JANUARY 8, 2013
Where
Sinners Go
Read: Romans 5:6-15
God
demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still
sinners,
Christ died for us. —Romans 5:8
My
friend was having a conversation with a man who didn’t have
much good to say
about the Christian faith. My friend knew that if
he were to sound too
“religious,” he would jeopardize any chance
to witness. So, in the middle of
their discussion, he said, “Hey, Bob,
do you know where sinners go?”
“That’s
easy,” he replied. “You’re going to tell me they go to hell.”
“No,”
my friend responded. “They go to church.”
Bob
was speechless. That wasn’t what he expected. He wasn’t ready
to hear from a
Christian who realized he wasn’t perfect. My friend had
a chance to share that
Christians understand their sinfulness and their
need for continual spiritual
restoration. He was able to explain grace
—the unmerited favor we have with God
despite our sinfulness
(Rom. 5:8-9; Eph. 2:8-9).
Perhaps
we don’t give those outside the church a clear picture of
what’s happening
inside. They may not understand that we’re there
to praise our Savior for
providing “redemption through His blood,
the forgiveness of sins” (Col. 1:14).
Yes,
sinners go to church. And sinners—forgiven ones—go to heaven
because of God’s
grace.
We’re far from perfection, yet perfect forever,
For Christ is our righteousness, Lord, and our Savior;
No justification for sin can we offer,
Yet sanctified fully, we’re now His forever. —Lee
A church is a hospital for sinners, not a club for saints.
Source:
Our Daily Bread 2012
