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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.” (Matthew 9:10-13)

When I first became a Christian at age 22, I thought church was only for perfect people. Or at least people who could act perfectly on Sunday mornings. I didn’t understand that the purpose of the church is to give a hand to the sick, not pat the healthy on the back.

Jesus often ate at the same table with “sinners”, and when he did, the Pharisees questioned why He did so. Jesus responded by saying “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.” (Matthew 9:12) Author Brennan Manning puts it this way: “The church is not a museum for saints but a hospital for sinners”. That’s encouraging, because I often don’t feel much like a saint. Do saints lose patience with their brothers and sisters in Christ? Lose their temper? Sometimes even lose that passionate fire for the gospel?

The apostle Paul recognized his own moral failures when he says: “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 Paul continued by noting “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)

So at the same time as we acknowledge our sin, by trusting in Jesus’ righteous sacrifice on the cross for our sins, we can gather together to strengthen and encourage each other in our faith, so that we can continually strive towards becoming “perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48)

Lesson: Never feel unworthy of worshiping God in repentance and faith with your fellow believers, because Jesus welcomes you to His table!

Question: Do you sometimes feel guilty or unworthy of worshiping God? Why do you feel that way?

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“I will put a new way of thinking inside you. I will take out the stubborn hearts of stone from your bodies, and I will give you obedient hearts of flesh. I will put my Spirit inside you and help you live by my rules and carefully obey my laws” (Ezekial 36:26–27, NCV).

My dog Molly and I aren’t getting along. The problem is not her personality. A sweeter mutt you will not find. She sees every person as a friend and every day as a holiday. I have no problem with Molly’s attitude. I have a problem with her habits.

Eating scraps out of the trash. Licking dirty plates in the dishwasher. Dropping dead birds on our sidewalk and stealing bones from the neighbor’s dog. Shameful! Molly rolls in the grass, chews on her paw, does her business in the wrong places, and, I’m embarrassed to admit, quenches her thirst in the toilet.

Now what kind of behavior is that?

Dog behavior, you reply.

You are right. So right. Molly’s problem is not a Molly problem. Molly has a dog problem. It is a dog’s nature to do such things. And it is her nature that I wish to change. Not just her behavior, mind you. A canine obedience school can change what she does; I want to go deeper. I want to change who she is.

Here is my idea: a me-to-her transfusion. The deposit of a Max seed in Molly. I want to give her a kernel of human character. As it grew, would she not change? Her human nature would develop, and her dog nature would diminish. We would witness, not just a change of habits, but a change of essence. In time Molly would be less like Molly and more like me, sharing my disgust for trash snacking, potty slurping, and dish licking. She would have a new nature. Why, Denalyn might even let her eat at the table.

You think the plan is crazy? Then take it up with God. The idea is his.

What I would like to do with Molly, God does with us. He changes our nature from the inside out! (see Ezek. 36:26–27, NCV).

God doesn’t send us to obedience school to learn new habits; he sends us to the hospital to be given a new heart. Forget training; he gives transplants.

Do you understand what God has done? He has deposited a Christ seed in you. As it grows, you will change. It’s not that sin has no more presence in your life, but rather that sin has no more power over your life. Temptation will pester you, but temptation will not master you. What hope this brings!

It’s not up to you! Within you abides a budding power. Trust him!

“He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6). God will do with you what I only dream of doing with Molly. Change you from the inside out. When he is finished, he’ll even let you sit at his table.

From Next Door Savior
Copyright (Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006) Max Lucado
Used by permission

Question: How are you seeing God working in you to change your life?

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:8-10)

Salvation is a gift from God and marks the beginning of a new relationship with Him. It is through faith and the bloodshed of Jesus we are saved from the penalty of sin, sealed with the Holy Spirit, and inherit everlasting life.

We become children of God and are summoned to grow in Christ-likeness. In 1 Peter 2:2-3 we read, “Like newborn babies, crave spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.” As born again believers, we are not to remain babes in Christ. We are to grow and mature in God’s ways, through reading, hearing, and obeying His word, which will lead us triumphantly to the next level of our spiritual journey with Him.

Sanctification is the process of becoming holy; set apart from sin and used by God. God’s indwelling Holy Spirit brings forth the continual sanctification process that needs to take place within every believer’s heart, mind, and life.

The apostle Paul wrote, “But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.” (2 Thessalonians 2:13) It is impossible for this blessed transformation to take place without full reliance on God’s Holy Spirit.  His Spirit working within us produces godly change and leads us into the good works we are to fulfill.

A servant of the Lord, a slave to God – this is what all Christians are to become. In Romans 6:22 we read, “But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.” Upon salvation, God destines us to have eternal life with Him but while still here, He wants us to serve Him with all our heart, mind, and life. The Lord delights when we move out of the realm of sin, step into righteous living, and begin to operate in the place of service He has for us.

