We Sing of our Redeemer
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. (The apostle Paul in 1 Timothy 1:15)
The temptation is always there to compare ourselves to other people and find ourselves “not so bad”. It is easy to come to this conclusion when we see so many around us condoning sinful behaviors such as abortion, homosexuality, transgenderism, etc. Our gossip, anger towards others and occasional harsh words seem minor compared to these other “major” sins against God’s Word. We can easily think “I thank you Lord that I am not as these others” (The Pharisee in Luke 18:11).
The apostle Paul, one of the most faithful of God’s missionaries in history, realized that his goodness should not be compared to that of other people, but to the righteousness of God – and found himself “the chief of sinners”. In his letter to the Romans he lamented “For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.” (Romans 7:18-19)
A few verses later, Paul continues “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Therein lies our comfort also – Jesus has redeemed us from this body of death and brought us into His kingdom. Knowing of the salvation won for us encourages us as we face the trials and temptations of this world. We can face the troubles of this world with peace and confidence, secure in the knowledge that we are under God’s care as redeemed members of His kingdom on earth, and future inhabitants of the kingdom of heaven.
Chief of sinners though I be, Jesus shed His blood for me;Died that I might live on high, Lived that I might never die.As the branch is to the vine, I am His, and He is mine.
The Lutheran Hymnal 342:1