Chief of Sinners Though We Be :: 1 Timothy 1:12-17

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[Introduction]

Today’s epistle reading introduces us to one of God’s great servants, the Apostle Paul. Among ordinary Joes or Jerrys like you and me, there is no one who has played a bigger role in enabling us to hear the Gospel, to know the Gospel, to believe the Gospel, and to confess the Gospel than the Apostle Paul. His 13 epistles have defined and defended the faith. He articulated all of the core doctrines of the church, notably the doctrine of justification by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. His fearless and precise proclamation of the only Gospel during his missionary journeys led to the establishment of at least 14 churches, notably in Rome, Corinth, Galatia, Ephesus, Philippi, Colossae, and Thessalonica, but let’s not forget in Athens, Berea, Derbe, Iconium, Lystra, Pisidian Antioch, Troas, and who knows how many others. His legacy of personal sacrifice to preach that Gospel continues to inspire Christians worldwide.

I. That didn’t make him any less of a sinner.

While he is revered for his theological zeal, Paul, who was called as an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the command of God our Savior and Christ Jesus our hope (1 Tim 1:1), was seriously flawed ... just like you and me. 

He was proud of his upbringing ... proud that he had royal blood, born of the tribe of Benjamin ... proud of his love for the scriptures. He was proud to grow up and become a Hebrew of Hebrews, devoted to the Law (Pp 3:5-6). He was proud to be a student of Rabbi Gamaliel (Acts 22:3). He was proud of his dedication to clean living and continual prayer. Yes, at one time or another, he was so proud, he didn’t think he could or would fall (Pv 16:18).

When he was the Pharisee of Pharisees, he most certainly considered himself to be blameless, completely separate from the common, unclean people of the world like you and me. He honestly would have thought he had faith in the one True God ... until he learned that Jesus shares the nature of God, that Jesus himself is the image of the invisible God, that Jesus is our great God who died on a cross and rose from the dead to save us. He honestly would have  thought that because of his way of life, he didn’t need the forgiveness of sins throughout the day. And because of his strict adherence to the Law ... and not just what we can read in the Old Testament, but by the traditions taught by congregational elders ... Paul honestly would have thought he didn’t need anything at all from God.

II. But then came his Damascus road encounter with Jesus. 

In a moment of amazing grace, Paul stopped being like the oldest son of today’s Gospel reading ... refusing to join the Father’s feast of forgiveness simply because his brother, a sinner, was there (Lk 15:28). And he became like the youngest son of the parable, falling to his knees, longing to receive the gifts the Father provides to sinners such as you and me (Lk 15:17). 

Here he was in the midst of ravaging the church, going from house to house, searching for the men and women who called themselves Christians (Acts 8:3), when Paul heard the call. Just days after not only approving of the stoning of Saint Stephen, but breathing more threats while standing over the man as he lay dying in the street, Paul was changed ... in a moment, in the twinkling of the eye. Jesus came to him. In Acts chapter 9[:3-5], Luke writes, then it happened ... as he drew near to Damascus, suddenly a light out of heaven shown around him. And falling to the ground, he heard a voice say to him, Saul, Saul, Why are you persecuting me? 

So [Paul] said, Who are you? Lord? 

And he said, I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Now rise and enter the city, and you will be told what’s necessary for you to do (Acts 9:3-6).

III. I know there are some of you who think your sin and your shame is too great to be overcome ... but just like it was for Paul, that’s not true.

Just look at Paul ... the chief of sinners ... or literally the foremost sinner ... the prototypical sinner. Paul was born broken, blind, and deaf ... just like all of us. He became a hater, a slanderer ... a murderer of Christians. He indulged the gossip of men to persecute the church while blaspheming God. He had the sheer hubris of pride and arrogance that refused repentance while wagging his finger ... insulting, scorning, and threatening his neighbors. He became absolutely ruthless. 

And yet God loved him anyway. As Paul would write just seven verses after our reading, God desires all men to be saved (1 Tm 2:4). 

[Catechism]

We should pause here, and remember who we are too. 

Please open your Lutheran Service Book to page 323, and join me in confessing how we also were once blind and deaf, but now can see and hear the Gospel. As the head of the family should teach it in a simple way to his household. ... What is the Third Article? ... What does this mean?

IV. Now take this to heart: Chief of sinners though we be, Jesus shed his blood for you and me.

There is only one sin that you and I can’t overcome ... and that is the sin of unbelief. The older son of the parable illustrates that. More specifically, Jesus said in Matthew 12[:32], Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the one to come. 

And Paul is living proof that even the chief of sinners can receive the peace of God.

God saved this man who at one time rebuffed and hated Jesus.

God saved this man who at one time slandered him, while seeking to murder him.

God saved this man who at one time thought he could be first to cast stones.

And God saved you and me according to his will.

We who were blind and deaf can now see and hear the Gospel, know the Gospel, and learn to share the Gospel. God has poured out his Holy Spirit upon us in baptism, just like he did with Paul in the house of Ananias. Now we also know the Gospel that Jesus lived and died and rose again on the Third Day for you and me and Paul. Now we also can recognize the filth in our lives, just like the younger son in Jesus’ parable, so that we will be led into repentance. 

Though we were dead in our sins, the Lord has come running toward us to give us life, just like in the parable. He has brought out the best robe for us to wear in baptism. He has put a ring of royalty on our hands and shoes on our feet. He has slaughtered the fattened calf and called everyone to rejoice in his feast of forgiveness, the Lord’s Supper. As the father said, Son, I am always with you, and all that is mine is yours. Now it is necessary to celebrate and rejoice for this son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found (Lk 15:31-32).

[Conclusion]

Our conscience may sometimes be plagued by doubts and regrets about who we are in the light of Christ. But if God’s desire to save sinners could extend even to Paul, who was the prototypical sinner plagued throughout his life by thorns of the flesh and a satan to harass him, then it will certainly extend to all of us as well. God’s mercy and patience is demonstrated in the cross, the empty tomb, and the means of grace. Christ’s all-atoning blood has been shed for you, and Hallelujah! He is risen! ...  

It is for this reason that we can now make Paul’s epistle our own, and say ... 

I am grateful to Christ Jesus, our Lord, who empowered me, because he has considered me faithful, having placed [me] into service, a man who formerly was a blasphemer and a persecutor and arrogant. But I have been shown mercy because [of the] ignorance I practiced in unfaithfulness. But the grace of our Lord was superbly overflowing with faith and divine love [that are] in Christ Jesus. The Word is faithful and worthy of all acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, [of whom] I am first. But on account of this I have received mercy in order that in me first, Christ Jesus might show all long-suffering as an example to those who are about to have faith placed upon him into eternal life. To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, honor and glory into the ages of ages. Amen. (vv 12-17)

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