JESUS CAME TO SAVE WE SINNERS

1 Timothy 1:12-17 15 December, 2024

JESUS CAME TO SAVE WE SINNERS

On a scale of 1 to 10, how really thankful are you? Some may asking, "Thankful for what?" The “what” really doesn't matter; but he question does: How thankful are you?

In our lives, there are many situations for which we can be thankful. In a few days, many of us will be opening those Christmas gifts that have been sitting under the Christmas tree calling out our name each time we walk by. Oh, what a great and glorious day that will be when the wrapping paper finally comes off and we can at last feast our eyes on what lies inside.

But, before you get too wrapped up in playing with that new toy, or reading that new book, or trying out that new kitchen do-dad; don't forget to say “thank you” to everyone for the gifts. At least that is what I heard from Mom every Christmas, and so I would make the rounds hugging everyone and telling them thank you and how much I appreciated their gift.

While this yearly ritual is done out of politeness, was I really thankful? Not really, for you see, I rarely got what I asked Santa Claus for. For some reason, the grown-ups in my family thought that I would be much happier with clothes rather than with the aviation science kit that was in the window of Radio Shack (now that should give you a little clue as to how old I am....try finding a Radio Shack today!). It was an awesome kit. I remember it like it was yesterday. You could make a weather station that would tell you how fast and from what direction the wind was blowing so that you would know which way to launch the airplane that also came with the kit? But sadly, I still got clothes. Even as an adult, my family would ask me what I would like for Christmas and would I tell them that I would like books by Barth and Brunner and Bultmann. Even knowing that the only word they would recognize is the word "book", I knew that the next words that I would hear coming from the phone would be, "Now what size did you say you were?" It is hard to be thankful at Christmas, or is it?

At one time, there lived a man named Saul, a Jew. Though small in stature, in his day, Saul was a man of power and influence. He was a Pharisee, a religious professional trained to uphold and defend the Laws of God and the faith of His people. During this same period of time, there was another group of folks that sprang up, meeting together in small groups and giving praise to one named Jesus. Saul had heard of this Jesus; This Jesus Who had been crucified on a cross between two other criminals. This Jesus about Whom rumors had been circulated about a resurrection and an empty tomb.

Now, Saul couldn't have this. This error must be corrected, these people who were responsible for spreading this false teaching must be stopped. And so, Saul determined that he would gather up all of those who had strayed and through persecution bring them back to obedience to the Laws of God.

But one day, Saul met the resurrected Jesus, and not only was his name changed to Paul, his heart was changed as well. Paul turned from being the biggest opponent of Christianity into being its biggest proponent. In that single encounter with the living Jesus, Paul's life turned 180 degrees. I read again from 1 Timothy chapter 1. <read>

From these words, it is not hard to accept the fact that Paul is indeed thankful....thankful for what Jesus had done for him. In the first paragraph, Paul lays before us a description of his former self. He begins by calling himself a blasphemer, that is, one who slanders God. I find it interesting that Paul would use a word such as this to describe himself. As a Pharisee, he was a highly respected religious figure, trained and dedicated to uphold God's law and God's name. Turn over to Leviticus 24:13-16. <read>

It was indeed a serious offence to blaspheme and yet Paul puts this label upon himself right up front. Now not only does he call himself a blasphemer, but he is also places upon his resume, persecutor and a violent man. With these words, Paul describes himself as a person who pursues another like a hunter and when he finds them, he humiliates them through his mistreatment of them. This man, who by his own description is a picture of the worst of society, was shown mercy by Jesus Christ. It is a mercy that means that instead of facing the wrath of God, he was brought into the service of God.

I am sure that if Paul were alive today he would indeed be busy going from church to church giving his testimony, writing books on how to be a better Christian, recording video and audio programs, etc. It is this kind rag-to-riches kind of thing that the church today likes to hear. We like to hear the testimonies of the Mike Warnke's and the Chuck Colson's. We seem to enjoy hearing about how a person hit rock bottom and how Jesus pulled them from the gutter or out of prison and placed them into the service of God. We look at these people and listen to their stories and we say to ourselves, "how great God is to have done such a wonderful thing in that person's life." However, if you really look close, you will find that God has done a wonderful thing in each of our lives as well.

Paul pulls no punches when he states: <v.15> Do you agree with the words of Paul? Is this a trustworthy statement? Does it deserve full acceptance in your life? Does it get it?

Paul states that he is an example of the patience and mercy of God for all who will believe in Jesus and thus receive eternal life. B.S. Easton once remarked, "If Christ could change Paul, the greatest of sinners, into an Apostle, there is no limit to His transforming power." The Gospels are full of stories of the transforming power of Jesus. We read in the Gospels about how He transformed the lame into dancers, how He transformed the eyes of the blind into eyes that could see. And yet, the greatest transformation of all is how Jesus Christ has transformed you and how He has transformed me.

This morning I would like to set before us an exercise in humility. Sometime this week, I would like for you to sit down and look back over your entire life. As you do, write down every sin that you ever committed. If you are a normal person, it won't be long before you either fill a page or get so totally depressed that you give up. After you reach this point, take another piece of paper and write down every sin for which Jesus didn't die. You won't need a very big piece of paper for this, for a Paul has told us, "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” He came to save you and He came to save me!!!

Earlier I said that it is hard to be thankful on Christmas. At times it is. We tend to get so wrapped up in the busyness of the season, that we reach a point in which the only thing we are thankful for is that Christmas is over. At times Christmas becomes like the puzzle piece that always seems to get mixed up in all of the discarded wrapping paper, and no amount of searching seems to help. Don't let that happen this year. Of all of the holidays in which to be thankful, for me, Christmas is at the top of my list, for in that little baby in the manger, we find our salvation. In that little baby, born to poor parents, in poor surroundings, we find the most precious gift of all, life eternal.

This Christmas, when you open the shirts and pants and socks and ties, when what you really wanted was that aviation science kit, be thankful that the one from whom the gift came is also one for whom the gift of Christ came. Amen.