why i am the worst
section 1
Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners–of whom I am the worst.
How and why could Paul say that of all the sinners Jesus saved he was the worst? Was this some sort of humble brag or a statement of his true relationship to the Lord james 3:14 ? Surely there were worse sinner than Paul. Paul’s sins included persecuting the church i corinthians 15:9 , self-righteousness philippians 3:4-6 , and murderous intent acts 9:1 , but just a quick glance around the Scriptures would show us people who could be easily argued being worse than Paul: David, the thief on the cross, Zacchaeus, prostitutes, demoniacs. And these are people that had positive interactions with Jesus, but if you list off sinners who didn’t respond well to God’s grace, how in the world could Paul ever say he was the worst, the chief of sinners i timothy 1:9-10 ?
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supporting scriptures
But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.
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For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
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my notes:
though I myself have reasons for such confidence.
If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.
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Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples...
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We also know that law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious; for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, 10 for adulterers and perverts, for slave traders and liars and perjurers–and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine
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section 2
So, if Paul saw himself as the worst sinner should we not as well, view ourselves in such a manner philippians 3:17 ? So how, besides delusional thinking isaiah 44:20 or sheer childlike faith mark 10:15 , could we ever emulate Paul’s mindset and say with conviction, "I am the worst."? Does Scripture reasonably support Paul or me being the worst? Hitler, Stalin, murderers, rapists, etc. have got to be worse than me; so…whuh…uh…how…why am I the worst?
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supporting scriptures
Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you.
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He feeds on ashes, a deluded heart misleads him; he cannot save himself, or say, "Is not this thing in my right hand a lie? "
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I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."
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section 3
First, this is important in our attitude to bring the blessing of the Gospel to sinners. As one who thinks they are better than others philippians 2:3 deuteronomy 17:18-20 is no longer fulfilling the Gospel but instead sitting as a judge over it james 4:11-12 . You won’t live the Gospel, but rather use it as a means to lift yourself up matthew 23:1-7 and not actually build others up romans 15:1-3 galatians 6:1-5 ii corinthians 10:8 . When we have a right attitude and perspective about the depth of our own sins, we will be freed to love much luke 7:36-47 and humbly bring a benefit to other sinners because of Christ’s work not ours titus 3:2-8 .
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supporting scriptures
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
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When he takes the throne of his kingdom, he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law, taken from that of the priests, who are Levites. 19 It is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the Lord his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees 20 and not consider himself better than his brothers and turn from the law to the right or to the left. Then he and his descendants will reign a long time over his kingdom in Israel.
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Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. 12 There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you–who are you to judge your neighbor?
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Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: 2 "The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3 So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. 4 They tie up heavy loads and put them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.
5 "Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; 6 they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; 7 they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them ‘Rabbi.’
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We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2 Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3 For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: "The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me."
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Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, 5 for each one should carry his own load.
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For even if I boast somewhat freely about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than pulling you down, I will not be ashamed of it.
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Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37 When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, 38 and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.
39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is–that she is a sinner."
40 Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you."
"Tell me, teacher," he said.
41 "Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?"
43 Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled."
"You have judged correctly," Jesus said.
44 Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven–for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."
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to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.
3 At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. 8 This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.
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section 4
So how am I the worst; especially compared to other, greater sinners? Whoops, there is one problem already. Though the term "worst" conveys comparison we would do well to know that we are measured not horizontally ii corinthians 10:12 galatians 6:4 , but vertically amos 7:7-8 ephesians 4:13 ; this is a principle based on absolute standards romans 2:2 . Each individual must stand before the Lord to deal with his own sins romans 14:12 ii corinthians 5:10 ; we will not be compared to the lives of others ezekiel 18:2-4 john 21:22 , but rather in relation to the Lord and the individual’s response to the opportunities God gave him romans 2:12 . God knows how we would and do respond given different situations matthew 11:20-24 , and so He gives us each as individuals the best life of opportunity for our unique heart to respond to Him acts 17:26-27 i kings 8:37-40 i kings 8:58-60
romans 11:30-36 . So, when you are the worst, it is in comparison to the gracious offerings of God to you and the measure of your rebellion to those opportunities isaiah 65:2-5 .
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supporting scriptures
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We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.
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Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else,
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This is what he showed me: The Lord was standing by a wall that had been built true to plumb, with a plumb line in his hand. 8 And the Lord asked me, "What do you see, Amos?"
"A plumb line," I replied.
Then the Lord said, "Look, I am setting a plumb line among my people Israel; I will spare them no longer.
