-- Romans 5:8
But God demonstrates His own love for us in this:
While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

---

God loves sinners, but He hates sins.

Jesus is a friend who knows all your faults and still loves you anyway.

Matthew was a tax collector, a hated man among the Jews for helping Rome tighten its occupation. Even so... Jesus loved Matthew, and eventually chose him as one of His apostles.

Peter had a quick temper, his emotions easily triggered by circumstances. He denied knowing Jesus three times during the most critical hours of Jesus' life on earth. Even so... Jesus loved Peter and empowered him to lead the early church.

Saul "made havoc" of the church in Jerusalem, leading raids on the homes of Christians and imprisoning the devout. He consented to the death of Stephen, and was one of the official witnesses of his execution. He even requested letters of authority to extend the persecution of the church to other cities, including Damacus. Even so... Jesus loved Saul, appeared to him in a light from heaven, and called him to repentance.

No matter what a person may have done -- no matter their character flaws -- Jesus loves them. He loved them to the point of dying on their behalf on the Cross... including dying for your enemy... the friend or family member who disappoints you or frustrates you... indeed, including you. -- [ Anonymous ]

Jesus, Friend of sinners

Jesus, Friend of sinners, hast Thou love for me?
Son of God the Holy, Man of mystery,
Lover of the children, Teacher of the wise,
Let me read the secret in Thy friendly eyes.

Jesus, Friend of sinners, Thou hast read my heart,
Searching its recesses with a lover’s art;
Naught have I withholden, nothing hid from Thee --
Waste, or want, or folly -- things that should not be.

Jesus, Friend of sinners, Thou hast touched my soul,
Not with scornful pity, not with beggar’s dole;
Thou hast not despisèd men that faint or fall,
Tenderer than brother, for Thou knowest all.

Jesus, Friend of sinners, bid me follow Thee,
O’er the rugged highways, e’en to Calvary;
Let me know Thy Spirit, sweet and strong and wise;
I would win the friendship in Thy loving eyes.

Jesus, Friend of sinners, hold me by Thy side,
Till the shadows deepen tow’rd the eventide;
To Thy strength and beauty I would ever bend,
Till, in dawn eternal, Friend shall be as friend!

-- Charles I. Junkin



-- John 3:14-18
14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life. + 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. 18 Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

-- Matthew 9:10-13
10 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and "sinners" came and ate with Him and His disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked His disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?" 12 On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

-- Romans 5:8-11
8 But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through Him! 10 For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life! 11 Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

-- 1 Timothy 1:15-16
15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners -- of whom I am the worst. 16 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 Peter 3:17-19
17 It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 18 For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, 19 through whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison

-- 1 John 4:8-11
8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. + 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

-- Ephesians 1:7-10
7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9 And He made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment -- to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.

-- 1 John 1:5-10
5 This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin. 8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His word has no place in our lives.

-- Psalms 25:3-9
3 No one whose hope is in You will ever be put to shame, but they will be put to shame who are treacherous without excuse. 4 Show me Your ways, O LORD, teach me Your paths; 5 guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God my Savior, and my hope is in You all day long. 6 Remember, O LORD, Your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. 7 Remember not the sins of my Youth and my rebellious ways; according to Your love remember me, for You are good, O LORD. 8 Good and upright is the LORD; therefore He instructs sinners in His ways. 9 He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way.

-- Isaiah 1:18
"Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool."



Hymn: + Jesus is tenderly calling you + [Midi]

1. Jesus is tenderly calling you home
Calling today, calling today,
Why from the sunshine of love will you roam,
Farther and farther away?

[Refrain]
Calling today, calling today,
Jesus is calling, is tenderly calling today.

2. Jesus is calling the weary to rest,
Calling today, calling today,
Bring Him your burden and you shall be blest;
He will not turn you away. [Refrain]

3. Jesus is waiting, O come to Him now,
Waiting today, waiting today,
Come with your sins, at His feet lowly bow;
Come, and no longer delay. [Refrain]

4. Jesus is pleading, O list to His voice,
Hear Him today, hear Him today,
They who believe on His Name shall rejoice;
Quickly arise and away. [Refrain]

-- Fanny J. Crossby