Church is for Sinners

1st Installment of a series about the church, redemption, and the gospel.

There are two guys I really like, Mark Driscoll and Dale Ralph Davis. My first exposure to Driscoll was primarily through John Piper's national conference last year and I have been watching him for the last several months, he is a very sharp guy. I stumbled upon Dale Ralph Davis through a buddy Steven Steele when I was in Ireland last Thanksgiving. Then again this past semester with Dr. Moeller in Minor Prophets drastically exposed me to him because he was one of her professors at RTS while she was there. (He is a pastor here.) The end of his welcome message is as follows, "Now I must warn you. This church is full of sinners. Everyone who comes here is one. You'll need to remember that if you associate with us – or you may be unnecessarily disappointed."

Both of these men preach and teach a fundamental lesson that is essential to the gospel. That truth is that church is for sinners. It is an amazing concept really, that God wants those who rebel against Him to worship Him and be His precious children.

Throughout Scripture we see this. Luke 7 ( the forgiven prostitute - one of my favorite passages of Scripture), a pharisee declares, "if this man were a prophet then he would know what kind of person is touching him... for she is a sinner." Christ replied with a parable, concluding "therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven- for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little." Of course church is for sinners, and Christ expands and says that church is for the redeemed as well. For those who believe in the gospel, that is what happens... they become redeemed, children of God.

We become heirs with Christ: Romans 8:12-17 

"So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!" The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him."