1 Timothy 1:15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.
Cheryl and I are traveling again this week. At the worship service we attended yesterday, the pastor used the passage above as his sermon text. It was a good and timely message, and it provoked a few thoughts in the mind of this old preacher.
Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. The world desperately still needs to hear this message today. The reason this is true is that this world is still filled with sinners. Some of them are saved sinners because they have put their faith in Jesus. Some of them are still lost because they have not put their faith in Jesus. But God wants EVERY sinner to be saved. Jesus made that clear when He cried out from the cross, “Father, forgive them…”
An old Gospel song contains these lyrics: “The vilest offender who truly believes, That moment from Jesus a pardon receives.” These words are a beautiful description of what Jesus made a reality when He paid for our sins with His life offered in sacrifice.
When Paul wrote these words affirming that Jesus came to save sinners he added: —of whom I am the worst. Paul saw himself as the “vilest offender” because he had persecuted and killed followers of Jesus before coming to faith in Him. His attitude was, “If God can save me, He can save anyone and everyone!”
Think of the forgiveness Jesus earned this way.
- That forgiveness was available for Paul, who had killed followers of Jesus, and he took it.
- That forgiveness was available for Judas, who betraryed Jesus. He didn’t take it.
- That forgiveness is available to the young man who killed Charlie Kirk. From everything I observed about Charlie, he would have wanted that young man to take advantage of that offer from God. Will he? I pray that he will.
The world needs us to tell them that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Think about that as your read the lyrics to that Gospel Song I mentioned earlier
To God be the glory great things He hath done,
So loved He the world that He gave us His Son.
Who yielded His life an atonement for sin,
And opened the life gate that all may go in.
Chorus:
Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord, let the earth hear his voice
Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord, let the people rejoice!
O come to the Father thro Jesus the Son,
And give Him the glory, great things He hath done.
O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood,
To ev’ry believer the promise of God;
The vilest offender who truly believes,
That moment from Jesus a pardon receives. Chorus
Great things He hath taught us, great things He hath done,
And great our rejoicing thro’ Jesus the Son;
But purer and higher and greater will be
Our wonder, our transport, when Jesus we see. Chorus
