Luke 5:8
8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.
Simon knew he was a sinner that doesn’t deserve to be with Jesus.
I imagine his past sins flashed in his mind.
He may have thought about times when he lied, used profanity, lusted, or even committed adultery.
It could be he committed all of these sins and more.
I wonder if he knew who the person was talking to him.
At this point, I don’t believe he realized Jesus is God.
But no doubt, after Simon saw the miracle Jesus performed and all the fish they caught, he knew Jesus was a good man.
Simon knew Jesus was a man of God.
Luke 5:9 says ¶ For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:
Simon had never seen any miracles like this before.
No doubt Jesus was from God. And so he said, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”
His reaction is not unusual from a sinful man in the presence of a Holy God.
There have been times in my life when I have struggled to go to God, struggled to come to a perfect Holy God because of sin in my life, because of my failures, weaknesses, and temptations.
Why do we always feel we need to fix ourselves and then go to God?
In vain, we try to better ourselves so God will accept us.
Our own efforts will never work.
We will always fall short of God’s righteousness, and God will not accept anyone who is anything less than perfect.
In this life, we’re taught we need to measure up.
We need to make it on our own. Either we qualify, or we don’t.
God doesn’t require us to be good enough.
He only wants us to trust Jesus and serve him wholeheartedly.
Romans 10:3 says For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
So often we go about to establish our own righteousness when what God wants is for us to submit ourselves unto the righteousness of God.
We find this with the Catholics and their purgatory belief.
Somehow, we struggle to let Jesus pay the price for our sins.
We still want to help him pay the price after we die.
When Jesus hung on the cross and said it is finished, that was it.
Jesus paid the price; we can’t add anything to his completed work on the cross.
Romans 10:4 says For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
Christ is the end of the law for righteousness.
Keeping the law doesn’t make us righteous.
We can only trust in his finished work on the cross.
Sometimes, we still fail, but we can take that to Jesus.
1st John 1:9 says If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Our own efforts will never cleanse us from sin.
Only the precious blood of Jesus can save us.
Simon was still in his sins.
I don’t know if he was a God-fearing man, but apparently, his past still weighed heavy on his mind.
Look what Jesus told him in verse 10…… And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.
Not only would Jesus forgive Simon, but Jesus would also use Simon to tell others the good news!
Simon would later tell others about the amazing love of Jesus and forgiveness for sins.
Later, Simon gets his name changed to Peter.
He becomes the leader of the apostles.
He will cast out demons, heal the sick, and preach the gospel.
He even walks on water for a second or two.
Have you accepted Jesus as your Savior?
If not, you can do so today!
Read this verse to see if you qualify for salvation.
Romans 5:6 ¶ For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
Who does it say Christ died for? (The ungodly)
If you’ve ever lusted, committed theft, murder, adultery, fornication, or any other sin, Christ died for you.
Some people struggle to believe they need forgiveness.
Let’s look at Romans 3:23 and see what God has to say.
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
We are all sinners, and we all need forgiveness.
Without accepting the sacrifice of Jesus, we will die in our sins and go to hell.
John 8:24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
If we don’t put our trust in Jesus, we will die in our sins!
What a horrible thought!
There’s no sin so great it can’t be forgiven.
Just come to Jesus!
In Luke chapter 23, we have the story of Jesus crucified.
In his entire time here on earth, Jesus never said an unkind word and never hurt anyone.
He went around healing and helping people.
Some of the same people Jesus came to save were the ones who wanted him dead.
They spit on him and beat him with a whip.
They had him nailed to a cross and put a crown of thorns on his head.
In verse 34, we see how Jesus responds to this cruel treatment.
Luke 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do…….
We see the incredible love, mercy, and compassion Jesus had for these evil men!
If he forgave the men who treated him this way, then no sin is so great that it will not be forgiven if confessed and forsaken.
Let’s read it in Jesus’s own words!
In John 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
“HIM THAT COMETH TO ME I WILL IN NO WISE CAST OUT,” Jesus says.
Don’t say depart from me, Lord. I’m unclean.
He wants to cleanse you.
Come to Jesus.
He has promised he won’t turn you away.
Sinners Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I’m a sinner.
I know that the price for my sin is death and hell.
But I also know you died so I can be forgiven and cleansed.
I have decided to trust you as my Savior.
Please forgive me for my sins.
Romans 8:1-2
1 ¶ There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death