I Timothy 1

“The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost” (v15). As someone who had kept the Jewish Law but persecuted Christians, Paul counted himself a terrible sinner before he met Jesus. He believed repentance was available for everyone, and his definition of “sinner” included people like himself who trusted in religion as well as those who practiced sexual immorality, or slavery, or lying (v9-10).

No matter what we have done, Paul said, Jesus came to save and transform us. “The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith” (v15).