Freed Up to be Real

GETTING STARTED

I am a grateful believer in Jesus Christ, and I struggle with sin. Yes, I am one of THOSE believers in Jesus. I still struggle with sin: being critical and fault-finding on one hand; discouraged, discontent, and a man who battles the lust of the flesh on the other. Some of my struggle is also linked to a dark past, a past marked by the pain of a drinking and driving accident that resulted in a death. The temptation is to be anchored to the struggle of sin instead of walking in the liberating forgiveness and freedom of Jesus.

READ THE WORD: I TIMOTHY 1:15-16 (ESV)

¹⁵ 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. ¹⁶ 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

RESPOND TO GOD

Paul transparently and freely acknowledged his sin. He called himself the “foremost” of sinners. This was not a humble exaggeration. Paul understood that God does not grade on a curve. All of us, apart from the finished work of Jesus, have received an “F” on the test of righteousness. Paul’s encounter with and trust in Jesus as Messiah changed everything (Acts 9). He was radically transformed from a zealous persecutor of the church to “an apostle to the Gentiles” (Romans 11:13).

Why hide behind the mask of who you really are? Think about the cast of characters that God has used to advance his purposes. Moses was a murderer. Jacob was a liar. David had an affair. Rahab was a prostitute. Jonah ran from God. Jeremiah was depressed and suicidal. Elijah was burned out. Noah got drunk. The disciples had hard hearts. Peter denied Jesus. And the list goes on. Why? So that the patience (and mercy) of Jesus might be on display as an example for those who have embraced the good news that, in Christ, we are 100% forgiven and set free. To God be the honor and glory forever!