It's NOT about rules

I intended to post this last evening, however, the night got away from me.  Today will be a 2 post day I guess.
1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him.2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, This man receives sinners and eats with them. (Luke 15;1-2)
Jesus had zero interest in religion.  Jesus wanted to develop relationships with people, relationships that would change them from the inside out.  Think about any relationship that you have had over time, has the other person in the relationship changed you, impacted your, influenced you?  I know that I can say unequivocally, "YES!".  Jesus was/is/and always will be the son of God.  He died on the cross, defeated sin, and death so that we may be saved.  No man/woman shall come to the Father except by Jesus.  Knowing Jesus is all about relationship, NOT about rules, regulations, or a naughty and nice list.  When we truly know Jesus, we are forever changed from the inside outward, just like we are changed by any meaningful relationship in our lives.  In Christ, we become new creations, our sins forgiven, our desires changed (though while on this Earth we will forever struggle with sin, yet we are forgiven!).  Christ followers, let us not be characterized by a spirit of judgement of the unchurched, rather let us go to them, receive them, speak to them and share the good news that Christ came for ALL people and that TODAY could be their day of salvation.  Faith in Christ + nothing else = Sa;vation!  Let God change them from the inside out...and let us display the Love of Christ.