My Corner Online

Worse Sinner - Bible Bits 20

*First published 2/14/2009

(1Ti 1:15) Here is a saying that you can trust. It should be accepted completely. Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. And I am the worst sinner of all.

Have you ever had anyone say to you "I know you are trying to be a good Christian" and felt the irony of the statement?

Is there really anything such as a "good" Christian. Aren't all Christians "bad?" Every single person in this world is a sinner and, therefore, we are all bad. Isn't that why we need Jesus Christ to begin with?

It is my belief that a Christian does nothing to become a Christian. It is all God's doing. My faith is a gift from God. It is nothing that I have to prove to others by "trying" my best. There is no test that I have to pass.

Why do we find ourselves comparing each other and labeling people as a "good" Christian or a "bad" Christian?

I once had a Pastor say something to me that stuck in my mind and every once in a while I think on it. He told me that the "worst" Christian is still better than the "best" non-Christian. In other words, if people are compared without their beliefs, someone who is totally upright and does good all the time is much better in society than someone who is always committing crimes. However, if you put Jesus into the equation, it changes the entire view.

Consider the photo of two mugs of drinks. Both the mug of coffee and the mug of hot chocolate are dark and dirty looking. Let's imagine one is the Christian and one is the non-Christian. How would you tell one from the other? Some might say by the Fruits of the Spirit (the good things they do), but is it always so obvious from the outward appearance?

Christians seem to be (and really are) held to a different standard than non-Christians. Non-believers are very critical of a Christian's actions because they do not fully understand the concept of being a Christian.

Just because we are Christians does not make us any better than anyone else. We still goof up just as much as non-Christians who are out there trying to be the best person they can be. Why? We are sinners! Everyone on earth is a sinner! We mess up. Period. All the time! We cannot be perfect. Only Jesus was perfect.

I know I mess up all the time and just shake my head at myself and wonder why I did this or that. No matter how hard I try, I mess up.

The only difference between a Christian and a non-Christian is that when it comes to Judgment Day, Jesus will have wiped away all of those sins of the Christian and welcome that poor miserable sinner into heaven.

Jesus, I humble myself before You and admit that I am the worst sinner. I cannot do it on my own. I need You.