Sin and the Forgiving Savior - 22

Pressures retreat I think to summers ago I met Dr. Daniel Chamberlain, who pastors covenant Baptist Church in broken arrow Oklahoma and we enjoyed fellowship at that retreat for a couple of days and I learned about his ministry in when I returned I checked out his church online and I was intrigued to find that not that they have a welcome packet that they give people when they visit the church, which we do, but included in that welcome packet was this piece of information it says covenant Baptist Church is looking for sinners. Do you qualify, and he goes on to say what an unwelcome word that is our generation is nearly expunged from the dictionary.

Indeed, men of always dislike this word and sought to remove it from the vocabulary says we don't find many sinners anymore.

Very few are willing to seriously label themselves as such. Nowadays most everyone is just morally challenged suffering from low self-esteem victims of someone else's sin and therefore not responsible for their own sin.

We believe that it is high time we reemphasize this forgotten. Scriptural word center and then definition a sinner is one who is guilty of sin and what is sin is failing to love God with all your heart, you do not have to make headlines for a notorious crime to be a sinner if you simply omit loving God supremely. You are a sinner sins of omission not being or doing what God requires are just as condemning in God's sight is sins of omission doing what God forbids, he says, because we sin against an infinitely holy God.

Every sin, regardless of its size and shape deserves eternal punishment, though we manifest our sin in our own individual ways. We are all sinners or God so bad is our sin. Only the death of Jesus Christ, the son of God can put it away and then there's this section. Why are we looking for sinners. He says we are looking for people who are sinners because number one sinners are the only ones who can be saved. The Lord Jesus Christ said that that they are whole Those that were whole have no need of the physician, but they were sick.

I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Sinners are the only people for whom Christ died.

This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief why we looking for sinners because sinners unless they repent will suffer the eternal torment of God's holy wrath except you repent, you shall all likewise perish and 13 three but the fearful, and unbelieving and the abominable and the murderers and warmongers and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone. Revelation 21 eight. Then there's the section of good news, good news, if you are a sinner.

We have good news for you it is not that you can save yourself, nor that you can help God save you it is that God saves sinners and he can save you what surprising mercy because Christ on the cross suffer the punishment sinners deserve. God forgives sinners, and then he has this clarification, he says, let me clarify couple of things. First, we insist on putting no adjective before the word sinners. Some say the good news is for bad sinners, as if to say that good ones need not apply. Other say the good news is for good sinners and so the bad news and the bad ones need not apply. He says if you are a sinner you meet the qualification to come to the Savior of sinners and then he makes this clarification, he says. Secondly, the members of our church are not yet sin mostly perfect the Christ is atone for our sins and paid our legal debt before God. We are yet struggling against sin that indwells believers in this life. Sin no longer rolls over us. Christ is our master, but only in heaven will we on last beef sin in our experience, so when you come to visit our church.

We will not look down on you because you are a sinner not a sinner. If you are not a sinner. We have no good news for you. The only message we can declare to you is one which will utterly humble you and cause you to see your desperate condition as a sinner denying that you are a sinner, may be the worst sin of all, you are invited friend.

If you are a sinner. We want you to come to our church, but most of all we want you to come to the Lord Jesus Christ coming to church will not save you, but it is a means whereby you will hear the truth of Christ. In Christ sinners are saved, you qualify look to Christ that wants is a pretty unique welcome packet inclusion what we have before us here is an account in the life of the Lord Jesus his earthly ministry. Early on in his ministry.

And it is encounter with a sinful woman a sinful woman. What I'd like to do here at the beginning is just walking through the passage I've give some identifications to various parts and will just walk through it quickly and then we will take you back in will focus on some things and draw out something to make some applications.

So let's begin with number one in verse 36 what I call the surprising invitation. The surprising invitation. Then one of the Pharisees asked him, that is Jesus to eat with him, and he Jesus went to the Pharisees house and sat down to eat now most of what is recorded in the Scriptures concerning Jesus's interaction with the Pharisees is mostly negative, not positive, with a few exceptions. Nicodemus was a Pharisee. He came to see Jesus by night to inquire about who he was. So that was a positive situation. Initially we do not know the motive of this Pharisee name Simon who invited Jesus to his house.

We want to give them the benefit of the doubt on the front end and say well he had heard some things about Jesus. He wants to further make Inc. determine if indeed these things are true, but as the account unfolds, we see that his motives are less than honorable.

