“The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance: that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners…” (1 Timothy 1:15 NRSVUE)
There is a misconception that Christians are “good people.” As attractive as that idea is, it is a bit misleading. Christians are people who trust that their relationship with God is made whole by the work of Jesus, whose life, death and resurrection change everything about us. That means that we are made right with God, not by what we do, but by what God does.
The Apostle Paul is fully aware of his need for grace. He had considered himself righteous and had been pretty full of himself. But when he met the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus, Jesus confronted him with a truth that would change his view of everything – including himself. He had been living his life grounded in the wrong things. What he had thought was pleasing to God was actually opposing what God was up to. He deserved no credit or accolades for his actions. He needed mercy.
Fortunately, Jesus came to bring mercy to those who need it. I like to say, “Jesus can only help you if you need help.” What that means is that if you think you have your life all together and are doing fine without Jesus, Christianity has nothing to offer you. It is only when you recognize that grace is something we receive – a gift – that Christ makes any sense at all.
One of the reasons we confess our sins and hear words of forgiveness when we gather is to remind us that we all need grace. And once we include ourselves in the group that needs grace, we are lumped in with lots of other people who need grace too. That joins us to others and allows us to be gracious with the faults and shortcomings of others who need grace too.
The church is at its best when it is filled with people who need grace, recognize that need and both receive it and offer it to others generously. Paul’s life was changed when he learned that basic principle. Our lives are changed in the same way – from entitled to thankful.
