CHIEF SINNER

The book of 1 Timothy was the first letter the apostle Paul wrote to Timothy. In the first chapter, he ventured into his personal testimony. In verse 15 he said, “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.” To fully appreciate the import of this statement, we must go back to where Paul was coming from.

In the book of Acts chapter 7, we see Stephen, one of the seven who were chosen by the disciples to serve the growing church. He was seized and brought before the council on false charges. After he had testified about Jesus, the Bible records that he was dragged out of the city and stoned to death. And those who stoned him laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man called Saul (Acts 7:58). That was the first mention of the apostle Paul in the Bible—he joyfully watched on as a follower of Christ was stoned for believing in Jesus. Chapter 8 proceeded to tell us how Saul persecuted the church, throwing many believers into prison.

Chapter 9 shows him obtaining letters of permission to go to Damascus to arrest the believers there. “And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest... (Acts 9:3-5 KJV). The Lord made him blind and he remained that way for three days. But Christ didn’t stop there, He directed a disciple named Ananias through a vision to go and minister to Saul and pray for him. “Then Ananias answered, Lord I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto Me, to bear My Name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel.” (Acts 9:13-15 KJV. Emphasis added). After Ananias prayed for Saul and he received his sight, he was baptized and immediately began to preach that Christ is the Son of God.

What great lengths that Christ went for just this one man. If he were a righteous man it would be easy for us to grasp but this was someone who was very zealous in his persecution of the church. He killed, imprisoned and supported the killings of believers. Yet Christ encountered him personally and chose him to proclaim His Name far and wide. What a loving and merciful God we serve.

Christ came that all might be saved. If we were all holy and righteous then He wouldn’t have come just like how the doctor ordinarily does not dispense drugs to the healthy person, it is the sick that need to be made whole, it is the unclean that need to be cleansed, it is those that are in darkness that need to be brought into light, it is those who are in sin that need to be saved. And Christ came for the sinners. Who were the sinners? You and I, and everyone born into this world. The Bible says for all have sinned (Romans 3:23a). Meaning just merely being born into the world automatically makes you a sinner. If you have stolen before or lied before, it doesn’t make you more of a sinner than the next person, Christ came for us all. The same love He has for me is the same love He has for you. This is why there is no discrimination. This is why apostle Paul was not disqualified from being called by Him. In fact, it can be said that the qualification for salvation is to be a sinner and if everyone was a sinner then God wants us all to be saved. This was why He sent His Son, for He so loved the world (John 3:16).  While we were yet sinners, Christ died for you and I. (Romans 5:8).

While Paul was still persecuting the Church, Christ died for him. While the thief that was crucified alongside Jesus had spent his life stealing and committing atrocities, Christ went to the cross for him. Jesus was found dining with tax collectors who were commonly regarded as sinners and Christ was very comfortable in their midst because He came for them, He came to save them.

No matter how far gone you think you are in sin, as long as you are still alive, you are qualified for salvation. Christ died for you. He didn’t set a limit as to the number of sins a person may commit. In all His encounters with people, He never asked them how many sins they had committed. He never even asked as to the nature or type of their sins. He forgave all. 

God is inviting you today. He says “Come now let us reason together, though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool” (Isaiah 1:18 KJV). The apostle Paul was once among the greatest enemies of the church. His name was known far and wide as a persecutor of the church. And Christ still extended His love to him and used him mightily. 

You are loved by God and He is waiting for you to believe in His Son, Jesus Christ. No soul is worthless to God, no soul is less important in the sight of God. Seize this opportunity today and surrender your life to Christ. Don’t believe the lies of the enemy that you are too sinful to be accepted into God’s kingdom. Believe in Jesus and your sins shall be wiped away.