A surprising invitation extended by Simon the Pharisee to Jesus to come to his house to eat. Number two I want you to see the uninvited houseguest verse 37 and behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee's house brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil. Now if you had invite someone to your house for a meal you're not expecting uninvited guests. Sometimes I suppose that can happen depending on the circumstances, but it was not uncommon in this culture. It was an honor for the owner of the home to have this guest in his home and depending on who it is, may attract other people in the door would be open and people were.

I welcome to come. They would stand along the walls. Some would sit they didn't come to eat or say but they came out of curiosity to hear the conversation. Learn what's going on inside. This home so we have here the report of an uninvited houseguest and she is a woman from the city who was a sinner.

She was a notorious sinner. Most commentators believe she was a prostitute. She was known in the community. She was a sinner but she came uninvited into the Pharisee's house and she brought with her, an alabaster flask of fragrant oil.

Number three want you to see the overwhelming expression of worship and gratitude beginning at verse 37 and behold, a woman in the city was a sinner when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee's house brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil and stood at his feet behind him weeping as she began to wash his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and she kissed his feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil dining, customs, and that culture are much different than ours. Tables were very low.

People didn't sit on chairs like we do. Men would recline on their left elbow with their feet away from the table and would eat with her right hand and this woman came in behind Jesus and was at his feet and this woman was overcome with emotion. She began to weep and she wept.

Her tears fell upon his feet and it tells us she stood his feet behind him weeping, she began to wash his feet with her tears. Not a woman's glory. Some say is her hair.

This woman took her hair and began to wipe the feet of Jesus.

She kissed his feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil.

The overwhelming expression of worship and gratitude. Number four. The unspoken critical appraisal verse 39 now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he spoke to himself.

He didn't verbalize this.

He kept this to himself. Jesus is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. He knew what this man was thinking. He spoke to himself saying this man if he were a prophet would know who and what manner of woman.

This is who is touching him for again. She is a sinner. She is in a particular category that he abhorred. She was a deplorable person.

She was a sinner. The unspoken critical appraisal number five, the loving confrontation in verse 40 Jesus answered and said to him, Simon, I have something to say to you, another certain expression certain things that Jesus said that recorded in the Scriptures that you would just love to of been there and heard the nuance of the expression exactly how he said what he said but let's just stop for a minute and think about husbands and husband-and-wife relationships. Okay man's been working all day and he comes home and there's little bit of a silence in the home and the wife says I neither something I want to talk to you about the regardless of how she says that right some been communicated or the husband's as you know, I have something I need to talk to you about. Usually it's something that needs that this got some emotion attached to it. Let's say that way when you think Simon thought he had drawn the conclusion's premise was if this man were a prophet.

Notice what he said if this man were prophet he would know who and what manner of woman. This is Jesus did know who and what manner of woman she was. He said if he if she if he knew he wouldn't have anything to do with her. That's what he was implying for she is a sinner. He didn't seem to draw the conclusion that this man must be more than a prophet because you know what I was thinking I didn't even say in areas Simon I've something to say to you, so he said teacher say it the loving confrontation number six the illustrative and convicting parable. This is a short parable.

This is part of our preaching series on the parables of Jesus. I chose this Dick I didn't I couldn't justify excluding it even though it short, there's two verses that make up this parable in its verses 41 and 42 there was a certain creditor who had two debtors one owed 500 and Mary, I and the other 50 and when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell me therefore which of them will love him more one creditor to debtors one owed the equivalent of a year and 1/2 wages. The other owed the equivalent of the month and 1/2 wages far more importantly, neither one had resources to pay the debt when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. You don't perhaps recognize, but I'd I believe that Jesus is using this parable to illustrate the Simon that he is one of those two is one of those two debtors and this woman is the other debtor he didn't see himself as a debtor to God. He saw this woman is a sinner but he certainly wasn't one Jesus is correcting him to purposes. I think in this parable. Number one expose Simon's heart to himself and number two to explain Simon's neglect of Jesus neglect of the customary treatment that Jesus should've received by coming into this man's house as a guest. The illustrative and convicting parable.

Number seven the probing question and that's the end of that short parable. Tell me therefore which of them will love him more.

That's a probing question, and it's obvious there's no way of getting around it. If you're paying attention. You know what the answer is number eight. The reluctant and accurate answer.

