Online Bible Study - The Promise Is to You

THE QUESTION:
Does God love people who have been very bad?

WE BELIEVE:
Jesus Christ came to save even the worst of sinners.

A STORY:
Jesus was once invited to have dinner with a man who thought himself very religious. While they were eating, a woman who had led a very sinful life came in with a jar of perfume. She bent down and cried on Jesus' feet and wiped them with her hair. She kissed his feet and poured the perfume on them. When the man saw this, he thought to himself, "If Jesus were a prophet, he would know that this is a sinful woman. He wouldn't even let her touch him." Jesus then told the man, "Two men owed money to a banker. One owed two years' wages, another owed 20 years' wages. Neither could pay the banker, so he canceled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?" The man replied, "I guess the one who had the bigger debt cancelled." To this, Jesus said, "Right. Do you see this woman? I came to your house and you did not provide water for me to wash my own feet, but she never stopped washing them with her tears. You did not anoint my head with perfume; she put perfume on my feet. I tell you, she loves much because her many sins are forgiven. But he who has been forgiven little, loves little." (based on Luke 7:36-48)

Has there every been a time in your life when someone was kind to you when they didn't have to be?

Our holy God cannot simply ignore the sins of the world. In his justice, he punishes all wrongdoing. Sin deserves a terrible punishment, physical death and eternal death in hell.

GOD SPEAKS:
"The wages of sin is death" Romans 6:23

But God is also gracious. You will remember that grace is that special characteristic of our Lord to show kindness to those that don't deserve it. He does this for Jesus sake, who died in our place and paid for our sins. In many other religions of the world, the so-called gods are only helpful when a person follows all the rules of the religion. The true God, the God of Christianity, pities sinful mankind so that he himself did something about sin. He sent Jesus to die in our place. We did nothing to deserve such special treatment; God acts simply out of his own love.

Even the worst of sinners can come to know God's love, which calls them to turn from their sin and to believe that Jesus died for their sin. Paul, whom we heard about in the last lesson, called himself the worst of sinners.

GOD SPEAKS:
The Apostle Paul wrote, "Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life." 1 Timothy 1:15-16

THIS PART OF OUR LESSON ASKS:
How can we be encouraged by the fact that Paul, the "worst of sinners," is now in heaven because Jesus died for him?

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