YOU NEED TO BREAKUP NOW

All scripture quotations are taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB), Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

Used by permission. www.Lockman.org

In his prophetic vision, Isaiah saw the end of Satan. Concerning Satan, he said: 

“Those who see you will gaze at you, they will ponder over you, saying, ‘Is this the man who made the earth tremble, who shook kingdoms?’” (Isaiah 14:16). 

By the end of time, Satan would have so degenerated that it would be hard to believe he was the one who had vehemently troubled the whole earth. Although when he was created, the Bible says he had the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. That even his covering was of every precious stone and was anointed and served right at the feet of God, ministering to Him. But he would by the end of time be completely marred, because sin was later found in him. And in Ezekiel 28:18, the word of the Lord reveals to us how he would be brought to such utter ruin. It reads:

“By the multitude of your iniquities, in the unrighteousness of your trade you profaned your sanctuaries. THEREFORE I HAVE BROUGHT FIRE FROM THE MIDST OF YOU; it has consumed you, and I have turned you to ashes on the earth in the eyes of all who see you.” (Emphasis added). 

Because iniquity was found in him, fire was brought from within him to consume him. This fire will so consume him that he will look like ashes by those who behold him. This is the reason the people who will gaze at him will hardly believe he was the one who made the earth tremble and shook kingdoms. 

And just like sin is with the devil, so is it with anyone who dwells in sin. It will generate a fire in the sinner that will eventually consume him if he does not repent. The longer one remains in sin, the more degenerated in all respects one will be.

It is a dangerous thing for people to remain in sin. For God does not necessarily need to destroy such people because the sin in them will occasion their destruction. Just as the life of God enlivens people, so does sin destroy. It has the tendency to destroy the spirit, soul and body of whoever remains in it. 

However, unlike Satan whose future has been sealed that his destination should be in the lake of fire, man still has the opportunity to repent today, and even now, from any sin whatsoever. The blood of Jesus has been made available by God Himself to quench the fire that might have been kindled by sin for the destruction of man. But if he does not repent, he has chosen the destination of the devil because he is of the devil. At the end, he will be hurled into the lake of fire, “into an unquenchable fire, where their worm does not die.” Therefore every man should repent from every sin so as not to be destroyed like the devil. 

1 John 3:8 says:

“The one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.”

The latter part of the above text clearly reveals the purpose for which Jesus, the Son of God, appeared on earth, which is to destroy the works of the devil. Jesus has appeared to undo what began with the devil, even sin. Therefore it is now possible to breakup with every sin and be restored to God.

The first step to take to breakup with sin is to consciously decide, while resting on the grace of God, to do away with any form of sin. It means to first acknowledge your sins and repent while you forsake them first in your heart. When you forsake your sins in your heart, you will be able to now actually forsake them.

The second step in breaking up with any sin is to believe in Jesus Christ as your Saviour. Without Him, you will lack the grace that can set you free. John 8:36 says: “So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.” True freedom lies with Him. Are you laden with sin? He beckons on you and says: “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). 

Third step is to begin to live a prayerful life and to consistently study the Word. By this, you will build yourself to become strong that the enemy will not be able to defeat you and again bring you into captivity. The Lord says that when the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came’; and when it comes, if it finds it unoccupied, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and takes along with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first. Therefore, you must not just forsake your sins and keep yourself just free of them, you must also allow the Spirit of God to fill you by praying and reading His Word. 

Lastly, you should have fellowship with other believers. Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:22:

“Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, WITH THOSE WHO CALL ON THE LORD FROM A PURE HEART” (Emphasis added). 

The need for fellowship cannot be overemphasized. It will not only help you grow, it will also keep you away from sin. You should seek people who genuinely worship God, join yourself with them and you will not be quickly overrun by the devil. Ecclesiastes 4:12 says: “And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.”

BEST THING TO HEAR: I NOW BELIEVE IN JESUS

There is great joy and celebration in Heaven over one sinner that repents and accepts Jesus (Luke 15:7,10). There is no one that is too sinful to be saved. God sent His Son for all and He wants all to come to Him.

