Rescue

“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners–of whom I am the worst.” 1 Tim 1:15 (NIV)

Remember the reason Jesus descended. Don’t lose sight of the reason Jesus left the glory of heaven to come to the earth. Jesus embarked on the ultimate mission trip when He chose to leave the glorious environment of angels worshiping at His feet to enter our messy world of rebellion, ridicule, and rejection. No one else was sufficient to accomplish what Jesus completed by coming into the world. No one else qualified to remove our sin and to impute righteousness.

When I think about the mission trip Jesus took for my benefit, I am overwhelmed with the thought that He knew what He was coming to. Jesus knew exactly what He was coming to, and He still came! Jesus knew every sin I would commit, every command I would omit, and He still came! Jesus knew my proclivity to drift from His path of righteousness, my propensity to swim in the sea of selfishness, and He still came!

Paul clarified for Timothy that the reason Jesus came was to save sinners. Jesus was on mission to rescue the perishing and to care for the dying. Paul quickly acknowledged that he was the worst of sinners. In others words, if “sinning” was an Olympic event, Paul would have won the gold medal. Jesus came into the world to save gold medalist sinners like you and me.

What a refreshing revelation! There is no one beyond the reach of God’s grace. There is not a person on earth whom the Lord cannot save. Regardless of their past rebellion, their present sinfulness, and their perpetual spiritual apathy, everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved (Rom. 10:13). When people experience the salvation Jesus provides, they receive His nature to live a life that brings honor to God.

Pursuing God,

Stephen Trammell
Executive Pastor
Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell