My dear friends in Christ,
The joys of 2022 Harmony Plains Singing School are fast approaching. I sure hope you are making plans to be with us July 17th through the 22nd. Our Theme for 2022 is “Friend of Sinners” and our Hymn is “One There Is Above All Others”, number 521 in the OSH #11. The 2022 verse is Matthew 11:19, “The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.”
John Newton who wrote “Amazing Grace” also wrote this year’s hymn. When he had to be carried into the pulpit and could no longer mentally preach a full sermon, he is recorded as saying, “Although my memory’s fading, I remember two things very clearly: I am a great sinner and Christ is a great Savior.”
Newton realized the severity of his cruel, ungodly past. He did not think he merited forgiveness; in his mind, his crime against fellow humans who he transported in his ships as slaves for many years was undeserving of forgiveness by even the most benevolent. He was convinced he was an unforgivable racist wretch who was lost and blind. Then, he was blessed to know the “Friend of Sinners.”
There is an inclination in the Christian world that the benefit of Christ’s work is intended only for good people. The preaching of some would lead us to imagine that Christ came into the world to save the righteous and to heal those who never were sick. Often, in sinners’ consciences there is a fear that Christ could not have come to bless such as they are, but that the merit of his blood is only for those who possess astounding good works.
Dear friends, how inconsistent such a supposition is with the whole teaching of Scripture. Consider the purpose of God. It was a purpose intended to bless sinners. Wherefore, salvation if men are not lost is no salvation. The purpose was based in grace, but how is grace grace unless it is meant for persons who deserve nothing? How is salvation free if it is yet dependent upon the sinner to befriend Christ?
It is plain enough from the very purpose of God that salvation for sinners has nothing to do with those who are not sinners. Moreover, if the work of Christ was to bring in a perfect righteousness for those who were already righteous, it is such a redundancy as to not be worth a notice.
Why shed his blood? Why cry out from the cross? Why purchase atonement? Brethren, the fact that Jesus Christ bled for sin upon the cross proves on its very surface that Christ came into the world to save sinners.
Indeed, it is only when we get this clearly before us that we see Jesus in his glory and ourselves in His righteousness. Away with failed attempts at merit and thoughts of holiness; you have been befriended by the one who alone can free captives.
Christ’s sacrifice is ridiculous unless there be sin in the world and sinners whom Jesus came to save. Brethren, how is he a Saviour except to the lost? How is he a physician but to the sick? How is he a scapegoat if he does not bear sin away?
Our text shows the intimate connection which exists between Jesus and sinners. Wisdom is justified by her children. There are sinners, and there is a Savior who has befriended them. It is this one point alone that can relieve a sinner’s troubled conscience.
What was said in derision was a validation. What was said as proof of his ungodliness actually declared the truth of Christ being the Son of God. He is indeed the Friend of sinners. While we were yet sinners Christ died for the ungodly, and as Friend, he secured salvation.
I am anticipating a whole week of singing to the Friend of Sinners. I am a sinner, and he is my Friend. What with being shut up by COVID, misunderstood by culture, perplexed at my own existence, and never measuring up as I had hoped, I have a Friend above.
See you in July,
Brother Dickie