The day I made a personal decision to accept Jesus, there was great jubilation in Heaven. The day that person who was once an armed robber decided to accept Jesus, there was great jubilation. The day the fraudster, or the drunkard, or the womanizer decided to accept Jesus, there was great jubilation in Heaven. Why? Because that was God's desire when He came down to earth. That is what He wanted. That is a display of the fulfilment of His plans.

Prior to the coming of Christ, all of man's best efforts to attain the level of righteousness that God originally intended for us, were just temporary measures having temporary effects. All the animals slain—lambs, goats, sheep, birds, bulls and all others, could never have been enough to restore man. The sin of Adam and Eve in the Garden had repercussions of great magnitude for by them all of mankind, unborn generations, were automatically placed under sin. This is why a child born into the world need not even do anything wrong per se before being rendered a sinner. The Bible says for all have sinned (Romans 3:23). There was no distinction, it wasn’t “all adults have sinned” or “all above the age of 5 have sinned”. All have sinned, all of mankind have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God because of that singular act of disobedience by Adam.

Sin is accompanied by everything bad, culminating eventually in death. But for they that are in Christ, we have a way out for though we die, yet shall we live again (John 11:25). The first death for us will merely be a way of shedding our mortal bodies, getting rid of the dust. Our souls the main content will be transmitted to eternal life. We will not be subjected to the second death which is the ultimate end of sin. The Bible says the soul that sins shall die (Ezekiel 18:20a) and the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). So a person who doesn’t have Christ will end in eternal damnation if he/she continues that way. The person need not commit obvious sins such as murder or lying or stealing. The mere fact that he/she doesn’t believe in Jesus and hasn’t accepted Him into his/her life, has qualified the person for the second death.

Imagine how sad and unfortunate it is that all of mankind by default, is subject to sin and by extension, death. No one had a say in it before Adam gave us all up. Now, if the sinful act of a man had such grave consequences on all humanity, you can imagine the great and glorious benefits which the righteous act of God Himself has brought to us. 

When Christ came, He healed the sick, opened the eyes of the blind, cast out demons and even raised people from the dead but all these wonderful things weren’t the main purpose of His coming. They were reflections or will I say evidences of His main purpose. He came to correct the error of Adam’s act. He came to take away the consequences of Adam’s act. This time around, there were no limitations unlike the sacrifices of animals. The sacrifices of animals were limited to one sin alone. That is to say if Mr. A steals and Mr. Z also steals, the sacrifice of Mr. A will not atone for the sin of Mr. Z. Further, if after making sacrifices to atone for that act of stealing, Mr. A steals again or maybe this time around, he commits a different sin, the sacrifices he earlier made will not atone for his subsequent sin. Another sacrifice has to be made, and so on. That was how limited sacrifices were before Christ came.

But when Christ came, He took all the sins of mankind away. By getting crucified on the cross, He atoned for the sins of both those who were in existence at the time and those yet to be born for as long as the earth remains till He returns the second time. He is the ultimate sacrifice, the last sacrifice. Through Him, all the sins of Mr. A, Mr. Z and everyone else have been atoned for. However, much as He has done this for us, each person has the task of either accepting it or refusing it. Take an example of a person who was unwillingly locked in a room—Adam by his disobedience, locked all humanity in sin. And a rescuer brings the key to the room and gives it to the person—Christ came to rescue us and the key is believing in Him. The person has two options to select from, he either uses the key—believing in Jesus and leaving sin. Or he refuses to use the key—doesn’t believe in Jesus and remains locked in sin. 

But it isn’t the will of God that any man should perish this is why He brought the key to us (2 Peter 3:9). And He is patiently waiting and hoping that more and more people will choose to use the key to unlock the door and be freed from sin. And every time a person unlocks the door and leaves the room, God is overjoyed, the heavens are overjoyed, His whole kingdom is overjoyed, it is like welcoming a prince who was missing for long but has now returned to the kingdom.

