Title: You saved a sinner like me
Contents
Subject: You saved a sinner like me
Text: Luke 7:36-50
If there is one hymn that is most known and sung among Christians around the world, it is by far the hymn titled 'Amazing grace', written by John Newton according to a traditional American melody.
Many of you today or in the past have been very blessed and sometimes wept while singing this hymn. All of the hymns are gracious, but especially the lyrics of this hymn, doesn't it really feel like I'm reliving my own life?
The hymn's lyricist, John Newton, was once a notorious slave trader. Because of his cruel nature, thousands of slaves were wounded, sickened and even killed. But when he met a storm at sea and nearly wrecked his ship, he begged God to spare him.
Then God saved him physically and also spiritually. So he sang so moved by the grace of the Lord. "I am amazed by the grace of the Lord who saved a sinner like me - I found my lost life and gained light
Ladies and gentlemen, many people sing of the grace and love of the Lord.
However, for those who have received grace properly, seeing the people around me sing this song with tears, I myself will be captivated by the overwhelming gratitude for the Lord again.
Guys, think about it.
How grateful I would be if someone was killed in my place and set me free while I was sentenced to death for committing a very wicked sin and waiting for the day of my death. What's more, how fortunate and thrilling it would be if you saved me from the fire of hell, which is eternal torment, instead of just saving me from the kind of physical death that everyone faces.
How grateful I am that you made me able to live in eternal happiness and joy, who had to groan in the midst of eternal pain and despair.
I mocked and despised Jesus, who came to save me, but he suffered the death of his own cross to save me, the enemy, so how precious is this grace? It would be a great tragedy if there are people who do not thank God even though they think about the grace of the Lord.
Of course, as the Korean proverb says, “If you rescue the drowning person, give them the bag.” No matter how great a favor you give, there are often people who are like beasts who do not give thanks and try to do harm.
However, when we sing the hymn 'You saved a sinner like me', we say, "Lord, since you saved a poor person like me and a bad person like me, I will dedicate myself to be faithful. Lord, make such an ugly person your servant. Thank you so much for calling me.” He said, “I will become a precious worker who devotes his life to the Lord.
And the Lord will be very happy to see the workers who devote themselves to death in gratitude for the Lord's grace like this today.
As we look at the Lord who is so happy again, we say, “Lord, thank you for looking at an ugly person like me so beautifully.” And sometimes with tears in his eyes, sometimes with tears and runny nose, he wept and said, "Lord, why do you love me so much? Why do you love me so persistently for an ugly person like me, for a bad person like me? Lord, I think you are the one who loves me." I don't deserve to be loved as much as I do. Lord, a filthy person like me, worse than trash, don't you smell? Lord, leave me. I am a filthy sinner." You will also make a confession.
The Lord came to Peter, who had worked hard all night, but could not catch a single fish and was exhausted, and preached the gospel. And he made them catch so many fish that their nets were torn. Then, "Peter fell down before Jesus' knees and said, "Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinner" (Luke 5:8). That is, through the miracle of blessing, you have truly realized yourself.
I cannot catch even a single fish with my own skills, so I have to live a miserable life, a sad life, a miserable miserable life, and a cursed life. I thought to myself, "Lord, I can't be a good person who deserves such great grace and blessings. I'm a stinky filthy sinner. makes a confession.
To Peter who gave thanks in this way, the Lord said, "Follow me. I will make you fishers of men." and calls him a disciple.
And Peter, again, thanking the Lord for calling someone as ugly as himself as a disciple, goes on the path of a disciple who follows the Lord.
Ladies and gentlemen, the Lord has given you that great salvation, what do you think?
“Oh Lord, isn’t it natural that you saved a righteous person like me, a smart person like me, a learned person like me, and a smart person like me? He is a righteous man worthy of God's blessing and praise. And you, too, should rejoice greatly that you found me and called me as a disciple." Well, it seems that such a person is still insufficient for the Lord to use him as a disciple.
The Lord has made it clear. “I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Luke 5:32).
In other words, the Lord calls those who realize that they are sinners, repent, forgive, save, and bless a sinner like himself and are moved by Jesus. No matter how great you have done for the Lord until now, "Lord, I am a sinner. Lord, thank you for using a sinner like me and an ugly person like me." If you confess with tears in your eyes, you are on the path of a true disciple.
And if this confession can come out no matter how difficult it is, you must be a precious worker in the kingdom of heaven.
But, “Lord, I am very sorry, Lord, because I have done this much service and donated this much, but you do not raise me as a priest, ordained deacon, or elder. Even the Lord is well aware of my filthy temper. At that time, the real relationship will be cut off." If you say so, your name is still 'Childish'.
If you have believed in Jesus for more than 10 years and still have this attitude, your future is very narrow and dark. And the devil will use such a wicked person as a powerful weapon to destroy the kingdom of heaven.
Guys, keep that in mind. God has called you not because you are more righteous than others, but because you are more sinner than others.
The reason God has blessed you more than others is because you are worse and weaker than anyone else, not because you are smarter and better than others.
Therefore, no matter how blessed you are, "Lord, thank you for giving such a blessing to a sinner like me." And you have to be more humble.
In today's text, we see that a sinful woman came to Jesus, wet his feet with her tears, washed his feet with her hair, kissed them, and anointed them with expensive perfume. Many people, including his disciples, listened to Jesus, but why is this woman dedicated with tears in her eyes?
It is because he deeply realized that Jesus forgave and loved a sinner like himself.
But Peter, who followed Jesus, knew he was a sinner, but not as deeply as this woman. In other words, as much as you realize that you are a sinner, you can devote yourself to the Lord with an upright, humble, and pure heart.
Everyone, I want to ask you. How deeply do you realize 'the grace of the Lord who saved a sinner like me'?
Ladies and gentlemen, the Lord does not use those who are handsome, educated, or possessive, but 'Thanks for the grace of the Lord for saving a sinner like me.' I hope that the confession of 'I am amazed at the grace of the Lord who saved a sinner like me' becomes a lifelong confession for you and me.
Prayer: The Lord said, "There will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance" (Luke 15:7). Today we realize that we are sinners, repent and follow the Lord humbly. Please make me a disciple. Amen!