Again, I'd like to been there to hear Holly did answer the question tell me therefore which of them will love him more. Simon answered and said, I suppose it didn't want to answer. He knew there was a catch to it. I think I suppose the one whom he forgave more.

The reluctant and accurate answer.

Jesus said, you have rightly judged and the number nine the convicting exposure of neglect.

The convicting exposure of neglect verse 44. Then he turned to the woman, and he said the assignment. Do you see this woman now more is implied in that question than do you see her with your physical eyes that should be obvious to us.

Do you see what I see you see her heart. Do you see beyond the external. Do you see beyond the fact that she fits into this category of notorious sinners that you have identified convicting exposure and neglect. Do you see this woman.

And then Jesus goes on to say, I am energy her house and you gave me no water for my feet, but she has washed my feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. You gave me Nokias, but this woman has not ceased to kiss my feet since the time I came in, you did not anoint my head with oil, but this woman has anointed my feet with a grin oil the convicting exposure of neglect. These are the things that was customarily given to a guest of honor that guest. Which is why said we at the front and we did know what his motives were, but were beginning to see that he didn't have respect for Jesus. He didn't want to honor him publicly, then this explanation of cause and effect. Verse 47. Therefore I say to you, her sins which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much but to whom little is for given the same loves little explanation of cause and effect.

This six.

The only explanation for this extravagant expression of worship and gratitude is that this woman had a sense that she'd been forgiven of her many sins. That's the cause and effect.

Number 11 a gracious forgiven declaration in verse 48 then he said to her, your sins are forgiven. Number 12 a provoked contemplation. The people there who heard Jesus say, your sins are forgiven and it provoked this contemplation. Verse 49 and those who sat at the table with him began to say to themselves is this only is this so even forgive us CNs and then finally the reward of faith.

Then he said to the woman, your faith has saved you go in peace.

I thought of the him that we often sing. My heart is filled with thankfulness to him who bore my pain to plumb the depths of my disgrace and gave me life again, who crushed my curse of sinfulness and clothed me in his light and wrote his law of righteousness, with power upon my heart this woman's heart was filled with thanksgiving for what Jesus had done for her. Let's now consider what I believe Simon saw and what he failed to see in relationship to this woman were Jesus said do you see this woman. What did Simon see and what did he fail to see in relationship to this woman on the one Simon saw a woman who fit into a category, a notorious sinner, a prostitute, that's what he saw and he really didn't see beyond that he failed to see himself in the same category, despite the fact that he too was a sinner and because he failed to see himself as a center. He had no appreciation for the Savior because he did not believe he had neither one start to understand why some preachers take Monday off. Saturdays Monday off and Saturday, my day to work around my house and outside in all this, it can affect your voice, but I think the Lord will give grace he failed to see his need. What did he see in relationship to Jesus. He saw a religious man but not even a prophet because Jesus didn't pass his test because Jesus didn't respond to the sinful woman in a way that he thought a prophet should act so he's blind. That's the nature of a Pharisee. He is blind he self deceived.

He is self-righteous.

The Pharisees were categorically lined and because of that Jesus had no help for them or for this man in particular. What did the woman see well the woman unnamed by the way not to be confused with another occasion. Later on, in Jesus's ministry pretty close to the crucifixion. The woman named Mary who came into another Pharisee's house name Simon. Judas Iscariot was present there. Remember, why wasn't this phase of oil sold or money to be given to the poor. Remember that so these are two completely different accounts. This is early on in the ministry of Jesus.

What did Jesus see while on a mask note right now. What did this woman say when she saw her sin. She knew herself to be a center. Although we don't really have a full explanation. We don't really know completely what the explanation was for her tears. I think she was overwhelmed. Number one. Out of gratitude she was a forgiven changed transformed woman before she ever came to Simon's house. We don't know when we don't know how we don't have a record of the account but this woman had had an encounter with Jesus. Prior to this meeting in this house, and her life is been changed forever. She came as a worshiper.

Perhaps she was overcome with tears because of her sin. She was grieved over her sin. Perhaps that's the explanation. Jesus said blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven, blessed are those who, what, who mourn for they shall be comforted. She saw Jesus Christ as her Redeemer. She saw Jesus Christ as her Savior she saw Jesus Christ as her new reason for living. If something special in that water thing ice. Maybe that's what I need. Listen, she wasn't there at Simon's house or any other reason then to see Jesus. That's the only reason she was there in this extraordinary expression of devotion and gratitude is not to earn merit because she'd already been forgiven and she was there to express her gratitude to Jesus.

