1 Timothy 1:15-17
The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
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This passage caught my attention this evening, because it is a perfect expression of how a Christian should view the gospel of Christ. As Paul shares with Timothy a “trustworthy statement,” we see Paul first begin by explaining that Christ came, not to applaud the righteous, but to save sinners; and Paul declares himself to be the chief or greatest of all sinners. Paul then explains that this salvation comes, not so we might applaud ourselves, but it comes in order that God’s mercy and perfect patience might be magnified. We are saved for the glory of God. Then, as Paul concludes, he offers praise to God for his great grace.
As I read this, and as you look over the passage again, let us consider these truths for ourselves. Christ came to save sinners. Never shrink back or try to avoid being called a sinner. We are all sinners. In comparison to the perfect holiness of God, an infinite perfection, we are all sinners, infinitely evil in comparison to infinite holiness. WE are sinners, and we are to remember this fact.
One reason that it is glorious to remember your sin is that it magnifies the glory of God. When you remember your sin, not to revel in your memories or enjoy your evil but simply to recall with sadness your malevolence you can also turn and glorify Christ for being gracious enough to save someone like you. That places all the glory for your salvation where it should be. You are not saved because you are good. You are most certainly not saved because you are better than others. Instead, you and I know that we, if we are saved, are saved in order to be walking displays of how gracious is our God. If God would save someone as wicked as I have been, he is a great and gloriously merciful God indeed.
Than, as we remember how gracious is our God, we ought to respond by allowing that fact to lead us to praise him. We not only thank God for what he has done on our behalf, we praise him for the perfect holiness that he possesses. We thank him for his grace. We praise him for his perfection. We honor him because of how wonderful he is. When we remember our sin and how great is our salvation, we naturally stop feeling down because we are sinners. Instead, we rejoice in the God who is amazing enough to forgive sinners, even ones as wicked as us.
Dear Lord, I thank you for your grace. I am a sinner. I deserve nothing from you except wrath. I have done nothing to earn your favor. Yet, you chose to send Christ Jesus into the world to save sinners, of whom I am worst. I thank you that this grace magnifies your glory. You are perfectly just yet entirely merciful. Thank you, God, for being the perfect balance of mercy and grace. I worship you, because only you are wise enough, powerful enough, and loving enough to save someone such as I from the death and hell that I deserve. Praise you, O gracious God, for your grace that is truly amazing.
Pastor Travis Peterson 