I'm the reason

Psalm 51:1-10 / 1 Timothy 1:12-17

Our source of strength

Christ Jesus is the source

Revelation 12:11 “And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.”

Christ Jesus calls and equips

True for ministers, apostles, ministries, and churches

His judgments, His choices are not ours:

1 Samuel 16:7 “But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.””

The honest truth

Paul confessed his sins

New Testament IX: Colossians, 1–2 Thessalonians, 1–2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon His Frank Revelation of His Sins

Paul pointed out to all the deeds he had dared to commit before. He thought that it was better for his former life to be publicized to all in order to make evident the greatness of the gift of God than to cover up his ineffable and indescribable mercy by shrinking from proclaiming his own sins to all

Why? Because Paul understood this:

There is no mercy where there is no need

Luke 15 - The Lost Sheep & The Lost Coin

We all are fallen people

Isaiah 6 - A people of unclean lips

Exodus 32 - the people of Israel had corrupted themselves and mocked God in their idolatry of a golden calf of their own creation

Sinners will never be saved until / unless they admit what they are needy sinners

1 timothy 1:13 “though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief,”

Romans 7:7 “What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.””

Evangelism requires this transparency

We profess the righteousness of Christ; not our own

Even Christ Himself came humbly, serving, not

The purpose of Grace

To Save Sinners

1 timothy 1:15 “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.”

As an example for others

1 timothy 1:16 “But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.”

All Glory to God

1 timothy 1:17 “To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.”

Church Family, as we look at the purpose and intent of Christ Jesus becoming flesh, bound for Calvary, we see clearly it was to save sinners. We cannot claim to be forgiven and deny that we needed it. When we confess, “I’m the reason Jesus came and died,” we become an example and witness for others to realize the same.