Written on November 1st, 2006 - 5:43PM Last Updated: November 1st, 2006 - 7:41PM
The saying is faithful and worthy of all acceptance, that ChristJesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. (1 Timothy 1:15)
Here is the great truth that brings joy to the hearts of all humankind! God's own Son, ChristJesus, came into our own world, not to condemn, but rather to save sinners.
What is a sinner? A sinner (αμαρτωλους) is one who has missed the mark, not been counted as with those who share in the lot, one who makes the mistake of wandering from the path that Yahweh has set down for us. A sinner is one separated from God through his own faults.
When we come to the place of Paul, seeing the greatness of our own sin, we may say with him that of those sinners we are chief.
However, for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first, JesusChrist might display all his patience, for an example of those who were going to believe in him for eternal life. (1 Timothy 1:16)
At such a point, God's grace is superabundant, totally sufficient, completely willing to deliver us. As we see our own falling short of God's glory we come to understand our need for He Who is without sin.
13although I was before a blasphemer, a persecutor, and insolent. However, I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. 14The grace of our Lord abounded exceedingly with faith and love which is in ChristJesus. (1 Timothy 1:13-14)
The Anointed One of Yahweh, His own Beloved Son, was made flesh for you. He left His place of eternal glory with the Father Almighty, choosing to condescend to your low position, where you had wasted the riches you were given at creation. He chose to alter His own nature forever, taking on the nature of Man.
Without controversy, the mystery of godliness is great: God was revealed in the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, and received up in glory. (1 Timothy 3:16)
This He did to save us, to deliver us, to rescue us from our own ways. Already having been condemned by our own sins against and lack of trust toward Him (John 3:18), He did not come to shame us for those things, but rather to save us!
14As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 17For God didn't send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him. (John 3:14-17)
For the Son of Man came to save that which was lost. (Matthew 18:11)
For thus says the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also who is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite. (Isaiah 57:15)
Here is the great duality of the glorious God, Yahweh. He is high, above all creation, living in eternity, whose very Name is separate from all earthly names. But He also comes to the side of the humble, the one with a crushed spirit.
What is a contrite and humble spirit? "Contrite" (דכא) is an adjective form of the noun meaning "dust." It comes from the root word meaning "to crush, to break, to shatter." We may probably all relate to having our spirit crushed within us, from the many evils in this world, as well as through our own foolish actions. "Humble" (שפל) is from the root verb meaning "to be low." We are brought down in our spirits through this evil age, through our own sins and wickedness. Together, we see the totality, that our spirit within us has become crushed, shattered, brought low. We are in need of healing, someone to put that spirit back together.
Not only does Yahweh come to such a one, but He also revives that person's spirit and heart (Psalms 147:2-3)(Luke 4:18-19). He brings life again to that which has lost its life. His high place does not restrain Him from also being with the lowly.
For though Yahweh is high, yet he looks after the lowly; but the proud, he knows from afar. (Psalms 138:6)
The proud, or "high one," He knows from a distant place, far off. However, it is the humble that He sees. We are not hidden from His sight, as we reside in the low places and He in the high; rather He sees us. But the proud, or exalted one (through his own self-deceit), He simply knows from a far removed place. It is a great blessing to be seen by God (Genesis 16:13).
This is Yahweh, this is the Son of God, JesusChrist—He comes into the world to save us, sinners. For as we humble ourselves, His face turns toward us. Although He resides above our universe, yet He sees us in our humble position. As we turn unto Him, confessing our sin and repenting of that lifestyle that separated us from Him, He descends from the heavens to restore our souls.
This is true sacrifice unto Yahweh, giving Him all that we are in our broken and humble condition—and He will most certainly accept us as we are.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. (Psalms 51:17)
For we gain nothing if we hold onto our brokenness, but it is in the giving of our sinfulness and humbled heart and soul to the Lord Jesus that gains us back all that we had lost, and much more (Mark 8:34-38)!
Faithful is the word, and worthy of all acceptance: ChristJesus came into the world to save sinners.
As you read this site, you will hopefully come to know Yahweh more fully.
But all of this continuing knowledge is useless unless and until you come into union with Him. I use the word union because it is truly a marriage. It is that deep connection we all seek, for which we most often look in other people. However, the truth is that our hearts will only be fulfilled when we enter that union in fullness with the One Who made us.
This is the grace of God, that He has not stayed distant for us only to worship as Creator. But He has come unto us, even become one of us—in His Son, ChristJesus—in order to share an intimate union with us. He desires such closeness that it truly will envelope our entire life, transforming us into something new and wonderful.
You may have already entered this union with Him and only seek to know Him better through reading here. But if you have not, as you do read, let this Gospel sink into your heart as you read it now.
God loves you, and has cast your sins into the sea. He has sent His only Son as the Savior of the world—that includes you.
That Son, JesusChrist, was born as a man through a virgin who had given her life to Yahweh; He lived without sin, reflected the glory of His Father, God, in all His words and deeds, and was persecuted even unto death because of it.
His death upon a cross was the powerful explosion that separated you from your life of death. It remains for you, now, to enter into that death with Him. As you die to the one you are now, a person separated from God from your many sins, you will be born anew, with a nature predisposed to live rightly. This gift is free to you, with nothing you can do to earn it. It is the mercy of God to offer it to you, as He loves you so much! All you must do is receive it by trusting Him to have delivered you. Simply place your life in His hands and embrace the freedom that came through that death on the cross.
The Gospel is that Jesus did not remain dead, but rose again on the third day after His crucifixion! Death could not hold Him, as He was without sin. And so death will not be able to hold you, as you identify with Him fully through your trust in Him. Let go of yourself and confess Him as Lord of your life. The power of His death and resurrection will work in you all that your Creator has destined for you. You will truly enter a new life and experience that intimate union you have been seeking all of your life.
So ponder these words as you read here of this great God—Yahweh—and all that He has revealed to His creation. Let His Spirit testify to your heart that these words are true, that God is Love, and that He sent His Son so that you might receive the life that is unbound by time and space. As you feel that witness in your heart, simply believe and receive what He is offering to you, even now, and begin your new life as a child of God.
Please write to me and let me know when you take this step, as I will be your brother in Christ—we will be one in Him!
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However, for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first, JesusChrist might display all his patience, for an example of those who were going to believe in him for eternal life. (1 Timothy 1:16)
Scripture Quotes: World English Bible Translation.
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