Chief of sinners

Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.– 1 Timothy 1.13-15

Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the worst. That’s what Paul said about himself. It is easy for us to sit back in our pride and self-righteousness and pride and say something like ‘no wonder he says that, look what he was like.’ Of course we would have to ignore our own pride and lust and evil thinking and anger and the lot to say that he was somehow a worse sinner that we are.

But Paul isn’t saying that. He says ‘of whom I am chief.’ He acknowledges that he is still a sinner. Even as a Christian he knew that he was still dealing with sin. He wrote all about it in Romans 7.

But when I look at me I feel like I should question Paul. After all, I know me and my own issues. I know what a sinner I am. I know the me that no one else knows and I am not at all not at all happy with what I see.

There is a key balance to find here. Yes, I am a sinner. I may even be worst sinner I know – that ought to keep me humble and aware that I am nothing without Him.

But that’s the key. I am not without Him. I have Him and He has washed me whiter than snow. Though I may be among the chiefest of sinners, I am as we used to say, a blood washed sinner and that is enough to set me apart.
.
This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.– 1 Timothy 1.13-15

Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the worst. That’s what Paul said about himself. It is easy for us to sit back in our pride and self-righteousness and pride and say something like ‘no wonder he says that, look what he was like.’ Of course we would have to ignore our own pride and lust and evil thinking and anger and the lot to say that he was somehow a worse sinner that we are.

But Paul isn’t saying that. He says ‘of whom I am chief.’ He acknowledges that he is still a sinner. Even as a Christian he knew that he was still dealing with sin. He wrote all about it in Romans 7.

But when I look at me I feel like I should question Paul. After all, I know me and my own issues. I know what a sinner I am. I know the me that no one else knows and I am not at all not at all happy with what I see.

There is a key balance to find here. Yes, I am a sinner. I may even be worst sinner I know – that ought to keep me humble and aware that I am nothing without Him.

But that’s the key. I am not without Him. I have Him and He has washed me whiter than snow. Though I may be among the chiefest of sinners, I am as we used to say, a blood washed sinner and that is enough to set me apart.