For anyone who is yet to believe in Jesus, use the key this moment and unlock the door. Leave sin. Simply say a simple prayer. Acknowledge that you are a sinner and confess to God, believe that Christ is Lord and He came to save you. Ask Him to be your Lord and accept Him into your life. God is waiting to welcome you into eternal life.

SO MUCH JOY EVERYWHERE

Luke 15:1-32 gives three parables to give us an idea of how important a single soul is to God. The first parable which is the parable of the lost sheep narrates how a shepherd who owns a 100 sheep leaves the rest behind to search for any single sheep that goes missing. Even if it is just one sheep that goes missing, the shepherd leaves the 99 to go in search for the 1 and when he finds it, he gathers his neighbours to rejoice with him. And Jesus said in verse 7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over 99 just persons, which need no repentance.

The second parable is that of the lost coin. It goes thus, that if a woman who owns 10 pieces of silver loses one of the coins, she lights a candle and sweeps the whole house, carefully searching for the one coin that went missing. When she finally finds it, she calls her friends and neighbours to rejoice with her. And Jesus repeated, likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

The third parable is a popular one. The parable of the prodigal son who collected all his inheritance from his father and went out from his father’s presence to squander it on senseless living after which, he was finally reduced to eating food meant for pigs. When he finally came to his senses and went back home to his father, even before he near the house his father ran out to him and hugged and kissed him. He dressed him in his best robes and threw a huge party in his honour to celebrate his return, for he said, this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost and is found.

Yet these parables are but a mere shadow of how much the heavens rejoice over a single soul that is won to the kingdom of God. A God that loved us so much that He sent His only Son to reduce Himself to flesh just so we can be saved. Not only did He become a human being, He was born into a humble home, not the home of a king or ruler or even a rich man but the home of a carpenter. Even at birth, He was born in very humble surroundings. 

And even those He was sent to didn’t welcome Him. Some didn’t believe Him, He was persecuted, beaten, pierced, humiliated and crucified. He bore all this in silence just to ensure that we are saved. 2 Peter 3:9 KJV says The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. That is what God wants, that none of us should be lost to destruction but that we all should repent and be saved. This was why He sent Jesus, that all of humanity will have a chance at returning to Him.

And guess what? God is still waiting for you. The Bible describes Him as long-suffering. This is why despite the number of years you have spent outside of Him, living your life your own way, He is still waiting for you, ready to welcome you and rejoice over you just as the father welcomed his prodigal son with open arms.

Not only will God welcome you with open arms, but your past life of sin will be remembered no more. The day you receive Jesus and return to God, you will stand washed and purified before Him because Hebrews 8:12 says, “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.” The day you surrender your life to Jesus, you begin afresh with God, He gives you a clean slate, He writes off your sins and you start a new life in Him, free from all encumbrances. In place of your filthy garment, a garment whiter than snow will be placed on you.

And do you know what? The rejoicing when you give your life to Christ isn’t restricted to heaven alone. Even you yourself will rejoice. Acts 8:5-8 KJV says, “Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. And there was great joy in that city” (Emphasis added).

And there was great joy in that city! Because they had been taken out of darkness into God's marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9b). Because they had been liberated from sicknesses and diseases (Isaiah 53:5). Because they were no longer at the mercy of demons, demons had been subdued (Mark 16:17). Because they were no longer doomed to an eternity of sorrow and gnashing of teeth. Because that void in their lives which they didn’t even realize existed, had been filled. Because they had been introduced to the love of God (John 3:16). 

Oh what great joy will there be among the hosts of heaven when you turn away from the path of destruction. Oh what great joy will there be within you when you come into God’s kingdom, when you make up your mind that you don’t want to live in sin anymore, that you don’t want to live your life chasing things that don’t have eternal value. Oh what great joy will there be within you when you realize that you are now on the path of life. Just like the thief that accepted Jesus even at the point of death and his fate was immediately turned around for the better. Luke 23:43 says “And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.”

