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 20 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.