From Sinner to Repentant

"When Jesus heard it, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

Mark 2:17 NKJV

We are in the house of Levi, the tax collector, a man who had gone over to the side of the oppressive Romans and was therefore disliked by everyone. A banquet brings together the “worst” people in the village, attracting criticism and accusations from the so-called “righteous,” to whom Jesus' words are addressed: he has come to call sinners to repentance, not the righteous. Those who consider themselves righteous and do not feel the need for God are unlikely to encounter Him, for He is like a doctor who turns to the sick who call for his help. God hates sin, but He loves sinners. And it is this attitude of love that reaches out to the needy and then brings about repentance. This concept is present throughout the Old Testament, where every page is permeated with this theme, representing the Lord's constant and loving pressure to change. If you have ever had a stiff neck, hopefully not right now, you have experienced that pressure behind your neck that prevents you from moving and turning your head. That is why people who turn away from God are often described as “stiff-necked.” Repentance represents that possibility of turning around and returning to dependence on God. The repentance spoken of in the New Testament implies a change of perspective, not so much about God as about ourselves.

The house of the Lord can be a place where people beat their breasts, make gestures, practice rituals, observe liturgies, but then they leave and everything remains unchanged. It is only appearance. Therefore, those who attend church for a long time and then, from one day to the next, decide to leave the community have probably never experienced a real and full conversion. In fact, those who have entrusted their lives to the Lord, those who have felt remorse for their condition before receiving God's grace, and those who have become aware of the mistakes they have made will never stray. Those who convince themselves that, at a certain point, they should no longer make mistakes, living as “righteous” people, cannot contemplate that they may continue to make mistakes. For this reason, it is necessary to broaden the concept of repentance, not limiting it to the past. It is appropriate to repent every day, constantly recognizing our need to change our minds and submit our convictions to the thoughts of Christ. It is essential to arm ourselves with a cloth and a bucket to clean up and remedy the mistakes we have made. The humility of Paul is thought-provoking. Writing to his youngest collaborator, he expresses his gratitude to Christ Jesus, our Lord, who made him strong and considered him trustworthy, placing him in his service (1 Timothy 1:12-17). In the past, he was a persecutor and a violent man, but he received mercy because he acted out of ignorance and unbelief. The grace of the Lord abounded in him, bringing faith and love in Christ Jesus.

In the past, he was a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a violent man. Paul recounts his conversion and what he was like before he encountered divine grace. He affirms that precisely because he was a sinner, deprived of the glory of God and under his judgment, he received mercy. After being struck down on the road to Damascus, after being led by the prophet and regaining his sight, he underwent a transformation. Those who have experienced God's love, even if they face difficulties, will have no problems with the Lord. They may have problems with the community, with ministers, because it is our relationships that test us, but they must recognize that they have received mercy. Jesus came among us to open the gates of Heaven, and he did so by offering his body and blood, sacrificing his life for the remission of our sins, to free us from the condemnation that weighed on our souls. You will remember the adulteress brought before him, considered a sinner and deserving of condemnation by others. And to her he said, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more” (John 8:11). To her accusers he said, “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone” (v. 7), forcing them to leave the scene. Nothing was hidden from him, and no one could lie to him. Like Paul, Levi, the adulterous woman showed me mercy and trusted me. Know that Jesus came to transform you from a sinner to a “righteous” person. Have faith, let yourself be justified. Decide to turn to Him, and nothing and no one will be able to separate you from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus.

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Weekly Bible Reading Plan #22

May 26, 1 Chronicles 28-29; John 9:24-41

May 27, 2 Chronicles 1-3; John 10:1-23

May 28, 2 Chronicles 4-6; John 10:24-42

May 29, 2 Chronicles 7-9; John 11:1-29

May 30, 2 Chronicles 10-12; John 11:30-57

May 31, 2 Chronicles 13-14; John 12:1-26

June 1, 2 Chronicles 15-16; John 12:27-50