Cause A Celebration in Heaven
“I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.” (Luke 15:7)
Luke 15 is one of the most beloved chapters in all the Bible. In it, we read stories about a lost sheep, a lost coin, and a lost son. Today’s verse is taken from a parable Jesus told after the Pharisees condemned him for associating with “tax collectors and sinners” (Luke 15:1). Jesus didn’t associate with the wicked to participate in their activities. Rather, He befriended the wicked in order to reach them with God’s grace. The parable demonstrates that Jesus wants everyone to be born again.
Jesus said there was a man who had 100 sheep, and while 99 of them were accounted for, one of them had gone missing. The owner of the sheep was willing to leave the 99 in order to find the one that was gone. Having found the lost sheep, he threw a party with friends and neighbors because the one that was lost had been found. Jesus said, “likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.”
Was Jesus trying to say that some people are so good that they don’t need to repent? Clearly not! Just two chapters earlier, Luke recorded these words of Jesus – “Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3). Every human is a wicked sinner in desperate need of Jesus, but sadly some are too proud to realize it. The story reminds us that the self-righteous will not experience God’s grace, but those that are willing to turn to God will cause heaven to break out in celebration every time!
Luke 15 is one of the most beloved chapters in all the Bible. In it, we read stories about a lost sheep, a lost coin, and a lost son. Today’s verse is taken from a parable Jesus told after the Pharisees condemned him for associating with “tax collectors and sinners” (Luke 15:1). Jesus didn’t associate with the wicked to participate in their activities. Rather, He befriended the wicked in order to reach them with God’s grace. The parable demonstrates that Jesus wants everyone to be born again.
Jesus said there was a man who had 100 sheep, and while 99 of them were accounted for, one of them had gone missing. The owner of the sheep was willing to leave the 99 in order to find the one that was gone. Having found the lost sheep, he threw a party with friends and neighbors because the one that was lost had been found. Jesus said, “likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.”
Was Jesus trying to say that some people are so good that they don’t need to repent? Clearly not! Just two chapters earlier, Luke recorded these words of Jesus – “Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3). Every human is a wicked sinner in desperate need of Jesus, but sadly some are too proud to realize it. The story reminds us that the self-righteous will not experience God’s grace, but those that are willing to turn to God will cause heaven to break out in celebration every time!
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