"The Worst of Sinners”
Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28 & I Timothy 1:12-17
What if God through Christ had given grace to Usama Bin Laden. How would you respond? Today is September 11, commonly referred to as nine-eleven or 911. Because of the events that took place on this day 18 years ago, Bin Laden was certainly considered by many the worst of sinners. But can the worst of sinners be given God’s grace?
Our lectionary reading takes us to the scripture where the worst of sinners, Paul the Apostle, tells us how Christ treated him, the worst of sinners. In this message we will learn what God does for the worst of sinners and why he does it.
It is a hopeful message for those who are fools, people who don’t know God (Jer. 4:22), to be encouraged to believe.
We have all been fools through our ignorance and unbelief. Yet God offers us hope by not destroying us completely in his wrath, but appointing us to salvation in Jesus Christ. Christ takes the unrelenting wrath of God in all of its scorching heat, wind, and darkness, upon himself. Christ suffers the destruction of God’s wrath so that we are not destroyed. Through Christ Jesus, the forgiveness given to the worst of sinners shows every child of God the unlimited patience of Christ is with them in their battle against sin. This is the good news of the gospel, that is able to save a terrorist.