Sinners Friend
Who is Christ?
The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners."
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."
All the people saw this and began to mutter, "He has gone to be the guest of a 'sinner.' "
"Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.
Who is Christ? Christ is the Sinners Friend. Jesus Christ was a great disappointment to the Pharisees; they knew that He could not possibly be the Messiah because He did not have the proper image! He ignored them and befriended sinners. Didn't He have any concern for His reputation? When I was a girl in the 1950's my parents did not allow me to play with a certain girl because her parents were divorced. If I played with her, what would people think?
Sinners know they are sinners and understand that they need a Savior; the self-righteous believe that they are just fine, and have no need of anyone to make them a better person. They certainly don't need a Savior; after all, from what do they need to be saved? They are just as good, actually even better, than everyone around them.
The Gospels are filled with accounts of Jesus as the sinners friend, and the resulting indignation of most people. As the years passed, their hatred grew to the point of cheering, "Crucify Him, Crucify Him. We have no king but Caesar."
No one but Christ, was born righteous. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Remember, the comparison is with God, not with man. 
CroftChristianBooks.com Sinners Friend is part of a series of Devotions answering the question, Who is Christ. Who is Christ? Who is God? Teen Devotions Daily Bible Devotions Devotional Reflections from the Bible Home Page from the Bible 
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Little did they know that they did not take His life; He gave up His life willingly to save sinners. That is why Paul declared in 1 Timothy 1:15, Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.
