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Jesus died to pay for the sins of the whole world so that anyone who wishes to come to Him is welcome (1Jn.2:2;2Pe.3:9). So, the call of the Gospel is totally inclusive; it is available to everyone from every race, language, culture, social level or history of sin. The blood of Jesus Christ can provide forgiveness from all sin and cleanse all of us who come to Him. Nobody needs to be excluded.

The words of the famous hymn make it clear, "Just as I am, without one plea, But that Thy blood was shed for me, And that Thou bid'st me come to Thee, O Lamb of God, I come! I come!" Anyone who honestly acknowledges his sinful condition can go to Jesus in sincere repentance and receive forgiveness and acceptance freely from God, by grace through faith (Ep.2:8,9). God doesn't demand that we should first change our lives to fit in with His standards and only then we can be accepted. If He had done that, none of us could be accepted!

When we go to God as sinners, He forgives us and accepts us as those robed with the righteousness of Christ (Php.3:9). Then He begins His work of sanctification in us, transforming us little by little to actually become like Christ in the way we live (1Jn.2:6). So, even though we were accepted just as we were, we cannot continue to live just as we used to! No one who has been born again through the work of the Holy Spirit would like to continue to practise sin (1Jn.3:9).

Now, there are those who have come to think they have become Christians without actually seeing themselves as sinners and turning away from their sins. Since no change has actually taken place in their lives, they continue more or less as before. What they need is a true conversion. There are others who had actually come to genuine faith in Christ but who have backslidden because of the attraction of sin (Mt.13:22). They need to become sober and repent (1Co.15:34). It will be great disservice to these groups of people if the church takes an inclusive approach to them!

If we take an inclusive approach in a mistaken understanding of love, towards those who will not admit their sins or repent, we will be out of line with God who looks at them differently. He wants them to realise that they are out of line (1Co.5:11). If we ourselves fall into this category, we need to wake up immediately and not take shelter under a false understanding of God's love.

God gives time for us to turn to Him in repentance (Lk.13:7-9). He waits for the prodigal son to come to his senses. God is extremely patient towards us. But He will not wait forever. In the days of Noah, God gave people a long time to repent, but finally the judgment came (1Pe.3:20). If we came to God in the first place because we were sorry about our sins, certainly we cannot continue in sin now, presuming on the mercy of God. On the other hand, we ought to seek God for help to overcome sin as we come to see it more clearly in our life (He.4:15,16). God surely wants to save us.

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