Now, what did Jesus see.

Well, he saw a self-righteous Pharisee Jesus all man blind by his sin. Jesus all man deceived by his sinful prideful heart.

And Jesus saw a sinful woman. He saw a pardoned forgiven sinful woman out Jesus did minimize her sin and what he said to Simon, he said to Simon, verse 47 I say to you, her sins which are many, Jesus did minimize your sins per sandwich are many are for given the one in the parable, who had been forgiven much had had a debt forgiven and because of that she loved much she knew the degree of her sinfulness and she had an appreciation for the forgiveness that had been extended to her a W toes are said this quote, the subject of sin is vital knowledge to say that our first need in life is to learn about sin may sound strange but in the sense intended.

It is profoundly true. If you have not learned about sin. You cannot understand your self or your fellow man or the world you live in or the Christian faith and you will not be able to make headway nor tail of the Bible for the Bible he says is an exposition of God's answer to the problem of human sin and by the way, sin is not failing to do your best. Okay, just felt like I had to say that some who say will never going to speak about sin well they redefine sin. Sin is failing to live up to your best, so were going to instruct you on how to know and enjoy your best life now know that's not sin. Simon the Pharisee's pride had blinded him to the reality of his sin and think about it.

Here he is in the presence of the great physician of the soul. And because he doesn't know he has a need.

He doesn't apply himself to the remedy coming how close can you, to help them to be assigned. Jesus he's in your home because of your blindness, your kind offer many pardoning help.

In fact, he's his pride allows him to stand in judgment. First of this woman. And secondly of Jesus himself. I love the way Al Martin brings an awareness of our sin in a deepening appreciation of the grace of God together what you listen to what he says. He says quote a God centered gospel produces a man who has seen God, and who, having seen God and is brought face-to-face with this holy and just God and having seen God in this way is filled with on the one hand, a sense of his own unworthiness to stand in God's presence is a center and on the other hand with adorning wonder that never the less. This God receives sinners. It's amazing looking at an invisible person, there's a clock there that I'm keeping an eye on better than looking at my wristwatch. John in his first epistle gives us insight into the characteristic and nature of sin. Listen to what he says in verse six of chapter 1. If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus Christ his son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. Let me give you three characteristics of those who deny their sin. Three characteristics of those who deny their sin number one, they walk in darkness. Jesus says if we say we have fellowship with him and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. They walk in darkness, number two, they are self deceived in this assignment. Verse seven. I'm sorry verse eight if we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. Self-deception number three they defame God, but only by that what they defame God by making him out to be a liar by denying what his word affirms verse eight if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. Verse seven. If we walk in the light as he is in the light, we fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus Christ his son cleanses us from all sin. Verse 10 if we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar and his word is not in us at the perfect description of Simon the Pharisee blind deceived defaming of God that so he was. Let me summarize and bring things to a conclusion here that doesn't mean I'll be done in two minutes either.

Dr. Richard Belcher was my homiletic professor and he would sit on the front row and shortest chaplain have us preacher boys in this chapel that seated 1200 people because he wanted us to get a sense of the.

The seriousness of preaching would be there preaching and we would have 20 minutes, sometimes to preach 30 minutes sometimes to preach and he was sent down there with an eye on his watch and if you got a sense you are getting toward the end he would say, better land the airplane. And then he would kid with some of us.

He says I've I've thought I heard the wheels come down and you saw the runway and yet I have great affection for him what he taught me think think with me here we see here in this story this encounter. This parable, the failure that needs forgiveness number one.

The failure that needs forgiveness and what failure my talking about. It is the failure to acknowledge oneself as a center.

The failure to acknowledge oneself as a condemned sinner is one who was standing under the just wrath of God in Jesus. I believe told this parable to show that we are all in God's debt will all in God's debt. We are responsible for our debt. We are personally responsible before God for our debt. Now, we have incurred various degrees of debt. This woman had sinned much Jesus said her sins which are many.

There are various degrees of debt but we are all in dad and regardless of what degree are daddy is, we are unable to pay our debt. That's the point of the parable. When they had nothing with which to repay verse 42 he freely forgave them both.

