“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 Timothy 1:15
John Newton, who wrote “Amazing Grace,” also wrote this:
“May we not say with the Psalmist, ‘Lord, what is man?’ Yes, what an enigma, what a poor, inconsistent creature is a believer! In one view, how great are his character and privilege! He knows the Lord; he knows himself. His understanding is enlightened to comprehend … the great mysteries of the gospel. He has just ideas of the evil of sin, the vanity of the world, the beauties of holiness.
“But … he is absolutely dependent and is still encompassed with infirmities and burdened with a depraved nature. If the Lord withdraws His power, he becomes weak …. Without continual and renewed communications from the Spirit of grace, he is unable to withstand the smallest temptation, to endure the slightest trial, to perform the least service, … or even to think a good thought …. Thus repeated experience of his own weakness teaches him where his strength lies—that it is not in anything he has already attained or can call his own, but in the grace, power, and faithfulness of his Savior.”
“May we not say with the Psalmist, ‘Lord, what is man?’ Yes, what an enigma, what a poor, inconsistent creature is a believer! In one view, how great are his character and privilege! He knows the Lord; he knows himself. His understanding is enlightened to comprehend … the great mysteries of the gospel. He has just ideas of the evil of sin, the vanity of the world, the beauties of holiness.
“But … he is absolutely dependent and is still encompassed with infirmities and burdened with a depraved nature. If the Lord withdraws His power, he becomes weak …. Without continual and renewed communications from the Spirit of grace, he is unable to withstand the smallest temptation, to endure the slightest trial, to perform the least service, … or even to think a good thought …. Thus repeated experience of his own weakness teaches him where his strength lies—that it is not in anything he has already attained or can call his own, but in the grace, power, and faithfulness of his Savior.”
Scripture Focus
1 Timothy 1:1-17
Insight
“Heal us, Emmanuel, here we are,/ Waiting to feel Thy touch;/ Deep wounded souls to Thee repair,/ And, Savior, we are such.” (William Cowper, 1779)
Bible In A Year
- Ecclesiastes 11-12
- Psalm 68
- John 8
