Sermon -- 2nd Sunday after Pentecost (June 11, 2023)

1 TIMOTHY 1:12-17

CHRIST JESUS CAME TO SAVE EVEN THE WORST OF SINNERS.

In the name + of Jesus.

     Do you think he ever forgot?  St. Paul remarked, “Formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent” (1 Timothy 1:13) of Jesus.  We hold the apostle Paul in high regard, and for good reason.  He traveled throughout Asia Minor and Europe, preaching the good news of Jesus to those who had never heard it.  Through Paul, many Christian churches were established.  Because of his preaching, many hated Paul and his message.  Paul was despised, slandered, and persecuted.  He was imprisoned several times, beaten often, and finally put to death for preaching about Jesus.  He remained faithful to Jesus despite how much he suffered for the sake of Jesus’ name.

     But do you think Paul ever forgot his past?  Paul had been enraged by the preaching about Jesus.  Convinced he was doing God’s work, he breathed out violent threats against Christians, imprisoned some, and was instrumental in the killing of others.  It may have been in the past, but I can’t imagine it ever escaped Paul’s mind.

     Can you ever forget your sins?  We know the words “Forgive and forget,” but do we ever forget?  Can we?  We confess with Psalm 51, “I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me” (Psalm 51:3).  Some sins are much more haunting than others, and even if you hope to forget them, the devil is a master at reminding you of them. 

     People have employed many tactics for trying to forget the past.  Some turn to alcohol or drugs.  Perhaps an intoxicated mind would forget.  Some bury themselves in work.  Perhaps an occupied mind would forget.  Some glue themselves to a computer or TV screen.  Perhaps an entertained mind would forget.  Some withdraw from everyone.  Perhaps an escape from people would mean an escape from the past.  None of these distractions can take away guilt; none of them takes away the past.  Can you ever forget the harsh words, the heartless acts, or the consequences from your sins?  Paul did not; neither will you.

     The apostle Paul did not attempt to rewrite the past.  Even though Paul claimed, “I had acted ignorantly in unbelief” (1 Timothy 1:13), he did not even use ignorance as an excuse: “I didn’t know any better, so it’s not my fault.”  Paul acknowledged his sin for what it was.  How could he speak so freely about such painful memories and deep regret?  For one reason: “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.  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” (1 Timothy 1:15-16).  Christ Jesus came to save even the worst of sinners.

     There are times we wonder why God does not strike with a thunderbolt to wipe out people who commit such great sins.  I am sure people in the early church thought that a well-placed lightning bolt at Paul would make the world would be a safer, happier place.  We also think the world would be better if God struck down violent and vile people.  Ironically, because God did exactly that in the Old Testament, people accuse God of needless cruelty.  They fault God for being merciless.  But now when God, in his mercy, lets people go about their business, which often includes violence, greed, assault, and hateful words, we want God to act violently and swiftly.  This goes to show how flawed our judgment is; for we judge God inconsistently and ignorantly.  We want God to align himself with our own judgment.  Shouldn’t God strike us for that?

     It also demonstrates a flaw in how we judge ourselves.  We want God to smite the wicked.  We pray that God would destroy the wicked.  We are convinced that we would survive God’s judgment because we are good.  Basil the Great (329 – January 1, 379), bishop of Caesarea from the 4^th century, observed: “In truth the most difficult of sciences is to know one’s self.  Not only our eye, from which nothing outside us escapes, cannot see itself; but our mind, so piercing to discover the sins of others, is slow to recognise (sic) its own faults” (p 92, Reading Scripture with the Church Fathers, Christopher A. Hall. InterVarsity Press: Downers Grove, IL. © 1998).  This is what the Lord says: “Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins” (Ecclesiastes 7:20).  God would also have us ponder this: “Who can say, ‘I have made my heart pure; I am clean from my sin’” (Proverbs 20:9)?  So, if God did smite all the wicked to make the world a better place, who would be left?

     Yes, the world is an evil place and it is filled with wicked people.  We have made our own contributions to that.  But the day is coming when God will judge the living and the dead.  The day is coming when the Lord will put an end to all evil.  Psalm 21 declares: “Your hand will find out all your enemies; your right hand will find out those who hate you.  You will make them as a blazing oven when you appear.  The Lord will swallow them up in his wrath, and fire will consume them” (Psalm 21:8-9).  So, do not get the idea that the Lord is ignorant of the evils in this world.  Do not conclude that God doesn’t care.  And certainly do not blame God for the wicked deeds that people do.  All the evils you see are the reason that judgment will come upon the earth.  Since we have contributed to it, we are right to fear that judgment.  After all, can you forget your own sins?