See sin is the nature of our debt. The wages what of sin is death and judgment. As a result of our debt and forgiveness is our only hope.

Forgiveness is our only hope he freely forgave them both. The parable says suitable in the failure that needs forgiveness number two the faith that receives forgiveness is a God has a market on forgiveness. You can't secure it any other place.

You're a few I need a forgiveness is only one place to go. There's only one place to apply God has a market on it and if you will receive it from him on his terms.

You will be in a state of unforgiveness and the consequences of that you see it's only the forgive her. Who can assume the debt when we read he freely forgave them both.

We need to understand that for God in order in order for God to forgive center comes at great cost to him, only the forgive her can assume the debt, and that's the basis of God's forgiveness. That's why Jesus himself had to come to this earth and take the place of a side take the place of a substitute to die in a place of sinners to assume our debt and pay for our sin debt in full.

We saying Jesus paid it.

What he paid it all and if he didn't pay it all. Then were still under judgment and condemnation, only the debt, only the debtor can acknowledge the debt, only the debtor can acknowledge the debt. It is for you. It is for me to acknowledge the debt that we owe to God and to demonstrate that we understand that by our acts of worship by our acts of obedience by our surrender of our life to his authority to many people in our day have a view of Jesus that he is, is, like your spare tire in your car. It's good to have one, you may need to someday you may not need it someday, but if you donated in case of an emergency. It's good to have Jesus on board.

Some people think of salvation that way. Jesus is there in case of emergency or Jesus is my fire insurance policies going to keep me out a hell with that's your understanding of salvation, then you are. You're in a desperate condition, you don't understand salvation.

Salvation is not an insurance policy.

Jesus is not a spare tire is not there just for an emergency is not what salvation is only faith can accept the cancellation of debt. Only faith can accept the cancellation of debt.

Notice what Jesus said to her. Jesus said, verse 50. Your faith has saved you your sins are forgiven. See faith is the vehicle that receives the merit of God. Faith is the vehicle to receive the forgiveness of God.

The remedy of our sin, they will let sounds pretty important. Where do I get that it's a gift from God. What yes it's a gift from God. For by grace are you saved through faith and this not all of your self. It is the gift of God. Why, lest any man should boast. You see, salvation is of the Lord from A-to-Z we are dependent on him for everything. Notice with me the freedom that follows forgiveness, the freedom that follows forgiveness.

He said to the woman, your faith has saved you go in peace, see her life was no longer racked with guilt and shame and turmoil. No longer was she a person that was used and abused by men.

It was freedom that she knew to love unreservedly. The question is where did she learn she learned a warship like she worshiped here in Simon's house. I don't think it's something she learned it's the natural response of a forgiven sinner, Charles Spurgeon said too many people think lightly of sin and therefore think lightly of the Savior and then he says and very colorful language. He who has stood before his God convicted and condemned with the rope around his neck is the man to weep for joy when he is pardoned to hate the evil that has been forgiven him, and to live to the honor of the Redeemer by whose blood. He has been let's be men and women who have a serious view of sin.

Have a deep appreciation for the forgiveness that has been extended to us and let that fuel our worship, not just here on Sunday but fuel our worship. The way we live the rest of our lives.

I wish you had the ability to see what I see when we come together and worship and sing. I know I know you because have been with you for 25 years, but to look out and see people wiping tears from their faces were singing these wonderful hymns of praise to God. It's a reflection of what with us on this woman. If you know you have been forgiven that grace has been extended to you.

You have been pardoned of your sin.

It can't help but move you so we're going to sing here chosen as his children.

Let me offer a prayer will saying and then will be dismissed. Father, thank you for the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thank you that he is indeed a friend of sinners. Thank you for this incredible account of Christ and his encounter with the sinful woman. Father we pray that you would deliver any here who are deceived and belonging to their true condition before you, Lord, no man comes to an awareness of conviction that he's a sinner by logic. Your word tells us that the spirit of God is sent to convict the world of sin and of righteousness and of judgment, Holy Spirit of God do that work in the life of Annie who are here blind and deceive like Simon the Pharisee and for those of us who have tasted and known the Lord to be good that he has forgiven us and cleansed us and washed us and made us is part of his family because our hearts to erupt in worship as we express our gratitude to him pray in Jesus name, amen