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until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
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Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth.
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So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.
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For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
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"What do you people mean by quoting this proverb about the land of Israel: " ‘The fathers eat sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge’?
3 "As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, you will no longer quote this proverb in Israel. 4 For every living soul belongs to me, the father as well as the son–both alike belong to me. The soul who sins is the one who will die.
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Jesus answered, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me."
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All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law.
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Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent.
21 "Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths. If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. 24 But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you."
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From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. 27 God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.
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"When famine or plague comes to the land, or blight or mildew, locusts or grasshoppers, or when an enemy besieges them in any of their cities, whatever disaster or disease may come, 38 and when a prayer or plea is made by any of your people Israel–each one aware of the afflictions of his own heart, and spreading out his hands toward this temple– 39 then hear from heaven, your dwelling place. Forgive and act; deal with each man according to all he does, since you know his heart (for you alone know the hearts of all men), 40 so that they will fear you all the time they live in the land you gave our fathers.
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May he turn our hearts to him, to walk in all his ways and to keep the commands, decrees and regulations he gave our fathers. 59 And may these words of mine, which I have prayed before the Lord, be near to the Lord our God day and night, that he may uphold the cause of his servant and the cause of his people Israel according to each day’s need, 60 so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God and that there is no other.
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my notes:
Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, 31 so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you. 32 For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.
Doxology
33 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!
34 "Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?"
35 "Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?"
36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.
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All day long I have held out my hands to an obstinate people,
who walk in ways not good, pursuing their own imaginations–
3 a people who continually provoke me to my very face,
offering sacrifices in gardens
and burning incense on altars of brick;
4 who sit among the graves
and spend their nights keeping secret vigil;
who eat the flesh of pigs,
and whose pots hold broth of unclean meat;
5 who say, ‘Keep away; don’t come near me,
for I am too sacred for you!’
Such people are smoke in my nostrils,
a fire that keeps burning all day.
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section 5
Think of it this way. Many are thieves and many others have not really stolen anything. What separates many non-thieves from thieves: a good heart, intelligence, extra greed, opportunity or desperation proverbs 6:30
proverbs 30:8-9 ? In sinful humanity the measure of depravity is not usually perceptible unless tested unto exposure deuteronomy 28:53-57 . In other words only God knows the heart and simply because someone sins outwardly and another only inwardly does not make one necessarily a better person matthew 5:20-22 , but for a whole slew of reasons one only sins inwardly because: one could simply have no need to do so outwardly proverbs 23:6-7 , too cowardly proverbs 28:1 , too lazy matthew 25:26-27 , the outward actions just haven’t occurred to them yet proverbs 6:18 romans 1:30 , etc.
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supporting scriptures
Men do not despise a thief if he steals
to satisfy his hunger when he is starving.
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Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.
9 Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.
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my notes:
Because of the suffering that your enemy will inflict on you during the siege, you will eat the fruit of the womb, the flesh of the sons and daughters the Lord your God has given you.54 Even the most gentle and sensitive man among you will have no compassion on his own brother or the wife he loves or his surviving children, 55 and he will not give to one of them any of the flesh of his children that he is eating. It will be all he has left because of the suffering your enemy will inflict on you during the siege of all your cities. 56 The most gentle and sensitive woman among you–so sensitive and gentle that she would not venture to touch the ground with the sole of her foot–will begrudge the husband she loves and her own son or daughter 57 the afterbirth from her womb and the children she bears. For she intends to eat them secretly during the siege and in the distress that your enemy will inflict on you in your cities.
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For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.
21 "You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.
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Do not eat the food of a stingy man, do not crave his delicacies;
7 for he is the kind of man who is always thinking about the cost. "Eat and drink," he says to you, but his heart is not with you.
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The wicked man flees though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.
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"His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
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a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil,
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slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents;
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section 6
We should always measure our own sin as worse than the sin of others matthew 7:3-5 because MY SIN separates me from my God isaiah 59:1-2 . No one else’s sin separates me from Him ezekiel 18:20 . MY SIN grieves God in MY relationship with Him ephesians 4:30 . MY SIN nailed Christ to the cross FOR ME galatians 2:20 .
my notes:
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supporting scriptures
"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
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Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear.
2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.
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The soul who sins is the one who will die. The son will not share the guilt of the father, nor will the father share the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous man will be credited to him, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against him.
