Am I the World’s Worst Sinner?
By Lynette Kittle
“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
When we think of the Apostle Paul, we think of a Saint. Yet, in his own words, he counted himself the worst sinner. But how is that possible, because Paul wrote much of the New Testament?
Paul, more than most of us, had an understanding of what it means to be a sinner. He didn’t look at others around him and feel better about himself. He recognized the depth of sin that was born within him, and each one of us is so deep, that, without a Savior, sin taints our blood to the point of eternal death.
He understood that there is no difference between a little sinner and a big sinner. Without Jesus, all sin leads to the same destructive destination.
A Little Self-Examination Goes a Long Way
It’s easy to look at others and feel like we’re doing better overall. But with this type of attitude can come pride and haughtiness. Proverbs 16:18 explains how “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”
2 Corinthians 13:5 urges us to “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?”
Sometimes, we decide how we’re doing compared to another person, rather than looking at God’s word to see how we’re doing in life. Often, if we do, we’ll discover areas of our lives where we are off-track in following God’s ways.
Worldly Effects
So many people today, some Christians included, are living their lives based on how well or poorly others seem to be doing. With social media’s daily updates, many individuals are comparing their lives to the lives of others to see if they are succeeding or what they need to do next to get ahead in life.
But as believers in Jesus Christ, we don’t want to follow the world’s leading but look to God for our future. 1 John 2:15 warns, “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.”
As well, Paul in Romans 12:2 urges, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Being conformed to the world can be so gradual in our lives, that we don’t recognize what direction we may be taking in life. Before long, we can be off course without really knowing what’s taking place.
Feeding Our Faith
When it comes to faith, we don’t just stay in one place; we are either growing steadily in it or we’re slowly slipping back into worldly patterns and thinking without realizing it.
So how do we keep the world at bay? Paul states, “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14).
As James 1:27 explains, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”
Jesus Sets Us Free from the Power of Sin
Like Paul, we want to remember that sin can so easily lead us astray. Because it can, we don’t want to lose sight of where our Salvation lies and where our power to resist sin comes from.
Romans 5:21 explains, “So that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
We are set free from its power, as Romans 6:14 describes, “For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.”
Intersecting Faith & Life:
Are you comparing yourself to how most people in the world are living their lives for direction in your own life? If so, look to God’s Word to see where you are in your faith. Ask Him to examine your heart and show you any areas where you’ve unknowingly wandered off track.
Further Reading:
Receiving Grace and Truth through Jesus Christ
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/fizkes
Lynette Kittle is married with four daughters. She enjoys writing about faith, marriage, parenting, relationships, and life. Her writing has been published by Focus on the Family, Decision, Today’s Christian Woman, kirkcameron.com, Ungrind.org, StartMarriageRight.com, and more. She has a M.A. in Communication from Regent University and serves as associate producer for Soul Check TV.
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