August 12, 2017
Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 1 Timothy 1:15 (NIV)
Here is something solidly reliable. You can stake your life on it. Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.
He came. That’s the incarnation. God entered this world as a man in Jesus Christ. He came to save sinners. That’s the atonement. He did not come to tell us how to live or to change society. He came to give his life as an atoning sacrifice on the cross in order to save sinners.
This is the gospel! The gospel is good news, not good advice. Christ did not come into the world to tell us what we have to do to be saved. He came into the world to save us. That’s good news!
Maybe you’ve met people who are bored with their Christian life. They feel that their faith isn’t doing anything for them. It’s dull. It’s lifeless. There isn’t any joy in it. It’s not very exciting. A person like that will agree that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. But if you ask, “What sins has Christ forgiven in your life?” they would be stuck for an answer.
Jesus said, “The one who has been forgiven much, loves much. But the one who is forgiven little, loves little” (Luke 7:47, author paraphrase). If you can’t think of anything that needed to be forgiven in your life, you won’t have much love for Christ, you won’t feel much need of the cross, and you will quickly become bored with your faith. Remembering your sins is important.
Can you name some sins Christ has recently forgiven? Thank him for these.