There is no one righteous, not one human is righteous nor can become righteous, in his own works. God would not have sent His only begotten Son into the world to suffer and die for our sins if we could become sinless on our own. For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son to die in our place.
Only Jesus Christ, all man-all God, is righteous.
It takes a change of heart that by faith we believe in the salvation that God provided for His creation.
Hebrews 12:2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith! He endured the agony of the Cross for us. In the shedding of His holy blood He purged us of our sin and then He rested at the right hand of the Father. It was finished!
the purpose of the chastening of the Lord is our sanctification and the increasing of our faith. Knowing that He never will leave us nor forsake us. We trust Him for our salvation. For whom the Lord loves He chastens.
We are to follow peace with all men.
God is all knowing He knows our beginning and our end and everything in between. He knows who will believe and accept His offering gift of salvation and those who will not.
Romans 5:1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Those who believe are justified by faith. We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus. We are cleansed in His finished work. We have access to God in our faith through Him.
Romans 8:1 8 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
The perfect sacrifice of Jesus was all that was needed for mankind’s salvation. Faith saves us.
Jesus was the express image of the Godhead and He upholds all things by the word of His power.
Luke 15:20b (ESV) "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him"
But one day the so-called "prodigal" (or reckless) son came to his senses and decided to go home (Luke 15:17-19). When he returned, his older brother was dutifully serving his father yet inwardly wrestling with feelings of unfairness. The father quickly forgave his prodigal son (Luke 15:20), but the angry older son lashed out, questioning his father's character. Not only did this older son accuse his father of being stingy toward him, but he also inflated his own righteousness: "I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate ..." (Luke 15:29, emphases added).
While we often read this parable and compare ourselves to the two sons, it's interesting how Jesus emphasizes the compassion and consistency of the father, who represents God. The father showed grace and compassion to both sons despite their outward rebellion or inner resentment.
In the Ancient Near East, it was considered humiliating for a wealthy landowner to run in public, yet "while he was still a long way off, his father saw [the prodigal son] and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him" (Luke 15:20). The father willingly bore the shame of running to welcome his son back home. He clothed his son with honor and threw a party to celebrate his return (Luke 15:22-24).
The father also responded with love and grace to his older son: "Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours" (Luke 15:31).
Whether we wander from God to chase worldly pleasures or we appear close to Him yet inwardly seethe when life seems unfair, we are all sinful people. Yet we have a compassionate Father who runs with open arms toward us, ready to offer grace and celebrate our return to Him. First5
Garrison Keillor “The astonishment of mornings on the river last week. I spent my mornings last week at a little white house with a porch overlooking the Connecticut River, astonished by the early morning light, the devout silence except for the twittering of exhilarated birds, and the longer I sat there without opening my phone or laptop, I felt the prospects of the day getting better and better. This is the benefit of going to bed early. It causes concern among others — Is he sick? Was he offended? — but I rise at five and tiptoe downstairs and am dazed by wonder, which is a good thing for a man in the business of humoristicism. Comedy is about incongruity and dissonance and irony but morning light makes a person grateful for the natural world, for quiet and coffee and for the love and friendship of the slumberers upstairs.” Excerpt from Sabbath Moments
Mark 2:15–17
15 Now it happened, as He was dining in Levi’s house, that many tax collectors and sinners also sat together with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many, and they followed Him. 16 And when the scribes and Pharisees saw Him eating with the tax collectors and sinners, they said to His disciples, “How is it that He eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?” 17 When Jesus heard it, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” The New King James Version
Sinner in the Gospels is generally used for people who are considered sinful by Jewish leaders. While certainly many of these people were involved in habits, lifestyles or occupations that led to unrighteous behavior, the label seems to be applied primarily to distinguish between those who were considered pious and those who were not.
Jesus’ ministry was often focused on outsiders, including this group of people. In the ancient world, dining together was a primary expression of identity and belonging. For tax collectors and sinners to seek out table fellowship with Jesus implies they were interested in the kingdom of God that Jesus proclaimed.
Some scribes (teachers of the law) in Jesus’ day may have identified themselves with the agenda of the Pharisaic movement. Pharisees were one of the three Jewish schools of thought in Palestine at the time of Jesus according to the Jewish historian Josephus. While the extent of their influence is unclear, the Pharisees apparently had some influence in political, religious and social spheres in Jewish Palestine. The Pharisees were known for their skill at interpreting the Law of Moses, and they held strict views on what was appropriate behavior for a righteous person.
In Mark, Jesus criticizes the Pharisees for holding to traditions rather than obeying God’s commands. In chapter 2, they condemn Jesus’ choice to eat with those they viewed as unrighteous and unworthy, but Jesus is not interested in their rules about who is worthy of His attention.To call the righteous in this statement, Jesus is neither affirming nor denying that the Pharisees are righteous. He is simply pointing out that the call to repentance and offering of forgiveness are for those who need it—sinners. Faithlife Study Bible
In this instance Jesus was speaking tongue-in-cheek when He used the word righteous. None are righteous, though some, such as the Pharisees, fancied themselves as such. Instead, Christ came to call sinners to repentance. Jesus did not condone the activities of sinners, but required repentance—a change of mind that recognizes the need of a Savior and recognizes Jesus Christ as the only Savior. The NKJV Study Bible
1 Timothy 1:15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.
Luke 5:29–32 Then Levi gave Him a great feast in his own house. And there were a great number of tax collectors and others who sat down with them. And their scribes and the Pharisees complained against His disciples, saying, “Why do You eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”…
Acts 23:9 Then there arose a loud outcry. And the scribes of the Pharisees’ party arose and protested, saying, “We find no evil in this man; but if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him, let us not fight against God.”
Matthew 9:10–13 Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”…
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