Forgiveness for the
Worst Sinner
By David J. Stewart
Luke 7:47-50,
“Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for
she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.
And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. And they that sat at meat
with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins
also? And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in
peace.”
The Bible contains a precious passage in Luke
7:36-50 about a woman who had committed MANY sins. She came to Jesus
by faith, believing that He was the Savior Who would forgive her sins, and
Jesus did. Amen!
“And
one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went
into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat. And, behold, a woman in
the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in
the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, And stood at
his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and
did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and
anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee which had bidden
him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a
prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that
toucheth him: for she is a sinner. And Jesus answering said unto him,
Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.
There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five
hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he
frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love
him most? Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave
most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. And he turned to
the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into
thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my
feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest
me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to
kiss my feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman
hath anointed my feet with ointment. Wherefore I say unto thee, Her
sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom
little is forgiven, the same loveth little. And he said unto her, Thy
sins are forgiven. And they that sat at meat with him began to say
within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? And he said to
the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace” (Luke 7:36-50).
Jesus
is so precious. We are so undeserving as sinners. Jesus paid a debt that He
did not owe because we owed a debt that we could not pay. Religion wants to
fit us with glasses, but Jesus wants to open our eyes that we might see.
There is no depth of sin to which a person can
sink, but that God's mercy and grace will forgive them. Jesus shed His blood
to wash away our sins. All we need to do is acknowledge our guilt of sin and
believe upon Jesus Christ for forgiveness.
The Gospel is not a matter of promising God to
do better, nor to amend our sinful ways, nor to reform nor give up the
world; but rather, to freely receive the gift of God on the basis of
Christ's blood sacrifice. Salvation is freely given and freely received.
Eternal life is a free gift. We are not saved in any way by our own
self-righteous efforts or works. It's not what you're doing that gets you to
Heaven, it's where you're looking.
Look to Jesus!
Revelation 22:17,
“And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say,
Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take
the water of life freely.”
The Biggest Sinner