We must remember that Jesus came as a servant. He did not come to be served and we are to follow His example. “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10) Seek to serve the Lord and others so you may hear, “Well done my good and faithful servant, with you I am very pleased”.       

Dear God, Salvation is a gift so great I can barely comprehend it.  Thank you for saving me! Show me the things You have for me to do.  Help me to grow in my faith, becoming more like You in thought, word and deed.  Amen.

Question: What do these explanations of salvation, sanctification, and servants mean to you today?

Please open your Bible and read:
(Hebrews 2:1 – 4)

What was the greatest moment of your life? For some people, the answer might be their wedding day, the birth of a child, or an important promotion. But for believers, the best experience is salvation, when their eternal destiny was changed.

New Christians often have a fervor to share their faith. In time, however, many find their hearts cooling as they focus less on their relationship with Jesus Christ. (Hebrews 2:1) tells us to pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it.?

Salvation is God’s amazing solution to man’s sinful condition: it is His gift of rescue – through the death of Jesus – from the penalty for our transgressions. Before Christ entered our life, we were all sinners existing, as Paul says, in the lusts of our flesh? (Ephesians 2:3). No matter how good our behavior may have seemed, we were spiritually dead and separated from God.

Receiving Christ’s forgiveness breathed life back into our spirits so that we could go before the Father’s throne. We must not forget what Jesus did for us. We have the balm to soothe the hurting hearts we come in contact with every day. But if excuses crowd our minds before passion fills our hearts, people will never hear.

Thankfully, we can rediscover the passion of our early Christian days. Take time today to praise God for His salvation, which delivered you from a path toward disaster. Then commit to carrying out your part in the Great Commission by talking about Jesus with someone in your life. (Matthew 28:19)

Question: If someone asked you for the story of how you became a Christian, what would you tell them?

About the Author:  Dr. Charles Stanley

Is the Christian faith blind faith?  On the surface, faith and reason may seem to be two drastically opposed ideas; to have “Faith” means to forego reason, and being “reasonable” means one can not have faith. Josh McDowell explains the importance of reason and rationality in light of the Christian faith. He shares his journey, as a young and doubtful college student, towards his belief in Christ. He challenges Christians to take heed; if the evidence provided by history, Scripture, and the early Church are false, then Christians are believing in vain. If, however, the message of Christ is true, then Christians need to be ever prepared to give an explanation for what their faith is in.

Return to “Misconceptions” Index Page

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Helping faith grow
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Return to “Misconceptions” Index Page

Take the next step:
What is the Gospel?
Helping faith grow
Do you have questions about faith? Talk a mentor

Is the Christian faith blind faith?  On the surface, faith and reason may seem to be two drastically opposed ideas; to have “Faith” means to forego reason, and being “reasonable” means one can not have faith. Josh McDowell explains the importance of reason and rationality in light of the Christian faith. He shares his journey, as a young and doubtful college student, towards his belief in Christ. He challenges Christians to take heed; if the evidence provided by history, Scripture, and the early Church are false, then Christians are believing in vain. If, however, the message of Christ is true, then Christians need to be ever prepared to give an explanation for what their faith is in.

Return to “Misconceptions” Index Page

Take the next step:
What is the Gospel?
Helping faith grow
Do you have questions about faith? Talk a mentor

Is the Christian faith blind faith?  On the surface, faith and reason may seem to be two drastically opposed ideas; to have “Faith” means to forego reason, and being “reasonable” means one can not have faith. Josh McDowell explains the importance of reason and rationality in light of the Christian faith. He shares his journey, as a young and doubtful college student, towards his belief in Christ. He challenges Christians to take heed; if the evidence provided by history, Scripture, and the early Church are false, then Christians are believing in vain. If, however, the message of Christ is true, then Christians need to be ever prepared to give an explanation for what their faith is in.

Return to “Misconceptions” Index Page

Take the next step:
What is the Gospel?
Helping faith grow
Do you have questions about faith? Talk a mentor

Is the Christian faith blind faith?  On the surface, faith and reason may seem to be two drastically opposed ideas; to have “Faith” means to forego reason, and being “reasonable” means one can not have faith. Josh McDowell explains the importance of reason and rationality in light of the Christian faith. He shares his journey, as a young and doubtful college student, towards his belief in Christ. He challenges Christians to take heed; if the evidence provided by history, Scripture, and the early Church are false, then Christians are believing in vain. If, however, the message of Christ is true, then Christians need to be ever prepared to give an explanation for what their faith is in.

Return to “Misconceptions” Index Page

Take the next step:
What is the Gospel?
Helping faith grow
Do you have questions about faith? Talk a mentor