“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.” – 1 Timothy 1:15
With great zeal the Apostle Paul persecuted the church of Jesus Christ. He ripped apart families, tormented Christians, and consented to the death of Stephen. Throughout all this Christ looked down on this man with love and compassion. By the apostle’s own testimony, he was the chief of sinners; the worst of the worst, and God saved him.
Jesus Christ can save anyone from sin. To say otherwise is not to reject any one man, but to reject God himself. Jesus came to save sinners. To save them from sin, not in sin, but from sin. Sin, and all its awful, blinding, miserable unrest. Jesus came to save us from the committing of sin, and the very nature of sin. Sin in a man’s heart and life can ruin him, because harboring sin in your heart is to harbor the devil himself, and we know that the thief cometh not but for to “kill and to steal and to destroy.” The Apostle Paul understood this, and he whole heartily fought it once he was delivered from it. To a degree, we all must come to a “chief of sinners” state before we can truly find salvation. There must be an undeniable realization of our lost condition, and a feeling of sharp conviction. Only a vision of the holiness of Jesus can bring about a realization of the ungodliness within man; and when the condemnation of your sin is brought to the surface, and you look your ugliness in the face; all that is left is a plea for mercy and a run to Christ for forgiveness. This is the state where one feels that they are the “chief of sinners;” the state of realization, which is, hopefully, followed swiftly by repentance.
It is not a stretch to believe that some, perhaps many, have come to this state, or at least taken steps toward it; but how the enemy would come and did come. Often the lie is spun in the hearts of those pressing back toward God: “you are too far gone.” He tells those lost in sin that they are too lost, and he tells those that are living in righteousness that they are too righteous; both are lies. Paul declares plainly that Jesus came to save sinners, and he was just that indeed, but he obtained mercy, and if he obtained mercy, why can’t you? Imagine if the United States Coast Guard borrowed millions from the American people; your taxes increased and increased still further, but with this money they planned to build a magnificent vessel. A vessel designed to save any man lost at sea; no matter how lost and no matter how far, they could be reached, and they could be saved. If so much was sacrificed; would they not use it to the utmost? If so much was given, would it not stand to reason that it would save souls? How much more the blood of God’s own Son to save? To save and save completely. Jesus Christ came on this earth to save sinners, now and forevermore, to save you!
What is needful to consider is not how lost you are, but how long do you wish to remain that way? The choice is yours; do you want to remain a sinner, or do you want to be saved? Do you desire peace? I humbly ask, what could profit more than having the love of God reigning and abiding in your heart? Jesus Christ can save you from all sin; he can make your life anew and give you peace. There is nothing other than Christ that can accomplish this. Jesus saves.
