Mike Focht 5/9/2025
This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
1 Timothy 1:15-17
God is more longsuffering and patient with us than we are with ourselves.
What an incredible truth! Paul the apostle was once Saul, the zealous slayer of Christians. His single-minded goal was to wreak havoc on the cause of Christ by destroying the church any way possible. When the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write that he was the chief of sinners, it was not for mere effect. God doesn’t feel the pressure to exaggerate. I believe Paul saw himself as the chief sinner because he had persecuted Christ and His church the most!
Paul declares the darkness of his personal depravity for the purpose of boasting in the cross of Christ. He recognized God’s grace in patiently enduring his sin. God’s longsuffering with him was an example to those who would later come to faith. If Paul could obtain mercy from God despite his viciously sinful and blasphemous life, so could anyone else. God is more merciful and longsuffering with sinners than we could ever imagine. How much longsuffering does God have? All of it.
The ramifications of this are clear. When coming to God and seeking His help in battling our personal sins, we can quickly become discouraged when we do not immediately see evident progress. The lack of holy results in any godly endeavor feels like a spiritual wet blanket. It stifles and threatens to extinguish the fire of holy zeal. It becomes easy to question God’s mercy toward us. We do this because we have no mercy for ourselves! If I am frustrated with myself, then why wouldn’t God be? Of course, Satan steps in at this moment and wants to lead us from frustration with our immaturity to forsaking the pursuit of spiritual maturity altogether.
Here is where Paul’s example is so needed. You are not the worst sinner Christ has had to display longsuffering with. Jesus Christ came to save and sanctify sinners, and He has depths of mercy, compassion, patience, and love that we have not yet tapped. God’s longsuffering does not belittle the reality of our sin one bit. It does the exact opposite. It glorifies the work of Christ on the cross and the divine kindness of our Savior with those He is leading to repentance.
Are you a desperate sinner seeking to obtain mercy from Jesus Christ? You will find it at the foot of the cross. Jesus has already proved He is willing to give mercy to the chief of sinners. If Paul could find the mercy of God, we can too. Abandon your doubts, frustrations, and fears and bow yourself before the God who alone is wise. If God saved Paul from himself, sanctified him, and called him into his service. He can do the same with you. Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners, and He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.