The Worst of Sinners

There are many ways my pride gets in the way of my walk with Jesus.  One of the biggest ways is in how I compare myself to others.  Having become a Christian in my early adulthood, I feel like there is so much for me to learn, so many ways I need to grow, as if I’m starting from behind and need to catch up.  I can confuse my testimony of what Christ has done for me with my resume of what I have done for Christ.  I pat myself on the back for not falling into sins others fall into or I feel defeated with the sins I continue to struggle with that others don’t.

Yet in scripture, our worldly concept of achievement is shattered by the Gospel.  God shows us our desperation in the areas we would choose to boast (Matthew 23:5).  We see Jesus’ rebuke in the face of our pride (Luke 21:46-46).  We see the Lord’s kindness in the face of our deepest, most shameful sin (John 8:11).  We see the saving, life giving testimony of the amazing grace of a God who would save the worst of sinners. 

Reflecting on this scripture from Paul has brought me great freedom: “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.  But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life” 1 Timothy 1:15-16.  This is in stark contrast to Paul’s reason to have confidence in himself, “If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law blameless” Philippians 3:4-6.  The reason that Paul calls himself the most sinful of all sinners, is because he knows his own sin more than anyone else.  He sees his own failings, shortcomings, the evil motives of his sinful heart, and he sees the perfect patience of the Lord in response to all of these things. 

Here are 3 ways knowing we are the worst of sinners sets us free:

1. Freedom from arrogance:

Knowing we are the worst of sinners sets us free from prideful arrogance and conceit.  We can’t truly love and serve others if we feel they are greater sinners than we are.  The joy and thankfulness that comes from acknowledging the depths of my own sin and the overwhelming grace extended to me through Christ’s sacrificial love on the cross overflows in mercy and compassion to others.  The wall of pride and discomfort created by our arrogance is torn down and we can pursue people in the humility with which Jesus pursued us (Philippians 2:3-11). 

• Freedom from insecurity:

It might sound counterintuitive to meditate on your state as the “worst of sinners” to free you from insecurity, but it will.  When we know that we are the worst of sinners, our focus and boast turns to our Savior and away from ourselves.  In John 4 we see the woman at the well.  She is there in the middle of the day, trying to go at a time she won’t have to face her neighbors and their judgement of her lifestyle.  Jesus meets her there in her sin, in her shame, nothing is hidden from his sight.  After her encounter with him, she seeks out her neighbors and what started as her shame becomes her testimony!  If her testimony had been of her own righteousness, she would have had nothing to share with the townspeople.  But these people knew of her immorality, and they believed because she told them of a Savior who meets us in our sin (John 4:39-42).

• Freedom to fall more in love with Jesus:

Knowing we are the worst of sinners causes us to fall more in love with Jesus.  “Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven – for she loved much.  But he who is forgiven little, loves little” Luke 7:47.  If we fail to acknowledge the depth of our sin before God, we fail to experience the wonder of his mercy and grace.  There is great joy in knowing how loved we are when we can see how much we are forgiven.  The more I see my need for Jesus, the more I delight in being with him; the more I want to share the miracle of what he’s done for me; the more excited I am to tell others that they too can be forgiven and set free.

Knowing that we are the worst of sinners frees us from many temptations and helps us to live in the joy of the Gospel.  Knowing that I am the worst of sinners, I don’t need to prove myself to my brothers and sisters in the church because my righteousness is found in Christ alone (Philippians 3:9).  Knowing that I am the worst of sinners, I can reach out to the marginal of our society because I know I am not better than them in some way (Galatians 3:28).  Knowing I am the worst of sinners, I can respond in love when sin is confessed rather than in sit in judgement.  Knowing how far the Lord has reached down to save me fills me with overwhelming joy and desire to follow hard after him.