Monday, April 14, 2025

            Spiritually, the apostle Paul had a healthy view of himself.  He never made an effort to plead any special goodness or righteousness.  He knew who and what he was—a sinner found by Christ, saved by Christ and sustained by Christ.  He offered a brief autobiography in his first letter to Timothy.  Paul wrote, “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 immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life” (1 Timothy 1:14-16). His testimony before Christ was littered with shame, regret, guilt and the full weight of his sin and disobedience.  He knew what he was.   
            Paul’s words offer us a healthy take on ourselves and a good way to enter into Holy Week as we remember Jesus’ last days.  We have received undeserved and lavished grace through the love, death and resurrection of Christ.  It is that grace that saves, changes and raises us to new life.  We are to see ourselves in need of that grace.  We can share Paul’s personal assessment—Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am the worst.  It may not be easy to make such a confession but it is true.  We are sinners—reprobates, rebels and even reprehensible. But we can be grateful that Christ came into the world to save us and to change both our identity and destiny. We need to remember what we were before Christ and what price, an awful price, that He paid to change all that.   
            As we progress through Holy Week, we gain a deeper recognition each day of our depravity and wretchedness.  We see the immeasurably wide gulf or canyon that separates us from God.  But we find our hope in the words of one like Paul.  He was clear-eyed, sober-minded and broken-hearted over his sins.  May we be likewise as we ponder the truth of the cross and the death of Christ.  Think on these things today, Monday of Holy Week.  You can share our worship any time at YouTube.com/FirstBaptistKannapolis.