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"But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." (Luke 15: 2)

When one considers just who "this man" was, in the above verse, and just who are those styled as "sinners," such a verse becomes pregnant with meaning, yea, a message of great import, fantastic news indeed!

The Pharisees erroneously imagined that the Lord Jesus Christ was condoning the sinful lifestyle of those he was welcoming and with whom he was being, openly and privately, friendly and hospitable.

Christ, being perfectly holy and completely "without sin," had a perfect right to say to every sinner - "Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou." (Isaiah 65: 5)

Sinners have no right to say these words to another sinner. God, however, has that right, and in fact, does exercise that right and legitimately says to every sinner, "come not near to me." Why? Because God is, as the prophet said, "of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity" (Habukkuk 1: 13).

The most holy God has no fellowship with sinners. Sinners, in order to have a restored fellowship with God, must first be "reconciled to God," must have "peace made with God" or else their coming to God and having fellowship with him is impossible. This reconciliation is only possible through the Lord Jesus Christ, the "one mediator between God and man" (I Timothy 2: 5)

God, though not approacheable (I Timothy 6: 16), and though infinitely holy (Isaiah 57: 15), yet he is able to approach sinful man through the Lord Jesus Christ. Sinners are able to approach most holy God through the same Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is the "man in the middle," the great mediator and peacemaker! Thank God that he approaches sinners and allows sinners to approach him! He not only allows our coming, as sinners, but he even welcomes us with open arms! This is vividly illustrated in the story of the Prodigal Son, in the father welcoming back his wayward son.

"And he said, A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to (return) my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry." (Luke 15: 11-24 KJV)

Christians have done just as this wayward son. They have had their change of heart and mind and have returned to their Heavenly Father. The message to all lost prodigal sinners is -

"Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will welcome you." (II Corinthians 6: 17)

As Christ has welcomed the prodigal upon his return, and as he has welcomed sinners to come to him for salvation, so too have sinners welcomed Christ to come and save them and to come into their hearts to live and to dwell.

"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." (Revelation 3: 20)

Thus, when a person becomes a Christian, he has gone through an experience where Christ has welcomed him into his fellowship and where the sinner has likewise welcomed Christ into his heart.

This experience teaches us how to welcome others and also, in many cases, how to deal with those who do not welcome us nor our master.

"Wherefore welcome ye one another, as Christ also welcomed us to the glory of God." (Romans 15: 7)

"As ye have therefore welcomed Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him." (Colossians 2: 6)

"For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him." (Acts 28: 30 NIV)

"Welcome him that is weak in the faith, but not to doubtful disputations." (Romans 14: 1)

"If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him. Anyone who welcomes him shares in his wicked work." (II John 10,11 NIV)

"We therefore ought to welcome such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth." (3 John 1: 8)

"And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave, as a testimony against them." (Mark 6: 11 NIV)

Thus, how we have been welcomed by Christ, will serve to help us learn how to welcome others to Christ and his salvation. It will teach us how to welcome each other, both as fellow human beings, and as brothers in Jesus.

We have other wonderful welcomings, as Christians, that we can expect. Certainly, every Christian, when he dies, may expect, as Stephen, the first recorded Christian martyr, to see Christ "stand up" to welcome him into heaven. (See Acts 7)

"...and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." (II Peter 1: 11 NIV)

Sinner, are you refusing the invitation of Christ to sinners? He is the greatest Savior and Physician of sin sick souls. He invites you to come to him for just what you need. It is wonderful to be a guest of Christ and also to have him as one's abiding guest in heart and life.