     Perhaps you will never escape your past.  Perhaps your sins will always haunt you.  But then do not forget what St. Paul tells you: “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.  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” (1 Timothy 1:15-16).  Christ Jesus came to save even the worst of sinners.

     Jesus’ death was orchestrated by the wicked schemes of jealous men—this, despite Jesus’ goodness.  Jesus’ mercy benefited many who were blind, lame, deaf, diseased, and demon-possessed.  Jesus’ preaching brought great relief to people who were haunted by their sins or burdened by the pressure to be better people.  But Jesus’ preaching also made others despise him, slander him, and persecute him.  For his preaching, Jesus was arrested, beaten, and finally put to death.  But this was all according to God’s plan.  He used the wicked schemes of wicked men to carry out the death which pays for the sins of the world.  God still held the wicked men accountable.  Their intentions and actions were evil, but God used their wickedness for your highest good. 

     Thanks be to Jesus, the Lord does not treat us as our sins deserve.  Instead, Jesus came to be treated as our sins deserve.  Jesus did not forget you when he went to the cross.  He bore your sins and the curse that comes because of them.  Jesus died the death we deserve.  He was consumed in God’s fiery wrath.  You and I, in turn, have received a full pardon for every sin.  Jesus forgives the sins that you can never forget and for the sins you don’t even remember.  Christ Jesus came to save even the worst of sinners—blasphemers, persecutors, abusers, idolaters, adulterers, drunkards, gossips, and even self-centered, self-glorifying Christians.  Do not waste your time wondering if you are a better or a worse person than anyone else.  In Christ, you are found to be holy and blameless.  This is how you are delivered from God’s judgment and wrath.  This is how you are delivered from the world which is wicked.  This is the only promise that saves you: Christ Jesus came to save even the worst of sinners.

     Meanwhile, you still live in a world that is wicked.  You will be grieved by reports of violence, corruption, and cover-ups.  You will be a victim of harsh words and wicked schemes.  You will be devastated by bad choices made by loved ones.  You will be ashamed of your own heathen moments.  And the Lord could put a stop to all of it, but he lets it go on.  Why?  St. Paul wrote, “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” (1 Timothy 1:16).  Do not confuse God’s patience with the idea that God does not know or does not care about the wickedness of mankind.  God tells you why he is so patient.  “The Lord is … not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).  The day of judgment will come soon enough.  But now is the day of grace.  Now is the time to hear God’s word, to repent of sins, to call on the name of Jesus, and to be saved.  The Lord is pleased to grant more time so that more people might repent and believe the good news. 

     Christ Jesus came to save even the worst of sinners.  There is no one who is so good that he will not die.  There is no one who is so bad that God’s mercy cannot help.  Everyone bears guilt.  Everyone is going to die.  Everyone will face God’s judgment.  Everyone needs the Savior.  So listen: Christ Jesus came to save sinners.  Everyone qualifies, even the likes of the apostle Paul.

     And—marvel upon marvels!—God calls sinners to proclaim his mercies to others.  God did not merely convert Paul to his side; he even called him to be an apostle who devoted his life to preaching about Jesus.  Even if you are not a pastor, you still have God’s word to confess.  And you will encounter sinners who need God’s mercy.  You get to be merciful to sinners because you know what it is to be shown mercy.  You get to display compassion on those who are ensnared in sin because God’s compassion continues to be bestowed upon you in your weaknesses.  Rather than seeking the death of the wicked, we pray that all would repent.  For, Christ Jesus came to save even the worst of sinners.  How can any sinner be saved without knowing the one who saves them?  How will any sinner repent unless they know Jesus welcomes sinners?  And how can they know that unless we tell them that Christ Jesus came to save sinners?

     Chances are, you will not forget the shameful moments of your past.  But the good news of Jesus always overrules the charges of guilt against you.  The light of the Gospel will always deliver you from your past no matter how dark it was.  St. Paul wrote the words that should be etched in your memory: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15).  The saying is trustworthy.  It deserves to be remembered; for the Lord has not forgotten to be merciful to you.

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.