Does Jesus Love Sinners — E.A. Johnston

Jesus’ Love for Sinners and the Anger of God

I know in my Bible, in Psalms, it declares that God is angry with the wicked every day. And I believe that, friends, because it's in my Bible. My question is, does Jesus love sinners? I believe he does, and I can prove the compassion of Christ in this message I have for you today, friends.

The Rich Young Ruler’s Question About Eternal Life

My text can be found in Mark's Gospel, in chapter 10. You can turn in your Bibles there now, friends. We will be in verses 17 through 27, and let me read us this familiar passage to us at this time. Here now is the word of God, and may the Spirit of the Lord be pleased to attend the reading of his holy word.

And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good?

There is none good but one, and that is God. Thou knowest the commandments. Do not commit adultery. Do not kill. Do not steal. Do not bear false witness. Defraud not. Honor thy father and mother. And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.

Then Jesus beholding him, loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest, go thy way, sell whatever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven. And come, take up the cross, and follow me.

And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved, for he had great possessions. I will stop there, friends. There are two aspects from our passage which I would like to bring before us today. The first is, the test of our standing with Christ is how we view our possessions.

Possessions as a Test of Faith

And the second is, does Jesus love sinners? Let's look at the first aspect of the test of our standing with Christ in how we view our possessions. Christ honors those who give to God out of their need, like the widow and her mite.

God uses people like that every day, who are true believers and who live sacrificially for God and his glory. I know Christians like this, they're a blessing. But there is a solemn warning found here in our passage today, friends, for I believe our attachment to money is a litmus test of our salvation.

The rich man was tested here. We see he was a religious man, and he had a religious upbringing, for he tells Jesus he had observed the commandments since his youth. He believes in prayer, for he kneels in his request to Jesus.

And he says with his lips that he desires Jesus and eternal life. But when the robber hits the road, and he is really tested, he fails the test and reveals the true nature of his darkened heart, for he walks away from Christ to hang on to what he has.

Material Security and the American Church

Now, I'm going to make a terrifying statement, friends, but I believe it's true. I believe if Jesus came back today and confronted every church member in America with the same test and addressed each one of us personally to sell all we have, liquidate our investment portfolios and clean out our bank accounts and sell our material possessions and give it to the poor and take up our cross and follow Jesus in a life of faith and discipleship by trusting God for tomorrow, that nine out of ten would walk away from Jesus because we, like the rich young ruler, aren't willing to part with our money and possessions.

We need our financial security blanket because we don't trust God as we should. We lack faith. Money is our security, not God. I'll go to my grave believing that because I know it's true. Money is the guide of the American materialistic church member today, and that's proved on a regular basis as the Lord gives each of us choices daily to help spread the gospel or to overcome a bias like the Levite and the priest to help a brother in need.

And we look the other way and keep on going about our business in our self-preservation and hang on to what is ours. It breaks my heart. Every time I see it, and it demonstrates the sad condition of the predominantly lost American church that puts material possessions over Christ Jesus, the pearl of great price, who's worth selling all for and losing all for to gain Him.

Judgment, Motives, and the Review of Our Lives

When we stand at the judgment seat and our lives are placed in review, I believe we'll be judged not only for our actions, but also the motives behind them. As it is all placed in the fire to be tested.

Jesus’ Compassion for the Lost Sinner

And the second aspect from our passage here is the question before us today. Does Jesus love sinners? Do we believe that? Does our theology that we hold place doubts in our hearts as to the question, does Jesus love sinners?

This rich young ruler was a lost sinner, but our text clearly demonstrates that Jesus loved him. It says so in verse 21, then Jesus beholding him, loved him. Jesus had compassion upon this young man and pleaded with him to leave all of this world to follow him into another world for all eternity.

But this young man despised Christ offer the gospel. He walked away and there came a day when this rich man died and he was parted with those possessions he refused to let loose of to gain Christ. He lost them anyway, but he lost his one opportunity for salvation in Christ Jesus.

This proves to me that Jesus loves sinners. In second Peter we read, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. A Sunday school teacher was asked by a young student in her class.

Does God love naughty boys? And she foolishly replied, no, God does not love naughty boys. But praise God for his mercy and that God loved this naughty boy and saved me. I tell you friends that Jesus loves sinners.

The Gospel Call to Repentance and Faith

Don't ever let your theology make you doubt that fact friends. Jesus loves sinners and he died for sinners. So they that come to him in repentance and faith will live with him in heaven for all eternity.

Yes, it's a fact. Jesus loves sinners. Christ shed his blood to pardon guilty sinners and to reconcile them back to God through saving faith. Listen friend, there is no sinner. This is out of hell. Too bad to be saved.

Do you feel your need of a substitute for sin? In the person of Christ Jesus, Jesus came to seek that which was lost and to save. Are you a lost sinner? Be honest with yourself. Are you washed in the blood and born from above?

Do you need pardon from sin? Are you truly born again or are you standing naked in the fig leaves of an empty profession? If you are a sinner and you are unsure of your salvation. Listen to this gospel plea.

Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts and let him return unto the Lord and he will have mercy upon him and to our God for he will abundantly pardon. Oh friend, come to Christ.

He invites poor sinners to come to him and believe on him. The duty required is to come and he has a pure gospel promise to all who come. And him that cometh to me I will and no wise cast out but let us pray.