Yes, I Am A Sinner

Meditation

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.

(1 Timothy 1:15)

As an unbeliever, I could not understand how Jesus dying on a cross two thousand years ago, paid the price for my sins today. When Christ was hanging on that cross, the Father put every sin on his shoulders – the past, present and future sin. Christ was the sacrificial lamb whose blood washes away our sins. IF we repent and turn to Jesus, we will receive the gift of salvation. The scriptures are clear, we can trust every word and know, without a shadow of a doubt, it’s completely true. I don’t need to hear how to receive Jesus from any other source than the Bible. I can trust the truthful words written there. It’s true that the writings of biblical scholars can help with understanding difficult doctrines. Those writing only explain sound doctrine, they don’t make doctrine.

Every man and woman on earth, throughout time, have fallen short of the glory of God. He set the standard for all humanity in the Garden of Eden. Sin came into the world through their failure, but we cannot blame Adam and Eve for what we do. Each one of us is responsible for every sin we commit, and every sin is punishable by death, where the punishment is hell. We are all sinners in need of a savior. No one is without sin, at the same time, no one has done anything that puts them beyond salvation. If the Apostle Paul, who wrote this passage, thought he was foremost among sinners, what should we be thinking about ourselves? He was the most prolific evangelist of all the other Apostles.

To the casual observer, I would have probably been seen as a good guy before coming to Christ. I even thought I was not so bad. That, however, was an outward persona I displayed to the world. No one could see the real me, on the inside. If they could have, they would have known I was not so good. In fact, I can honestly say I was also foremost among sinners, but Jesus saved me from all that darkness and brought me into the light. He wants to do that for you too if you don’t already know Jesus. If you need help understanding anything about salvation, ask God to reveal his truth to you. He will be faithful! Just because we are saved doesn’t mean we are perfect and without sin, but we follow someone who is! Hallelujah!

Prayer Time

Heavenly Father, you are untainted, and wickedness cannot be found in you. You are truth, and in you there is no deceit. Your plan from the foundation of time was to provide us a way to be reconciled from our sins and return to fellowship with you. That plan was to send the 2nd part of your personhood, your Son, Jesus, to become one of us. To live among us and to be sacrificed on the cross, paying the price for our sins. Thank you, Father, for always thinking enough of us that you would sacrifice so much to save us. We trust and believe in Jesus and give him lordship of our lives. We ask your continued pardon for our iniquities, especially those in our future. We know we fail you every day of our lives, but the blood of Jesus washes us clean. We can each be the worst of sinners, but you are always faithful to forgive us. Thank you, Lord, for your loving patience. We know you are long suffering and we only deserve judgment but instead, you provide for all our needs. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen!