This is the second in a series of Catches exploring more deeply the 10 Prerequisites for Being Effective in the Marketplace (see August 24, 2010)
Prerequisite #2: An overwhelming sense of God’s grace for me, and for everyone else
Every believer should be absolutely convinced of being the worst sinner on the face of the earth. And if this is not the case, if there is any inkling of a thought that somebody out there might be worse than I am, then there is reason to believe that I have not yet done adequate business with God about my own sin.[??1]
The great hymnwriters thought this way. Their salvation continually amazed them. Our hymnals portray their amazement. Consider lines like, “Amazing love! How can it be that Thou, my God, shouldst die for me!” No, this is not merely “die for me,” as in a theological doctrine, this is “die for me,” as in wonder that out of all the people in the world, he would have included me—in this case, Charles Wesley—the worst of the lot.
Phillip Bliss, another hymnwriter, makes it even clearer when he concludes that “Jesus loves even me.” There’s a wealth of meaning in that one word “even.” Even me, the lowest, the least deserving, the worst. Or as Charles Wesley wrote, “‘Tis mercy all, immense and free, for, O my God, it found out me!” His implication is, “God’s mercy had to look really hard because I was a long way off!”
These hymnwriters placed themselves in a camp with the world. Yes, they were saved out of the world, but they never left it and never forgot who they were without Christ. I believe this is what Paul meant hen he said, “I am the worst”—present tense. He knew himself. He knew one thing separated him from the next guy: Jesus Christ and his death on Paul’s behalf. The next guy either didn’t know yet, or didn’t get it. Either way, Jesus was the only difference.
We need to give people a more realistic presentation of ourselves—we’ve been scaring them away for too long with self-imposed images of our saintliness. The world has always been more ready to hear the astonished witness of a saved sinner than the calculated piety of a holy saint. I rather like the Catholic way of looking at sainthood. It’s hard to get in—you have to die first. Whether you take that figuratively or literally, it’s a good point.
And from my smitten heart with tears,
Two wonders I confess—
The wonder of redeeming love
And my unworthiness.
Elizabeth C. Clephane
John Fischer The Catch 
Good post! Interestingly, from the original text (1 Tim. 1:15-16), the phrase Paul uses “I am the WORST of sinners” (emphasis mine). Or in another translation, “I am the CHIEF of sinners,” which is more precisely “I am the FIRST of sinners.” The original word there— “protos” (Gr. προτος —like the English prefix “proto-“) is the same word used in Luke’s story of the returning Prodigal son where his father tells his servants to go and bring the “protos” robe to put on his returning, sin-forgiven, beloved son (15:22). Most of our English translations translate the word here as “BEST.”
So, Paul was calling himself the BEST of sinners, confessing that he knew that he was at the “head of the line” (i.e., FIRST) when it comes to personal depravity and its manifestations. Paul can preach it to us via Scripture with authority, because he’s also “preaching to (another chief member of) the choir” —himself!
As you are pointing out, some pretty mature characters saw their sin ever more clearly. Paul’s “progress” was in this direction on his time line: “… least of the Apostles (1 Cor.) … prisoner of the law of sin (Romans) … chief of sinners (1 Timothy) …”
Too bad he had such a poor self-image … he could have accomplished something with his life.
Ha!
Hello Everyone!
I felt compelled to share an excerpt from, “What’s So Amazing About Grace”-Phillip Yancey that I read last night and is fitting with this “catch.”
It is about the hymnist, John Newton who wrote, “Amazing Grace.”
“The hymn was written, of course, by John Newton, a coarse, cruel slave trader. He first called out to God in the midst of a storm that nearly threw him overboard. Newton came to see the light only gradually, continuing to ply his trade even after his conversion. He wrote the song “How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds” while waiting in an African harbor for a shipment of slaves. Later, though, he renounced his profession, became a minister, and joined William Wilberforce in the fight against slavery. John Newton never lost sight of the depths from which he had been lifted. He never lost sight of grace. When he wrote”…That saved a wretch like me,” he meant those words with all his heart. p. 281
May I too, never forget,
Stephanie Taylor
Hi John,
Congratulations with the Tank ‘make-over’ and good to have your daily e-mail back – although I have not yet discovered how to get to the section where I can read readers’ comments.
Re today’s Catch:
“unworthy” – yes, we were not worthy when we first got saved – but, once saved, I think we are expected to show God that we’re “worthy” of eternal life with Him!
Jesus spoke about:
“those who are considered worthy of taking part in that age and in the resurrection from the dead ” (Luke 20:35)
And Paul urges us to:
“live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” (Ephesians 4:1) and says:
“we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling”
(2 Thessalonians 1:11)
I guess we have to be grateful for what Jesus did for us and diligently and courageously “work out our salvation in fear and trembling”, in obedience to the plan God has for our lives, following Jesus, “the great Shepherd of the sheep”, persevering without complaining.
Jesus, who said:
“and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” (Matthew 10:38)
So, he who DOES take his cross and follows, WILL be considered worthy….
Gotta let God sanctify us:
“Pursue (…) holiness, without which no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14)
That way, we will “overcome” like Jesus did:
“To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne.” (Revelation 3:20)
Blessings,
Hans
Good teaching here. Thanks.
But be careful of a “works” mindset here, Hans……
We are only “worthy” because of Jesus, not because of our worthy living! I think that was exactly John’s point the past few days.
John, thank you so much for your honesty and these devotionals you have shared regarding sinners! (All of us!)
John,
You are so right in your view of our need to internalizing how very unworthy we are of God’s grace and salvation through Jesus Christ. However, as we feel and accept this devastation within us, we must accept and feel the forgiveness and love that God has offered us through His sacrifice. If we fail to this, we won’t be able to show the joy and redemption that comes with His grace. I firmly believe that evil uses our guilt to lock us in a box that keeps us from living the full life that God has for us. So as we acknowledge our sinful self, let us rejoice in our rebirth into life.
Are we going to see any more about the 10 Prerequisites?