To Save Sinners

1 Timothy 1:15 ~ "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."

What does it take for you to be saved? And... do you qualify? 

Have you come to Christ by faith and trusted in Him for the everlasting life promised to all who believe? For many, this is a "bridge too far" because it requires something that they are quite unwilling to do. For all who come to the Lord for salvation must first recognize themselves as a sinner. This is far more than what many do. Many will admit that they have sinned--have made some mistakes, even great mistakes--and they will acknowledge that there are aspects of life that they have lived wrong. But merely recognizing in yourself a bad behavior is not what the text is requiring. Christ did not merely come to save those who acknowledge that they did some things wrong, He came to save sinners.

Then what is a "sinner" if it is not merely someone who does bad things? To know yourself to be a sinner is to know yourself to be at the very core of your being one who is in rebellion against God and desiring your own self-will. Many have described being a sinner as "one who has missed the mark" but it may be better understood when you realize that the reason you're missing the mark is because you're aiming at the wrong target. Many take their aim from the stance that they are inwardly a good person and merely want to leave bad behavior. That's the wrong target. Consider the sin in the Garden of Eden (see Genesis 3:6). The taking of the fruit was the expression of sin, but the sin in the garden was the complete rejection of the authority of the Almighty to yield to self-will and desire. 

So... do you qualify? Do you see yourself as a good person who has done some bad things, or do you know yourself to be a real sinner, a person who, at the core of the heart, have been in rebellion against the LORD? If it is the latter, then Jesus Christ came to save you--for He came to save sinners. The Pharisees never saw themselves as real sinners. Their claim to being the descendants of Abraham, and, ultimately, being the children of God (see John 8:39-41) prevented them from knowing themselves as real sinners. And that prevented them from coming to Christ for salvation--for Jesus came to save sinners.

The Apostle Paul understood this--declaring himself to be not only a sinner, but the foremost of sinners. And let this be your declaration as well. If you see yourself as a good person who has only done bad things then you don't qualify, for Jesus came to save sinners. But when you know yourself to be a sinner, then run to Christ for you will find Him to be a merciful Savior. He came to save sinners, so He came to save you. Do as the Philippian jailer did, and cry out with your heart, "What must I do to be saved?" (Acts 16:30).

​And we are told that this is "trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance." My friends, there is no one righteous, no one who is truly good. People can do good things. Behaviors can be modified to conform to a more moral standard. But it is in the heart where Jesus looks. God spoke to Samuel this very thing in 1 Samuel 16:7, "For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." 

If you hold doubts about your salvation, then let me ask three things: 1. Are you a sinner? 2. Did Jesus come to save sinners? 3. Will you believe on Jesus? If you answered yes to all three, then trust Him.

He has never failed to do what He has promised, and He has promised to save all who trust Him. He will give you His righteousness in exchange for your sinfulness. He will cover you with His grace. He died to pay for your transgressions. He lives to deliver you from them.

May this be a reminder to us all: Jesus Christ came to save sinners.

In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

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