely rebuked
by him for his avarice, ambition, hollow reliance on outward works, and affection of piety in order to gain popularity.
Isaiah 65:1-5 "1 I am sought of asked not; I am found of sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto
a nation was not called by my name.2 I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way
not good, after their own thoughts;3 A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face; that sacrificeth in gardens,
and burneth incense upon altars of brick;4 Which remain among the graves, and lodge in the monuments, which eat swine's flesh,
and broth of abominable their vessels;5 which say: stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These
a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day"
Isaiah 65 verse 1 Describes what happened to me and
all God's elect/chosen people: I was not looking for Christ when I found Him; but I beheld Him dying for all my sins the day
He brought Salvation to my soul. His complete and perfect work for me, a chief of sinners.
Isaiah 65 verses 2
thru 5 describe the religious people of today's Christianity; pharisees in their heart, those who hold to the freewill of
man doctrine, a doctrine of Satan. They bring a salvation of their invention: do this, don't do that, etc, they say among
themselves "peace, peace when there is no peace"
Luke 7:36-50 "36 And one of the Pharisees desired
him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat.37 And, behold, a woman in the
city, which was a sinner, when she knew that [Jesus] sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,38
And stood at his feet behind weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe with the hairs of her head, and
kissed his feet, and anointed with the ointment.39 Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw, he spake within himself,
saying, this man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.40
And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on:41 There was a certain
creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.42 And when they had nothing to pay,
he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that
to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, thou hast rightly judged.44 And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon:
seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears,
and wiped with the hairs of her head.45 thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to
kiss my feet.46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.47 Wherefore I
say unto thee, her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, loveth little.48
And he said unto her, thy sins are forgiven.49 And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this
that forgiveth sins also?50 And he said to the woman, thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace"
Matthew
9:9-13 "9 And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he
saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.10 And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold,
many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.11 And when the Pharisees saw, they said unto his
disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?12 But when Jesus heard, he said unto them, They that be whole
need not a physician, but they that are sick.13 But go ye and learn what meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for
I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance" The Lord Jesus Christ (God
in the flesh) just chilling with the gang of sinners; how sweet His grace and mercy to my soul. Winebibber
= given to wine, a wino
Matthew 11:15-19 "15 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.16 But whereunto shall
I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows,17 And saying, We
have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.18 For John came neither eating
nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.19 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"
Wisdom
= Christ
Children = chosen sinners, born of water (Jesus) and the Spirit; people created to the praise of
God Almighty.
Mark 2:13-17 "13 And he went forth again by the sea side; and all the multitude resorted unto
him, and he taught them.14 And as he passed by, he saw Levi the of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto
him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him.15 And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans
and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him.16 And when the scribes
and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh
with publicans and sinners?17 When Jesus heard, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but
they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance" LOOK ! Levi
did not make a decision, he was giving ears to hear the powerful voice of God: "follow me" And who has resisted
His will? nobody!
Psalm 29:4 "The voice of the LORD powerful; the voice of
the LORD full of majesty"
Proverbs 20:12 "The hearing ear, and the seeing
eye, the LORD hath made even both of them" This hearing and seeing are spiritual.
Salvation is the work of God in the soul of a sinner, justified in the blood of the Lamb of God; chosen of God from
before the foundation of the world to receive His gifts of repentance, faith, peace, and eternal life in Christ. Psalm
147:5 "Great is our Lord and of great power: His understanding is infinite"
Psalm 52:8But I am like a green olive tree in the
house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever""
PRAISE THE LORD JESUS CHRIST!
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