His Grace
7 min read
14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 16 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
As we grow in the knowledge of the grace of our Lord, we also grow in the awareness of the sin that is entangled in our spiritual DNA. Ironically, even the fact that Paul considers himself the worst of sinners is an indication of the self-centeredness that is at the heart of sin.
As believers, we might have a tendency to think that our own sins are the worst and that our own sins are what matter most to Jesus. But what matters most to Jesus is His grace, His faithfulness, His love—that is, His glory.
From a personal perspective (and how can we live without having a personal perspective on everything? = sin), I could rightly say (I think) that God has shown me mercy so that “in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience.”
But here we find the great mysterious wonder and power of God and His gospel. Jesus Christ even uses our self-centeredness with regard to our sin “as an example for those would believe in Him and receive eternal life.” In other words, He even uses our self-centeredness for the sake of saving others.
And it’s not that Christ is merely using us and our self-centeredness as pawns in His great plan of salvation for the world. He loves each and every one of us personally, intimately.
At the risk of over-simplifying the complex matters of our salvation, I believe that our Lord and our God simply wants the following:
to see all people saved—that His glory may be revealed in His grace, faithfulness, and love, and
to use us—His people, in whom His glory is revealed in His grace, faithfulness, and love—to see all people saved.
At least, to save those who can see the great devastation of sin in their lives and in this world and cry out for hope in Christ.
And so, in a way, if people are to be self-centered, we should be self-centered, like Paul, with regard to our sinfulness. If all the people of God were like that, perhaps that would be the start of true repentance on a global scale. Perhaps that would be the start of true revival on a global scale—a true revival that recognizes that there is only one Savior.
I think about the issues facing this world and the great tragedies we have seen, and the issues facing our community too, and I want to blame myself for it all. Maybe in a certain mysterious way I do contribute to all that tragedy. Maybe we all do. And my heart breaks thinking about it.
I pray for true revival in the church and in this world. Because when that true revival comes, perhaps that is when Jesus will come to be wed to His church.
Father, have mercy on me, a sinner. Have mercy on us all, sinners. We eagerly await our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. And as we wait, the redemption of our bodies, longing to be home in our heavenly dwelling, give us eyes, give us ears to keep from falling. Come, Lord Jesus, we worship at Your feet. In Jesus’s name. Amen.
