Joy Over One Sinner Who Repents

Jesus said in Luke 15:10. "Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents." ESV

 The context in which Jesus made that statement was that religious leaders were critical of Jesus for letting sinners draw near to hear Him. So Jesus spoke a parable of a shepherd who will go after a lost sheep until it is found, and a woman who will seek diligently for a lost coin until she finds it. The shepherd and the woman rejoice when they find what was lost.

Finding a lost sheep or coin are worth rejoicing about. But much greater exultation takes place when a sinner repents, for that's when there is joy before the angels of God.

There is much that God says is sin that people find quite acceptable and desirable. As long as that's what they think, they'll see no need to repent. Much of what is on TV, in movies, in songs, and in books actually encourages people to do what is offensive to God.

Sin, whether people know it or not, has serious eternal consequences. The only way to escape those consequences is to gain the forgiveness that can only be found in the person and work of Jesus.

Too many Christians are complacent about telling others about who Jesus is and what He has done and taught. It is time that we learn to be better at sharing the gospel. If we don't do it, who will? If Jesus is our Lord then we ought to be doing what He wants us to do.

 Although Jesus spent time with sinners, eating and talking with them, He never did what they were doing in regards to sin. Never, in His entire life while He was here in the flesh, did He ever sin.

 Just as Jesus spent time with sinners and talked with them, we ought to do the same. But we must not join them in their sins whether they be in words or deeds. God wants them to repent of their sins and turn to Jesus for forgiveness of their sins, just as we who believe in Jesus as our Savior and Lord have done.

 We should want for others to repent and turn to Jesus for forgiveness and salvation. Whenever that happens, we can greatly rejoice, along with the angels in heaven. Let's think about that, pray about it, and act on it whenever we are able.