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.  Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.  I Timothy 1:15 – 17

I want to think about these words some more. Paul wants there to be no confusion – he is stating the incontrovertible fact.  “Jesus came into the world to save sinners.”  The emphasis must first be on the fact that Jesus is our sin-bearer, there is no other.  Secondly, I think Paul is making the point that Jesus cannot save the “self-righteous” – those who believe that they have no need to be cleansed by the Blood of Jesus Christ.  No, he saves sinners!!  Sinners only!  He saves those who acknowledge that they are sinners and desperately need cleansing and reinstatement with Jesus Christ.

How true this is!  Paul understood it completely.  He was a law-abiding Pharisee.  Not only was he perfect before the Law, he was so zealous for the Law that he pursued, persecuted and murdered the followers of Jesus. To his amazement, Jesus met him on the road.  It was all in a blaze of light as he retells it. Is that when he realized that he was a sinner – in fact the chief of all sinners in the entire world?  Maybe. Of course his chief sin, if we can call it that, was persecuting the followers of Jesus. He was caught red-handed doing that. In any case at some point, probably very early on in his meeting with Jesus, he realized that he was a horrid sinner.

This self-realization changed his entire life, top to bottom.  Self-righteous people relate to God in one way, abject sinners another. Paul was among the latter. For him, this was the door into a relationship with God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

I believe that Paul never forgot that, even as he was a successful missionary, teacher and preacher.  He was and ever will be a needy sinner.

I need to let myself down on this bed-rock reality – I am a sinner needing daily grace.