It is written:
Luke 7:36-50 (NIV)-NOW ONE OF THE PHARISEES INVITED JESUS TO HAVE DINNER WITH HIM, SO HE WENT TO THE PHARISEE’S HOUSE AND RECLINED AT THE TABLE.
WHEN A WOMAN WHO HAD LIVED A SINFUL LIFE IN THAT TOWN LEARNED THAT JESUS WAS EATING AT THE PHARISEE’S HOUSE, SHE BROUGHT AN ALABASTER JAR OF PERFUME,
AND AS SHE STOOD BEHIND HIM AT HIS FEET WEEPING, SHE BEGAN TO WET HIS FEET WITH HER TEARS. THEN SHE WIPED THEM WITH HER HAIR, KISSED THEM AND POURED PERFUME ON THEM.
WHEN THE PHARISEE WHO HAD INVITED HIM SAW THIS, HE SAID TO HIMSELF, “IF THIS MAN WERE A PROPHET, HE WOULD KNOW WHO IS TOUCHING HIM AND WHAT KIND OF WOMAN SHE IS— THAT SHE IS A SINNER.”
JESUS ANSWERED HIM, “SIMON, I HAVE SOMETHING TO TELL YOU.” “TELL ME, TEACHER,” HE SAID.
“TWO MEN OWED MONEY TO A CERTAIN MONEYLENDER. ONE OWED HIM FIVE HUNDRED DENARII, AND THE OTHER FIFTY.
NEITHER OF THEM HAD THE MONEY TO PAY HIM BACK, SO HE CANCELED THE DEBTS OF BOTH. NOW WHICH OF THEM WILL LOVE HIM MORE?”
SIMON REPLIED, “I SUPPOSE THE ONE WHO HAD THE BIGGER DEBT CANCELED.” “YOU HAVE JUDGED CORRECTLY,” JESUS SAID.
THEN HE TURNED TOWARD THE WOMAN AND SAID TO SIMON, “DO YOU SEE THIS WOMAN? I CAME INTO YOUR HOUSE. YOU DID NOT GIVE ME ANY WATER FOR MY FEET, BUT SHE WET MY FEET WITH HER TEARS AND WIPED THEM WITH HER HAIR.
YOU DID NOT GIVE ME A KISS, BUT THIS WOMAN, FROM THE TIME I ENTERED, HAS NOT STOPPED KISSING MY FEET.
YOU DID NOT PUT OIL ON MY HEAD, BUT SHE HAS POURED PERFUME ON MY FEET.
THEREFORE, I TELL YOU, HER MANY SINS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN—FOR SHE LOVED MUCH. BUT HE WHO HAS BEEN FORGIVEN LITTLE LOVES LITTLE.”
THEN JESUS SAID TO HER, “YOUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN.”
THE OTHER GUESTS BEGAN TO SAY AMONG THEMSELVES, “WHO IS THIS WHO EVEN FORGIVES SINS?”
JESUS SAID TO THE WOMAN, “YOUR FAITH HAS SAVED YOU; GO IN PEACE.”
How honest are you? In your heart, are you really a very dishonest person, but you can’t admit this?
It is written, ALL HAVE SINNED AND COME SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD.
A few people can look honestly at themselves and say, as Paul did, Ro 7:24-O WRETCHED MAN THAT I AM! WHO SHALL DELIVER ME FROM THE BODY OF THIS DEATH?
Others look at themselves and think to themselves, “I’m not such a bad person. Yes, I’ve sinned, but not all that much.”
If a person believes they are not very sinful, then they will not love Jesus very much,;for they do not understand how much they have been forgiven. They do not understand just how great a gift they have been given, as a result of Jesus being crucified for their sins. So they do not love Jesus very much.
But if a person is honest, they will look at themselves and say, O WRETCHED MAN THAT I AM. And when they understand in their heart the tremendous magnitude of the gift they have been given by the forgiveness of all their sins that they have ever committed, they will love Jesus much; for they understand they have been forgiven much.
