A statement my pastor made on Sunday during his sermon embedded in my mind. He said:

“Until we come to grips with how great a sinner we are, we will not come to grips with how great a Savior we have in Jesus.”

Maybe it stuck because he repeated it twice.

He had just read Acts 22:1-5 where the apostle Paul confesses persecuting the Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women. Paul was honest with the people he was speaking to, honest with himself, and honest with God.

Often, we pretend we are okay, refusing to acknowledge our sin. Perhaps we tend to be judgmental, looking down on others. Perhaps we have a sharp, critical tongue. Perhaps we hide behind the excuse of a full schedule to avoid serving. Perhaps [you fill in the rest of the sentence/sin we may not acknowledge].

Sometimes we compare ourselves to others, looking at their sin, and think we are not like them or as bad as them.

As long as we make excuses, we will not get one-on-one with Jesus, who sets the example. He will help us uncover the sin within our hearts, digging deep, and through this process we will discover His love, grace, and mercy.

When we discover how great our sin is, we will discover how great Christ’s love, grace, and mercy is. We will grasp the meaning of the cross.

“Until we come to grips with how great a sinner we are, we will not come to grips with how great a Savior we have in Jesus. And we will never understand true worship, what it means to bow down to the King of Kings, Lord of Lords in adoration,” said my pastor.

Why? “Because we will be focusing on ourselves.”

Author and Bible teacher Jen Wilkin says the Bible is a book about God yet we make it all about ourself. It does reveal God to us, but in the process we learn His view of His creation. Jesus, who is fully God, humbled Himself and came to earth as a man to rescue us from the bondage of sin. That is great love, grace, and mercy.

He is Worthy.

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” Revelation 5:12

[Excerpts from sermon delivered by Pastor Terry Johnson, Calvary Chapel Westwood Sunday, Oct. 15]

©2023 Susan Cort Johnson *All Rights Reserved

Photo from Pixabay

Let’s Talk:

1-Why will recognizing how great a sinner we are cause us to fall down and worship Jesus Christ?

2-Do you have an example of when you have been honest with yourself, with others, and before God? If so, please share.