Here’s something I’m still working on understanding and taking to heart…
I can testify that the Word is true and deserves to be received by all, for Jesus Christ came into the world to bring sinners back to life—even me, the worst sinner of all! (1 Timothy 1.15, Passion Translation)
Jesus died for sinners, even me! I read a long time ago that someone, thinking about this passage, wrote, “Paul said, ‘I am the chief of sinners.’ To which God replied, ‘O hush. You’re no such thing!’”
But it doesn’t matter whether I win the prize for being the greatest sinner or not. Jesus died for sinners. Last Sunday, our pastor quoted Tim Keller, pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian in New York City:
The gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope.
That’s powerful.
One of my favorite hymns is “It is well with my soul.” Stanza 3 goes:
God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5.8, ESV)
I’m still working on understanding it too. To be more loved and accepted in Jesus than we dare to hope is something that is hard for me to put my feelings about this into words. Powerful & comforting keeps coming to mind, yet that doesn’t feel adequate either.