So if your love for Christ is small, then it is probably because you do not understand the awesome value of the gift you have been given by Christ in that your sins, which are many, have been forgiven.
A person that understands they have only sinned a little, will only love Christ a little.
A person that understands they have been forgiven much, will love Christ much. Which are you?
Are your sins a great weight upon you, or are they so light you seldom even think about them? Do you even understand what sin is?
Which of these two people will follow and trust in Christ the most? Which of these two people should be the most faithful? What do you think?
Remember what Peter said in Lk 5:8…SIMON PETER…FELL DOWN AT JESUS’ KNEES, SAYING, DEPART FROM ME; FOR I AM A SINFUL MAN, O LORD.
Do you see yourself as a sinful person like Peter and Paul did? They loved Jesus greatly. Do you?
Finally in conclusion to the message you may have just heard, please consider the following.
Salvation begins with hearing or reading God’s Word.
Then one of 4 things happens which reveals what type of a heart we have-ref Lk 8:5-15.
1-We immediately reject God’s Word This is a wayside heart.
2-We receive God’s Word, but then later we reject God’s Word because of tempations. This is a rocky heart
3-We receive God’s Word but the later reject God’s Word because of the cares of this life, lusts of other things, the plasures of this life. This is a thorney heart.
4. We receive God’s Word and stand fast obeying God’s Word till the Lord takes us hone to be with Him. This is a good heart.
God’s Word tells us very clearly exactly what we are to do to be saved.
A person must be born again and converted. It is written-Mt 18:3-EXCEPT YE BE CONVERTED, AND BECOME AS LITTLE CHILDREN, YE SHALL NOT ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.
Jn3:3-Jesus said-…I SAY UNTO THEE, EXCEPT A MAN BE BORN AGAIN, HE CANNOT SEE THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
Acts 16:30,31-The question was asked Acts 16:30-WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED
God’s Word answers this very clearly.
1-Acts 16:31-It is written BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST,
2-Eph 2:8,9-FOR BY GRACE ARE YE SAVED THROUGH FAITH; AND THAT NOT OF YOURSELVES: IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD: Faith can only come as a result of hearing or reading God’s Word-Ro 10:17.
3-A person must repent. It is written-Luke 13:3-I TELL YOU…EXCEPT YE REPENT, YE SHALL ALL LIKEWISE PERISH.
4-Ask for God’s forgiveness and mercy. Humble yourself for GOD RESISTS THE PROUD BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE-Ja 4:6. Call on the name of the Lord-Acts 2:21.
5-After believing on Jesus Christ as your only hope of salvation and repenting of your sins, you are commanded to be baptized by full immersion for it is written-Acts 2:38-REPENT, AND BE BAPTIZED EVERY ONE OF YOU…Ro 6:4-THEREFORE WE ARE BURIED WITH HIM BY BAPTISM
6-Finally we are to fear God, and obey His Word for it is written: Pv 3:7-BE NOT WISE IN THINE OWN EYES: FEAR THE LORD, AND DEPART FROM EVIL.
Heb 5:9-HE BECAME THE AUTHOR OF ETERNAL SALVATION UNTO ALL THEM THAT OBEY HIM; Acts 5:32-AND WE ARE HIS WITNESSES OF THESE THINGS; AND SO IS ALSO THE HOLY GHOST, WHOM GOD HATH GIVEN TO THEM THAT OBEY HIM.
If you are willing yo humble yourself and repent, you can call on the name of the Lord right now.
Dear Jesus. I am a sinner. I believe you are the Son of God and died for my sins on the cross. Forgive all of my sins. Lord, have mercy on me a sinner. Thank you for heraring my prayer. I ask it in the name of my Lord and Saviour JesusChrist. Amen.
If you said that prayer, begin reading and obeying God’s Word. Find a good Bible believing church and get baptized by full immersion in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost-ref Mt 28:19.
May God bless you.