I actually believe what He may have said to them was, "eat with Me." Disclaimer: These exact words aren't in the bible to my knowledge. This is what I surmise from what is given (Mark 2: 13-17). I believe Jesus may have been referencing these individuals because The Gospel accounts mentioned sinners by their titles (tax collector, adulterer, etc.) THEN "sinners (Mark 2: 15)." Who were these "sinners"? I have always been curious about this because this word is in quotations. Who could "sinners" have referred to? Why isn't it specified? Is it possible there was no language to express transsexual, queer, asexual, binary and so on in the original Hebrew and Aramaic? These are the two languages the Bible was first known to be written in. I am now wondering: is this a mystery of God intended to be questioned at a time such as this?
Jesus didn't hate anyone because they identified as gay, lesbian, trans, etc., He hated all sin, but THE SIN that would send us all to hell. The SIN that causes death (1 John 5:18) really boils down to unbelief (John 12: 37-50 for context).
If you don't know Jesus AND believe in Him, how can you partake of ALL the Word of God says comes along with that belief? If you don't know Jesus, how can you stop sinning if you don't believe what you are doing is wrong? There is a difference between ignorance of God's Word (not knowing it) and knowing what God's Word says, but sinning anyways because you choose to.
If you believed in Jesus, you would love Him and therefore follow His commands (John 14:15). God’s Word warns us to avoid sexual immorality, sexual sin, fornication, adultery, etc. The latter, speaks of breaking the covenant of marriage and that is a subject for another time. To continue, the Apostle Paul said this: "Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body (1 Corinthians 6:18 NIV)." This is a very strong statement.
Why is sexual immorality dangerous?
It is one of the things that incurs the wrath of God. "Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry. ⁶ Because of these, the wrath of God is coming (Colossians 3:5-6)." It is offensive to the God of Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:3-5). It is also one of the many sins that caused God to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah (see Genesis 19 for full context). From this event, there were only three people saved (allowed to leave before the destruction) a man named Lot, his two daughters, and his wife. Lot's wife however was told not to look back. She did and was turned into a pillar of salt, the Word of God says. This is also another subject for another time.
Sexual immorality is dangerous because with it comes others such as perversion, ungodly desires, and lust to name a few. All in all, a willingness to disobey God. Sin never travels alone.
How do we fight sin?
I intentionally wrote, "fight sin" because it isn't other people who anyone should be fighting (Ephesians 6:12) it is evil and wickedness, sin included. Violence towards others is NEVER the answer. To begin this fight, it isn't enough to believe in Jesus Christ. We must do the acts in line with our belief. The Apostle James said: "faith without works is dead...(read James 2:14-26 for context; James 1:22).” Furthermore, Jesus spoke of those who loved Him with their lips but not with their hearts (Matthew 15:8). In so, anyone can claim to know Jesus, but do they LIVE for Him?
We DO and WILL sin! God understands this. Our tendency to sin however, although an issue, isn't the MAIN issue. The MAIN issue is when there is no repentance or no desire to change or stop doing what is wrong according to God. We are back to 1 John 5:18 as previously mentioned. This verse again refers to the continuation of sin because a person does not know God. Sure, you may enjoy life here on earth doing what YOU want but this makes you an enemy of God (James 4:4). Rebellion against God is as the sin of witchcraft (1 Samuel 15:23). Now, I know some are excited about halloween, but God isn't excited to have witches in heaven. Yes, witches are real, don't all fly broomsticks, and there is a place for them if they do not want to change. This, my friends, is again another topic for another time.
Why is it important to change?
Without change, hell is our home for all eternity. Because God knew we had two options: heaven or hell, and He wanted us to live and not die (Ezekiel 33:11), because humans are inclined to make mistakes OFTEN, He sent Jesus to become our sin so that we may have life and life more abundantly (John 10:10). When someone gives the excuse of their actions being a "mistake" often, it is no longer a mistake. It's a sin issue.
It is important to know…
Jesus does not want anyone stuck in sin. What He does want very badly is to give you access to abundant life. He's already given you that through the ability to call on Him from your heart: "For 'everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved' (Romans 10:13)."
Back to where we first began: belief.
If you don't believe in Jesus, it seems crazy to call on Him for help, right? What if you do have SOME belief in Jesus yet aren't living right but by some chance, you do genuinely call on Him for help? I believe with all of my heart that He would hear you and meet you right where you are because that's what He says. Not, "Jesus I am broke and struggling, I need you" but: "Jesus, everything else I have tried has failed. I don't know if You're real, but if You are, save me please." As short as this is, imagine how POWERFUL this prayer is from a heart that is ready to give up a life of willful sin and accept the forgiveness for all sin that Jesus Christ gives?
What exactly does Jesus want me to have?
He wants you to have a free gift. He wants you to have forgiveness in exchange for repentance (turning away from sin). In other words, He takes your sin and gives you forgiveness and salvation (life in heaven) as opposed to life in hell, a place that was not created for people but for Satan and his demons as Matthew 25:41 says.
Why do I have to go to hell if I don't believe in Jesus?
God is good and perfect and the sin we partake in (all of them) makes us unclean and unable to be (fellowship) with Him. The ONLY WAY to God is through Jesus (John 14:6). I have heard it asked: "if you don't want God in life, why would you want Him in death?" (Originator unknown). Think about this question.
SPECIAL MESSAGE
I leave you with that final question, assignment, all of the love God has given me to give to you, and this truth: "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).” I may not know you but God does. The prayers that He places in my heart to be spoken out of my mouth on behalf of you have POWER. YOU, my dear are on God's heart. He loves YOU.
I Challenge you to:
SEEK GOD because His Word says when you do so with all of your heart, you WILL find Him (Jeremiah 29:13).