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And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
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I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
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section 7
So if the Lord loves me and gave Himself up for me and I have taken refuge in His love song of solomon 2:4 ruth 2:12 than who can cause Him more pain and betray Him more: the one whom He has an agreed upon relationship with or one who is not in a relationship with Him jeremiah 3:6-14 ? Are you hurt more by those you do not know or by those you do know psalm 55:12-14 psalm 55:20-21 ? Is it those near you who cause the most pain or those far away leviticus 10:3 ? Who offends you more, those who are ignorant of your desires or those who deliberately ignore your desires luke 12:47-48 i timothy 1:13 ? Which is more off-putting, those who have been given kindness and show contempt for it or those who have not noticed the kindness as of yet and so ignore it romans 2:1-5 ?
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supporting scriptures
He has taken me to the banquet hall, and his banner over me is love.
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May the Lord repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.
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During the reign of King Josiah, the Lord said to me, "Have you seen what faithless Israel has done? She has gone up on every high hill and under every spreading tree and has committed adultery there.7 I thought that after she had done all this she would return to me but she did not, and her unfaithful sister Judah saw it. 8 I gave faithless Israel her certificate of divorce and sent her away because of all her adulteries. Yet I saw that her unfaithful sister Judah had no fear; she also went out and committed adultery. 9 Because Israel’s immorality mattered so little to her, she defiled the land and committed adultery with stone and wood. 10 In spite of all this, her unfaithful sister Judah did not return to me with all her heart, but only in pretense," declares the Lord.
11 The Lord said to me, "Faithless Israel is more righteous than unfaithful Judah. 12 Go, proclaim this message toward the north: " ‘Return, faithless Israel,’ declares the Lord, I will frown on you no longer, for I am merciful,’ declares the Lord, ‘I will not be angry forever. 13 Only acknowledge your guilt–you have rebelled against the Lord your God, you have scattered your favors to foreign gods under every spreading tree, and have not obeyed me,’ " declares the Lord. 14 "Return, faithless people," declares the Lord, "for I am your husband. I will choose you–one from a town and two from a clan–and bring you to Zion.
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If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it; if a foe were raising himself against me, I could hide from him. 13 But it is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend, 14 with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship as we walked with the throng at the house of God.
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My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant.
21 His speech is smooth as butter, yet war is in his heart; his words are more soothing than oil, yet they are drawn swords.
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Moses then said to Aaron, "This is what the Lord spoke of when he said: " ‘Among those who approach me I will show myself holy; in the sight of all the people I will be honored.’ " Aaron remained silent.
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"That servant who knows his master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows. 48 But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.
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Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief.
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You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.2 Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. 3 So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? 4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance?
5 But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath , when his righteous judgment will be revealed.
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section 8
This is the vertical measure of how bad you are. i am the worst because for all of God’s gracious overtures, my heart must be the darkest place to swallow his light so readily. i am the worst in relation to the Lord. this is why deliberate sins are spoken of more seriously than unintentional sins numbers 15:27-31 ; why ignorance is still destructive hosea 4:6 , but knowledgeable rebellion is detested deuteronomy 29:19-21 ; why teachers can be justly held to a stricter judgment; they know more; they know better james 3:1 . So, the one who deliberately sins against God’s revelatory grace is one who has been given more and thus proves even more the depths of sin the resides in the heart galatians 2:17-18 .
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supporting scriptures
Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.
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"If, while we seek to be justified in Christ, it becomes evident that we ourselves are sinners, does that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not! 18 If I rebuild what I destroyed, I prove that I am a lawbreaker.
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section 9
So if we dare to compare ourselves horizontally we believers are worse sinners than unbelievers because we trample on Christ’s sacrifice, we treat His blood as unholy and we in our sinfulness insult the Spirit of grace hebrews 10:26-31 . We who bear His Name then hold Him up to public ridicule by our rebellious lives hebrews 6:6 , and give occasion for others to disbelieve His offerings of grace in their lives romans 2:17-24 ii peter 2:2 ezekiel 36:20-23 .
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supporting scriptures
If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left,27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. 28 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said, "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," and again, "The Lord will judge his people." 31 It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
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if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.
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Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and brag about your relationship to God; 18 if you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law; 19 if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of infants, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth– 21 you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? 22 You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who brag about the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? 24 As it is written: "God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you."
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Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.
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And wherever they went among the nations they profaned my holy name, for it was said of them, ‘These are the Lord’s people, and yet they had to leave his land.’ 21 I had concern for my holy name, which the house of Israel profaned among the nations where they had gone.
22 "Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am going to do these things, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you have gone. 23 I will show the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Sovereign Lord, when I show myself holy through you before their eyes.
