Bad People Saved, Religious People Lost

By clevelandbc | May 6, 2022 |

“But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, the first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.” (Matthew 21:28-32)

Many religious leaders in Jesus’ day felt they were better than others. Jesus used this story to get their attention. Publicans were tax collectors, not famous for being honest. Harlots were prostitutes. Others might point to them and say, “I’m not so bad, not like those people! They’re really sinful!”

Yet according to Jesus’ story, “really sinful” people could be saved while religious people would not be. How? Look at the two sons in the story. The first son said “no” right to dad’s face when he told him to go work. That kid was REALLY sinful! Yet he repented. He had a change of heart and did as he was told. The second kid was polite–“I go sir:”–but he did not obey.

The problem with the religious leaders, illustrated by the polite but disobedient son, was a refusal on their part to repent. Acts 17:30 says that God “…commandeth all men everywhere to repent:” It does not say God commands publicans and prostitutes and hard-core criminals to repent, although they should. It says God commands “…all men everywhere to repent:” (boldface added)

Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” It does not say all have committed the same kind or number of sins, but “…all have sinned,” [boldface added]. All people have sinned: good people, religious people, kind people, police, politicians. Everyone.

As a result, all have “…come short of the glory of God;” We are separated from God and we owe the penalty for sin, which is death and hell: “For the wages of sin is death;” “And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire.” (Romans 6:23, Revelation 20:14)

Yet Jesus, God the Son, loved us and died on the cross for our sins: “But God commendeth his love for us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) Jesus was buried and rose again, and is alive today! “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen:” (Revelation 1:18)

All people, then, need to repent. Repentance is a change of heart: “…Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions;” (Ezekiel 18:30) It means to realize that your sins have separated you from God and condemned you to hell. It also means to realize that nothing you do can atone for your sins and get you to heaven. Only Jesus can do that. That is why He died for your sins on the cross, was buried, and rose again. He paid a sin debt you could not pay.

Finally, it means to receive Jesus into your heart and life as your personal Saviour, honestly trusting in Him entirely to forgive you all your sins and get you to heaven. Publicans and harlots who did that were forgiven and saved. So were religious leaders who did that, but those who did not receive Jesus died lost. If you want to receive Jesus as Saviour, be forgiven for your sins, and have eternal life, please go to www.clevelandbaptist.org, click “Helpful Links,” then “How Do I Go to Heaven?”

Brian Miller 5/8/2022

Cleveland Baptist Church 4431 Tiedeman Road, Brooklyn, Ohio 44144 216/671-2822

Posted in Police Devotional