Revelation 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Jesus is waiting expectantly for you. Open your heart to Him today.

SO MUCH JOY EVERYWHERE

Luke 15:1-32 gives three parables to give us an idea of how important a single soul is to God. The first parable which is the parable of the lost sheep narrates how a shepherd who owns a 100 sheep leaves the rest behind to search for any single sheep that goes missing. Even if it is just one sheep that goes missing, the shepherd leaves the 99 to go in search for the 1 and when he finds it, he gathers his neighbours to rejoice with him. And Jesus said in verse 7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over 99 just persons, which need no repentance.

The second parable is that of the lost coin. It goes thus, that if a woman who owns 10 pieces of silver loses one of the coins, she lights a candle and sweeps the whole house, carefully searching for the one coin that went missing. When she finally finds it, she calls her friends and neighbours to rejoice with her. And Jesus repeated, likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

The third parable is a popular one. The parable of the prodigal son who collected all his inheritance from his father and went out from his father’s presence to squander it on senseless living after which, he was finally reduced to eating food meant for pigs. When he finally came to his senses and went back home to his father, even before he near the house his father ran out to him and hugged and kissed him. He dressed him in his best robes and threw a huge party in his honour to celebrate his return, for he said, this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost and is found.

Yet these parables are but a mere shadow of how much the heavens rejoice over a single soul that is won to the kingdom of God. A God that loved us so much that He sent His only Son to reduce Himself to flesh just so we can be saved. Not only did He become a human being, He was born into a humble home, not the home of a king or ruler or even a rich man but the home of a carpenter. Even at birth, He was born in very humble surroundings. 

And even those He was sent to didn’t welcome Him. Some didn’t believe Him, He was persecuted, beaten, pierced, humiliated and crucified. He bore all this in silence just to ensure that we are saved. 2 Peter 3:9 KJV says The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. That is what God wants, that none of us should be lost to destruction but that we all should repent and be saved. This was why He sent Jesus, that all of humanity will have a chance at returning to Him.

And guess what? God is still waiting for you. The Bible describes Him as long-suffering. This is why despite the number of years you have spent outside of Him, living your life your own way, He is still waiting for you, ready to welcome you and rejoice over you just as the father welcomed his prodigal son with open arms.

Not only will God welcome you with open arms, but your past life of sin will be remembered no more. The day you receive Jesus and return to God, you will stand washed and purified before Him because Hebrews 8:12 says, “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.” The day you surrender your life to Jesus, you begin afresh with God, He gives you a clean slate, He writes off your sins and you start a new life in Him, free from all encumbrances. In place of your filthy garment, a garment whiter than snow will be placed on you.

And do you know what? The rejoicing when you give your life to Christ isn’t restricted to heaven alone. Even you yourself will rejoice. Acts 8:5-8 KJV says, “Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. And there was great joy in that city” (Emphasis added).

And there was great joy in that city! Because they had been taken out of darkness into God's marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9b). Because they had been liberated from sicknesses and diseases (Isaiah 53:5). Because they were no longer at the mercy of demons, demons had been subdued (Mark 16:17). Because they were no longer doomed to an eternity of sorrow and gnashing of teeth. Because that void in their lives which they didn’t even realize existed, had been filled. Because they had been introduced to the love of God (John 3:16). 

Oh what great joy will there be among the hosts of heaven when you turn away from the path of destruction. Oh what great joy will there be within you when you come into God’s kingdom, when you make up your mind that you don’t want to live in sin anymore, that you don’t want to live your life chasing things that don’t have eternal value. Oh what great joy will there be within you when you realize that you are now on the path of life. Just like the thief that accepted Jesus even at the point of death and his fate was immediately turned around for the better. Luke 23:43 says “And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.”

Revelation 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Jesus is waiting expectantly for you. Open your heart to Him today.