Luke 15:1

Contemporary English Version 1995

Tax collectors and sinners were all crowding around to listen to Jesus.

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“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” This saying is true, and it can be trusted. I was the worst sinner of all!

And if wicked people start doing right, they will save themselves from punishment.

The Law came, so that the full power of sin could be seen. Yet where sin was powerful, God's gift of undeserved grace was even more powerful.

Everyone had been listening to John. Even the tax collectors had obeyed God and had done what was right by letting John baptize them.

There the ones who are now least important will be the most important, and those who are now most important will be least important.

If you love only those people who love you, will God reward you for this? Even tax collectors love their friends.