September 2013

Welcome! God loves both sinners and saints. The knowledge of God’s love is the healing balm for everyone who believes and receives His love. “God demonstrates His own love towards us, in that while we were sinner, Christ dived for us.”1

Jesus Loves Sinners…

The LORD is calling you. He is asking you to step out in faith. He has been calling you for awhile, but you have not acted in faith. Let’s look at Levi for an example.

“…as Jesus left town, He saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at his tax collector’s booth. ‘Follow me and be my disciple,’ Jesus said to him. So Levi got up, left everything and followed him.”2

I believe Levi has heard about Jesus casting out a demon, healing many people, preaching the Good News, healing a man with leprosy and healing a man that was paralyzed. For this reaon, Levi acted in faith by getting up, and leaving everything and following Jesus. “So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.”3

Jesus Calls Sinners…

All these works that Levi heard of Jesus were for sinners, which produced a radical faith in his heart. It was the Pharisees or the religious folks that complained about Jesus, but not Levi.

“He held a banquet in his home with Jesus as the guest of honor. Many of Levi’s fellow tax collectors and other guests also ate with them. But the Pharisees and their teachers of religious law complained bitterly to Jesus disciples, ‘Why do you eat and drink with scum?’4

Jesus wants to be the guest of honor in your heart. He desires to eat and drink with all your friends and for them to know God as well. In another translation, Jesus was asked, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”

“When Jesus heard this, He told them, ‘Healthy people don’t need a doctor – sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent.”5

Jesus Loves You…

I don’t need to go into how Levi cheated those he taxed for pagan Rome, or your sin nor mine. Like Levi, who became Matthew, a disciple of Jesus, we know we were sinners before coming to Christ, but it takes God’s anointing to show us His loving kindness. Listen to a portion of Peter’s message to the Gentiles, recorded by Luke, saying:

“This is the message of Good News for the people of Israel – that there is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is LORD of all. You know what happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee, after John began preaching his message of baptism. And you know – that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.”6

It takes the anointing of the Holy Spirit and His power to reveal God’s kindness. The apostle Paul wrote to the Romans, saying:

“Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerate, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?”7

Turn To Jesus…

I’m so exited to know that God is turning your heart from sin by his loving kindness. This whole website is about sharing God’s abounding love. Though we may be considered scum by many, “…we know how clearly God loves us, because He has given u the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love.”8

Now, it is time to realize that “…the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” 9 Say with your mouth:

“Jesus, You are Lord and I believe in my heart that God raised You from the dead, so I can receive salvation. For it is by believing in my heart that I am made right with God, and it is by confessing with my mouth that I am saved. As the scriptures tell us, ‘Anyone who trusts in the Lord will never be disgraced.’ Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on Him. For ‘Every one who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.’”10

Welcome to the family of God. Let us hear from you by contacting the website. Know that we will read your praise reports with great joy, for “…there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents.”11

A PRAYER FOR YOU…

I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation – the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ – for this will bring much glory and praise to God, Amen.12

Scripture References (NLT):

1 Rom 5:9 NKJ
2 Luke 5:27,28
3 Rom 10:17
4 Luke 5:29,39
5 Luke 5:31,32
6 Acts 10:38
7 Rom 2:4
8 Rom 5:5
9 Rom 6:23
10 Rom 10:9-13
11 Luke 15:10
12 Phil 1:9-11