If you were ever looking for a statement upon which you can build the rest of your life; if you really want something that is trustworthy and full of confidence and hope, then you need to look no further than 1 Timothy 1:15: “This is a faithful saying and worthy
of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.” In this verse the apostle Paul makes a profound claim: Christ came to save sinners. We are assured that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23); and as a result, death has spread to all men “because all sinned” (5:12). Being unable to save ourselves we are in need of a savior. This is the divine purpose for which Christ came (Matt. 1:21; 18:11; 20:28).
Oh, what love (cf. Rom. 5:6-8)! But wait, there is a second point Paul makes that is of equal importance: he claims to be the chief of all sinners. Some believe they are so bad that Christ will not or cannot save them though they repent. Friends, if Christ can save the chief of all sinners, what in your past is so great that His blood cannot forgive? If He could save the worst of all, could He not save all? “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon” (Isaiah 55:7).