Luke 15:1-7
1. Now the tax collectors and "sinners" were
all gathering around to hear him.
2. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered,
"This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."
3. Then Jesus told them this parable:
4. "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of
them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and
go after the lost sheep until he finds it?
5. And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders
6. and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors
together and says, `Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.'
7. I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing
in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine
righteous persons who do not need to repent.
II Corinthians 5:17-21
17. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new
creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
18. All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through
Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:
19. that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not
counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the
message of reconciliation.
20. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were
making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf:
Be reconciled to God.
21. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him
we might become the righteousness of God.
2 Peter 3:9
9. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.