During Christ’s ministry, He was visiting the house of a Pharisee (self-righteous keeper of the Law). At that time, a sinful woman (sexually immoral), came to the feet of Christ because she believed in His great love! She was moved to tears and she worshipped Him because He did not condemn her.

Luke 7:36-50 “One of the Pharisees invited him to eat with him. He entered into the Pharisee’s house, and sat at the table. Behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that he was reclining in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment. Standing behind at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and she wiped them with the hair of her head, kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, “This man, if he were a prophet, would have perceived who and what kind of woman this is who touches him, that she is a sinner.” Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” He said, “Teacher, say on.” “A certain lender had two debtors. The one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they couldn’t pay, he forgave them both. Which of them therefore will love him most?” Simon answered, “He, I suppose, to whom he forgave the most.” He said to him, “You have judged correctly.” Turning to the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered into your house, and you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head. You gave me no kiss, but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss my feet. You didn’t anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.” He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” Those who sat at the table with him began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”

The Pharisee was trying to become righteous in his own works. He did not understand that his good deeds could not reach the Righteousness of God. He wanted a reward for his good deeds.

But the sinner knew that she had fallen short of God’s glory in Christ. She wanted grace.

Jesus came in the flesh and never sinned, but He died on the cross for our sins and rose from the dead. He fulfilled the Law and its demands so that the RIGHTEOUSNESS of GOD is given to ALL who believe in Jesus Christ, without doing any works.

Romans 10:1-11 “Brothers, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God is for Israel, that they may be saved. For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, they didn’t subject themselves to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the fulfillment of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. For Moses writes about the righteousness of the law, “The one who does them will live by them.” But the righteousness which is of faith says this, “Don’t say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ (that is, to bring Christ down); or, ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead.)” But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth, and in your heart;” that is, the word of faith which we preach: that if you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart, one believes resulting in righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in him will not be disappointed.”

We are forgiven all sins, saved, and made righteous – not by doing our own works – but only by FAITH in JESUS CHRIST.

So if you are struggling with sin, don’t beat yourself up with condemnation.

But come to Jesus Christ and believe in Him.

He forgives all your sins and makes you righteous without any works, but simply by faith in Him.

He will transform you by believing in His grace and love and not by our works.