Luke 5:12-15 Cleansed Like A Leper

Leper, leprosy… A slowly progressing and intractable disease characterized by subcutaneous nodules, scabs, or cuticular crusts and white shining spots appearing to be deeper than the skin. Other signs are 1) the hair of the affected part turns white, and 2) later there is a growth of quick raw flesh.

Leper, leprosy… This disease in an especial manner rendered its victims unclean. Even contact with a leper defiled whoever touched him, so, while the cure of other diseases is called “healing,” that of leprosy is called “cleansing.” ISBE

The Leper’s Faith… I. Made him eager for cleansing

Today Some don’t believe they CAN be cleansed 1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; 1 Timothy 1:13-15 even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief … 15 It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.

Today Some don’t believe they CAN be cleansed Some love their leprosy 2 Peter 2:13-15 suffering wrong as the wages of doing wrong. They count it a pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are stains and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions, as they carouse with you, 14 having eyes full of adultery that never cease from sin, enticing unstable souls, having a heart trained in greed, accursed children; 15 forsaking the right way, they have gone astray, having followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

Today Some don’t believe they CAN be cleansed Some love their leprosy Some love the company of lepers Proverbs 13:19 … it is an abomination to fools to turn away from evil. Proverbs 21:10 The soul of the wicked desires evil; His neighbor finds no favor in his eyes

The Leper’s Faith… I.Made him eager for cleansing II.Made him believe he could be cleansed

MIRACLES AND PARABLES, pg. 64, Dr. Thomson The land and the book speaks of lepers in the East, and says, “the hair falls from the head and eye brows; the nails loosen and drop off; joint after joint of the fingers and toes shrink up and slowly fall away. The gums are absorbed and the teeth disappear. The nose, eyes, tongue and palate are slowly consumed.” This disease turns a man into a mass of loathsomeness, a walking pile of pests. Leprosy is nothing better than a horrible and lingering death.”

Is Sin Incurable? 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.

The Leper’s Faith… I.Made him eager for cleansing II.Made him believe he could be cleansed III.Was fixed on Jesus alone

Proverbs 14:12 There is a way {which seems} right to a man, But its end is the way of death. Many are trusting men instead of just coming to Jesus, by His word Acts 22:16 `Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.'

The Leper’s Faith… I.Made him eager for cleansing II.Made him believe he could be cleansed III.Was fixed on Jesus alone IV.Made him want a REAL cure

Galatians 6:7-8 do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Some want Freudian psychology, attacking the guilt instead of the sin! Some want comfort, not conversion. Some want security, not sanctification.

The Leper’s Faith… I.Made him eager for cleansing II.Made him believe he could be cleansed III.Was fixed on Jesus alone IV.Made him want a REAL cure V.Had its reward.

The Leper’s Faith… The healing was wonderful, but the “touch” made it perfect. What is your need? Cleansing, forgiveness, encouragement, strength, love, family, relationship, a fresh start, a blank slate? Jesus’ “touch” is not just basic--it is perfect.