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my notes:
section 10
Is this not the reason the Lord wants us hot or cold revelation 3:15-16 ? Is it not more a sin, an offense, a hurt to the Lord to be unfaithful than faithless jeremiah 3:11
jeremiah 2:9-12 and to misrepresent Who He is and what He is doing than not represent Him at all jude 4 jeremiah 7:10 23:30-32 ? Can a woman cheat on a man that is not hers, and she is not his? But a husband who cheats on his wife hurts her in a way a thousand promiscuous men ever could? Can a child disgrace a family he is not part of?
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supporting scriptures
I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm–neither hot nor cold–I am about to spit you out of my mouth.
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The Lord said to me, "Faithless Israel is more righteous than unfaithful Judah.
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"Therefore I bring charges against you again," declares the Lord. "And I will bring charges against your children’s children.
10 Cross over to the coasts of Kittim and look, send to Kedar and observe closely; see if there has ever been anything like this:
11 Has a nation ever changed its gods? (Yet they are not gods at all.) But my people have exchanged their Glory for worthless idols.
12 Be appalled at this, O heavens, and shudder with great horror," declares the Lord.
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For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.
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and then come and stand before me in this house, which bears my Name, and say, "We are safe"–safe to do all these detestable things?
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"Therefore," declares the Lord, "I am against the prophets who steal from one another words supposedly from me. 31 Yes," declares the Lord, "I am against the prophets who wag their own tongues and yet declare, ‘The Lord declares.’ 32 Indeed, I am against those who prophesy false dreams," declares the Lord. "They tell them and lead my people astray with their reckless lies, yet I did not send or appoint them. They do not benefit these people in the least," declares the Lord.
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section 11
No one will be able to boast before the Lord i corinthians 1:27-29 . For in the end every person who is saved will realize that he himself is the worst for although I knew God ecclesiastes 3:11 psalm 19:1-3 I neither glorified Him nor gave thanks to Him, but my thinking became futile and my foolish heart was darkened romans 1:21 in my understanding proverbs 3:5 and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that was in me due to the self-hardening of my heart psalm 36:2 zechariah 7:11-12 . I lost all sensitivity and gave myself over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity with a continual lust for more ephesians 4:18-19 . And even now that I have come to believe and agree with God romans 1:32 john 3:33 romans 3:4 amos 3:3 how often do I still come to Him only to pay lip service and let my heart stray far off from Him isaiah 29:13 ? Tell me, which sinner grieves the Lord more: the one He has a relationship with or the one who do not even know Him?
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supporting scriptures
But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things–and the things that are not–to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him.
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He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.
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The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge.
3 There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.
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For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.
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Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
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For in his own eyes he flatters himself
too much to detect or hate his sin.
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"But they refused to pay attention; stubbornly they turned their backs and stopped up their ears. 12 They made their hearts as hard as flint and would not listen to the law or to the words that the Lord Almighty had sent by his Spirit through the earlier prophets. So the Lord Almighty was very angry.
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They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.
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Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
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The man who has accepted it has certified that God is truthful.
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Not at all! Let God be true, and every man a liar. As it is written:
"So that you may be proved right when you speak
and prevail when you judge."
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Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?
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The Lord says:
"These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.
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section 12
Take heart! When we begin to sense even now our great need for His forgiveness, His mercy, His shepherding, His great love we are at this moment closer than when we first believed romans 13:11 . We are coming to know as we ought to have always known i corinthians 8:1-3 . We are learning not just to know of Him, but to intimately love Him.
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supporting scriptures
And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.
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Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. 2 The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know. 3 But the man who loves God is known by God.
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conclusion
I myself am the worst, for what have I done with God’s grace but abuse it horribly again and again, but for His great love I am not consumed and destroyed lamentations 3:22 . For out of the abuses of His grace He reveals even more clearly that His grace abounds all the more romans 5:20 . And so, what is it to me how bad another’s sin is? My sin is the worst in my life; for I have come willfully to the brink of utter ruin proverbs 5:14 if only to be drawn back by the magnificent hand of my long-suffering Savior ii peter 3:15 so that even through me others might also come to know that He wants them to be saved as well i timothy 1:16 ezekiel 18:32 ii peter 3:9 . I am the worst, but Jesus is greater than my worst!
supporting scriptures
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
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The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more,
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I have come to the brink of utter ruin
in the midst of the whole assembly."
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Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.
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But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.
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For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live!
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The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
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Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV® Copyright © 1973 1978 1984 2011 by Biblica, Inc. TM Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.