When Enemies Preach the Gospel, Part 1

Last evening I was singing the following words to myself:

When He lived on earth abased, Friend of sinners was His name;

Now, above all glory raised, he rejoices in the same.

This song about our Saviour is a favourite of mine. As I sang it, I began to think of the place in Scripture where Christ was called a friend of sinners. We read of Christ being called a friend of sinners in two passages both dealing with the same event. They are Matthew 11:19 and Luke 7:34. In these passages Christ is quoting what His enemies were saying of Him.

Luke 7:34 The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!

That He was a friend of sinners was being registered as a complaint against our Lord. It struck me that what was a complaint against Christ by His enemies, is for believers a glorious theme to be celebrated in beautiful song. Just where would we be if our Lord were not a friend of sinners?

Then consider another complaint made against our Lord by His enemies.

Luke 15:2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.

Imagine murmuring about that! Had these Pharisees and scribes known what great sinners they were and what a great Saviour Christ Jesus is, they would have been praising God that “this man receiveth sinners.” If Christ is going to receive any man, it will have to be sinners He receives since all men are sinners. If Christ is going to have any friends among men, He will have to be the friend of sinners since that is what all men are.

Although they did not realize it, Christ’s enemies were preaching the gospel. That Christ is a friend of sinners and receives them is the gospel itself. Christ came into this world to save sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). He died for sinners (Romans 5:8). He forgives sinners (Acts 13:38). He receives sinners (Romans 15:7). And He is the friend of sinners (John 15:14).

While on earth, Christ was a friend of sinners and received sinners. Now couple this with the following fact stated in this verse:

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

The song has it right. Although Christ is now raised above all glory, He is still a friend of sinners. He still receives them. Are you an outcast, lonely, needy sinner? Then believe the words of Christ’s enemies and find in the Lord Jesus Christ the friend you need. “What a Friend we have in Jesus!”