The Sinner's Friend

The Sinner's Friend

Sermon by Jack Nazary - West Jackson Baptist 1989, Midway Baptist 1992, and West Carthage Baptist 1997

Then it happened that as Jesus was reclining at the table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were dining with Jesus and His disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to His disciples, "Why is your Teacher eating with the tax collectors and sinners?" But when Jesus heard this, He said, "It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick." But go and learn what this means: 'I DESIRE COMPASSION, AND NOT SACRIFICE,' for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners." Matthew 9:10-13

Fact well established in the Bible, "…Friend that sticketh closer than a brother." Proverbs 18:24

The earth's greatest man is the sinner's best friend. He is the centerpiece of the human race.

“I am far within the mark when I say that all the Armies that ever marched, all the Navies that were ever built, and all the Parliaments that ever sat, and all the Kings that ever reigned together have not affected the life of man upon the earth so powerfully as has that one solitary life" - an ancient writer said. This is who he is the sinner's friend - the greatest individual - the greatest personality - the greatest lover - the greatest sympathizer - the greatest hearted man - the only savior - he is the sinner's friend.

If Christianity is not primarily for the purpose of being a friend to sinners, then it has no purpose.

Jesus is a friend of Sinners.

                                          Jesus proves that He is the sinner's friend.

          His words indicate the fact "neither do I condemn thee", "I come that they might have life", "I come not to call the righteous", "The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bound." Yes he is the sinner's friend. "Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden" "They that are whole..." Remember that Christianity is redemptive. He can give you rest!

        The Life of Jesus - shows that He is the sinner's friend.

See where He goes - most time spent among lepers, tax collectors, moral outcast, publicans, sinners, scavengers of the world.

Where do we spend our time? He was with rich - thieving unjust tax collectors, eating with publicans and sinners, among the lepers, the poor and adulterous woman at the well = all types in all kinds of places. He turned from the self-righteous to the unrighteous.

We can easily sit together in heavenly places, but need to walk and work together in unholy places among the lost of the world.

         His compassion demonstrates this fact: When He saw the multitude He had compassion on them.

Example - Experience of Mr. Colgate in his church - Poor street walker saved as they had prayed - the congregation was reluctant to receive him - Mr. Colgate said, "We have been praying for lost souls. The Lord has heard and answered our prayers, but I guess we failed to designate to the Lord that we wanted only respectable sinners saved."  All the congregation saw the rebuke and a newborn soul was received. They were not too good of a friend to the sinner!

         Christ deeds prove His friendship to sinners.

"He received sinners and ate with them"

"He saved Jews, publicans, - made apostles…”

Example - Dr. Scarborough preaching in Argentina = Christ was able to save the worst of sinners.

        Christ death on Calvary confirmed the fact that He is the sinner's friend.

For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust. God's purpose in sending Jesus, and Calvary was the salvation of the lost everywhere. Jesus spoke "It is finished" from the cross. A cry of triumph for lost men, women, boys, and girls. What agony! Blood ran freely to the ground, the sun refused to shine, the earth shook, the ground was opened… all in the interest of lost sinners.

Come every soul by sin oppressed; There is mercy with the Lord, and He will surely give you rest, by trusting in His word.

         His love seals His friendship for sinners.

"God so loved the World"

"Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friend"

Love lifted me

Love lifted me

When nothing else could help

Love lifted me

                                             The Strength of His Friendship: 3 ways Jesus demonstrated the strength of friendship

         In the multiplicity of His provisions - He is able to provide for salvation to sanctification to glorification.

His provisions are measureless - Salvation for lost, liberation for prisoner, consolation for sorrowing, bread for hungry, water for thirsty, healing for sick, sight for blind, clothes for naked, riches for poor, hearing for deaf, peace to the troubled, cleansing for leapers, AND LIFE FOR ALL.

      In Christ's timeless power the strength of His friendship is found.

"All power is given unto Me" Matthew 28:18

"And I, if I be lifted up" John 3:14

His power is seen in creation, in upholding all things, in healing diseases, in stilling the tempest, in his resurrection, but most in his forgiveness of sins.

He loves, woes, attracts, and saves sinners.

         The strength and value of His friendship are seen in the plan of salvation which He made.

a. a simple plan b. an inexpensive plan c. the only plan - the old way, the new way, the narrow way, the safe way, the ONLY WAY.

        The Blessings of the Friendship of Jesus

        Christ is our illumination

Isaiah 9:2 "The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light."

They saw Him through prophecy, promise and faith. We see Him as he enlightens the heart and lifts them from darkness into the glory of his sunlight. Christ is the illumination of soul in its midnight darkness.

        The blessing of His friendship is seen in that He is our salvation "neither is there salvation in any"

How shall we escape....various days in life - good days, bad days, days of celebration, red letter days, but the day of all days is the day you are saved.

Waft it on the rolling tide, Jesus Saves, Jesus Saves, Tell to sinners far and wide, Jesus saves, Jesus saves

To Zaccheus, Jesus said, "Today I must abide at thy house"

         The blessing of His friendship is seen in that He justifies us

Made Him in God's sight as if he had never sinned. restored to divine favor.

Romans 5 - Therefore being justified by faith

Martin Luther said - The just shall live by faith

Since He is the friend of sinners what should you do if you are not saved...Come every soul by sin oppressed, there is mercy with the Lord.

Recognize Him as your friend - receive Him as Lord and Savior

What should Christians do? draw self-righteous robes about us and criticize the church - NO!

Cease our halfhearted efforts and go to the limit for Him and the Lost in our work and service. He will then make our yesterdays cheerful and our tomorrows confident!!!