Bible Studies

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Matthew 9:10-13 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?" On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

This is a beautiful passage from the book of Matthew. This is a very important lesson to understand about Jesus Christ and his message. The Pharisees (Jewish rulers) failed to understand that Jesus Christ came to offer his gift of grace to all people who will accept him- sinners included. The Pharisees considered themselves to be righteous. They did not understand that they were no better than the tax collectors. We are ALL sinners.

People to this day do not understand this simple concept. If we weren't ALL sinners, we wouldn't need a savior to save us from our sins. But, we are all sinners, and more importantly- people do not understand that each of us is already condemned from the moment of our birth. Each of you is equal in that you are born into a world of sin. Pre-condemned as a sinner. Therefore it is only by accepting Jesus Christ unconditonally, that the price of that sin is paid by Jesus when he died on the cross. Otherwise, you go to hell. It is that simple. We live in a world that is very tolerant of multiple faiths, because we do not want to offend anyone, less they get mad at us, or want to sue us, etc. But, the message of Jesus is very clear. Like the message or not, if you do not accept him- whether you be a believer in Islam, or Hindu, or Scientology, or any other religion- you will go to hell. He makes it clear through the scriptures: if you don't know me, I don't know you. Christ will give everyone the opportunity to hear the word. Once everyone on the planet has heard the word, and ONLY then, will the end come. At that point, he begins the process of separating the "sheep from the goats." Soon, everyone will have heard. The gateway to heaven passes directly through Jesus Christ- only him. I urge you to find him before your time runs out.

by Charles Lance Bailey 2003©
http://www.lamarpoint.com
"leading people to Jesus Christ"

(scripture quotes - NIV)

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