1 Timothy 1:12-17 - Fourth Sunday after Pentecost - 2 July 2017 - Rev. John Derme
How bad of a sinner are you? None of us would claim to be perfect, of course. But we also don't like to think of ourselves as bad people. We can all think of people who are worse sinners than we are. You might think of an example from the Bible, Judas Iscariot, who betrayed his innocent friend, Jesus. The world's favorite example is Adolph Hitler, who sought to take over Europe and exterminate an entire ethnicity. There are people who commit shocking crimes every day, like those who hurt vulnerable people. You might think of someone who has done something horrible against you.
How bad of a sinner is that person you are thinking about? That may not be such a hard question to answer. But that isn't the question that God wants us to answer. The question he would have us answer can be more difficult. How bad of a sinner are you?
It will help us to answer that question for ourselves when we read how St. Paul answered that question for himself. In our Second Lesson for today from his first letter to St. Timothy, what did Paul call himself? The foremost, the chief, the worst of sinners. He listed off some words that had described him: a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a violent man. Before Paul became a Christian, he slandered the name of Jesus, saying that he wasn't the Savior. He persecuted those who trusted in Jesus. He dragged them off to prison and even oversaw at least one execution. It is no surprise that, after he became a Christian, Paul recognized the evil he had done.
Yet he didn't say, "I was the worst of sinners." He said, "I am the worst." Even though he was no longer hurting people, he understood that he still had that same sinful nature, and he still sinned against God in what he said, thought, and did. It almost sounds like he was beating himself up when he said, "I am the worst." Or it's like he was hoping someone would say to him, "Come on, Paul, it’s okay, you really aren’t that bad." But that's not what he meant at all. He was being honest. He recognized how serious his sins were and how much help he needed.
So, does Paul's answer to the question help you answer the question for yourself? It would seem kind of arrogant if you or I would claim to be a better person than St. Paul. We may not have blasphemed Jesus, persecuted his followers, and committed acts of violence against them. But we have committed other sins, the sins that we are capable of, against Jesus. When we think of bad sins, we think of the sins that other people have committed against us. But other people can think of sins that we have committed against them. We were born into the same unbelief as every other person in this world. Our sins may not have the same outward effects as Hitler's or the child molester's. Yet they are every bit as offensive to God. We deserve his wrath and punishment and nothing good from him.
People may ease their consciences when they say, "At least I am not as bad as that other person." But that doesn't make God happy with us. We still are guilty of sin. We still are by nature sinful. Hell will be filled with people who claim that they aren't as bad as somebody else. Instead, be honest about who you are and what you have done. Confess what you deserve. I'm not a little bit better than anybody else. I am the worst. But the worst of sinners is exactly whom Jesus came to save.
St. Paul wrote: I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Paul was a sinner, but Jesus died for sinners! He died for the worst of sinners! Jesus died for Paul, called Paul to faith, and even called him to be his apostle. None of this happened because Paul was better than anybody else, but because of God's mercy, grace, love, and faithfulness. Paul explains that Jesus' patience with him is an example of how God also deals with you who believe in him.
How bad of a sinner are you? If you're just "not so bad," then Jesus didn't come for you. But if you, like Paul, are the worst of sinners, then Christ Jesus, the eternal Son of God willingly left his place in heaven and became a human being to live and die on earth to take away your sins and give you eternal life. No matter how good you think you are, you cannot deserve it. No, it is because you are a sinner that God did this for you.
God showed mercy to you. Mercy describes God's love when he sees how helpless we are and acts to rescue us. The Lord poured out his grace on you. Grace describes God's love that we do not deserve at all, but he loves us because that is who he is. God's love is completely selfless. He sacrifices himself for our good. God is faithful. Although we have not done for him what we should, he always does what he promises for us.
Jesus died for us. That is completely undeserved! Jesus has called us to faith in him. That is completely undeserved! Jesus now calls us to serve him with our lives. That is completely undeserved! Give thanks with your words and with your life to the eternal, immortal, invisible, only God, to whom all honor and glory belong, because he has chosen you!
How bad of a sinner are you? Jesus didn't die for itty bitty kind of sort of almost sinners. Christ Jesus died for the worst of sinners. Recognize who you are and what you have done. And realize who Jesus is and what he has done for you. Don't be afraid to call yourself the worst of sinners, because that means Christ Jesus came into the world to save you.