Why Did Jesus Come?
Luke 5:27-39
Bill Patton
May 5, 2024
Sermon Audio
Sermon Recap PDF
1. Jesus Came to Call Sinners to Follow Him
- Charles Wesley’s words in the great Hymn “And Can it Be” are an apt description of what happened to Levi
“Thine eye diffused a quickening ray
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light
My chains fell off, my heart was free
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee”
- That’s what happened to us when Jesus effectually called us to himself!
- One moment we were sitting, at our own tax booth–dead in our sins–following the course of the world–and Jesus looked upon us with mercy.
- He looked upon us with compassion and grace and then He, personally and effectually spoke to our hearts, “Follow Me”.
“God graciously and effectively calls to himself those he chose to save in Christ…the Holy Spirit regenerates the elect and brings them into living union with Christ, bestowing new spiritual life, opening their eyes to see God’s glory in Christ, and enabling them to respond to the gospel in faith and repentance…to love and follow Christ in joyful obedience.” — Sovereign Grace Statement of Faith
2. Jesus Came To Heal Sinners
- He ate and drank with them, not to condone, or approve of, or participate in their sins
- Christ came to heal the sin sick and so he ate and drank with them.
- Jesus took a genuine, love motivated interest in sinners and by His Holy Spirit He takes an active loving interest in us as well!
- Jesus connects with sinners like you and me, even in the midst of our sin.
- Are we following Jesus’ in this? Are we eating and drinking with sinners? Do we take a genuine grace filled interest in their lives?
3. Jesus Came to give sinners new life under new covenant with new traditions.
- Do the traditions and practices, of your culture, or of your subculture or even the religion you know are comfortable with keep you from drinking deeply the new wine of the gospel?
- Is the world’s wine good enough for you? Would you reject the new wine Jesus offers, which brings healing and life
- Jesus is the best friend you will ever have. Jesus is a friend of sinners. He isn’t passively waiting for you to come to him. He isn’t waiting for you to clean up your act first.He comes to you today…full of compassion, mercy and grace.
- His arms were stretched-out on that cross in love for you. There in love He died to purchase your salvation.
- There he bore your sins in his body and absorbed just punishment we you and I deserved for our sins
- And here now he calls us to follow him.
Questions for Discussion/Application:
- Consider taking time to read Luke 5:27-39 out loud. What initial insights or observations of the text do you have?
- When you think of the story of Jesus calling Levi, what parallels do you see to your own story — to God effectually, by His Spirit calling you?
- What do you think your life would be like had God by His Holy Spirit not called you to Himself? How does reflecting on this stir gratitude to God for your salvation?
- Bill opened his sermon recalling the impact the song “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus” had on his life. He also pointed out that Matthew responded to Jesus’ call and didn’t turn back — “no turning back, no turning back.” What temptations do believers face at times to turn back? What would it look like for us to resolve this day anew, in God’s strength and power, to not turn back?
- In keeping with Jesus’ own example, how can we be faithfully and proactively reaching out to the lost? How has it been going with that? In what ways is God helping you to do this? How do you want to grow still more?
- What are some of the blessings of the New Covenant that we can be thankful for today?
- Consider taking time to pray, thanking God for effectually calling us to Himself. Also pray that God would help us to continue to follow Him with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength.