What’s wrong with the world?

2. What’s wrong with the world?

3. What’s wrong with the world? GK Chesterton: “I am.”

4. Could truer words ever be spoken?

5. It’s so hard to say, “I’m sorry.”

6. Words more difficult than “I’m sorry.”

7. Words more difficult than “I’m sorry.” “I have sinned.”

8. “I’m sorry” admits a mistake.

9. “I’m sorry” admits a mistake. • “I have sinned” admits transgressing a holy God.

10. Several biblical characters admitted sin.

11. Several biblical characters admitted sin. • Pharaoh: “This time I have sinned; the LORD is in the right, and I and my people are in the wrong” (Ex 9:27, ESV).

12. Several biblical characters admitted sin. • Pharaoh: “This time I have sinned; the LORD is in the right, and I and my people are in the wrong” (Ex 9:27, ESV). • David: “I have sinned against the LORD” (2 Sm 12:13, ESV).

13. Several biblical characters admitted sin. • Pharaoh: “This time I have sinned; the LORD is in the right, and I and my people are in the wrong” (Ex 9:27, ESV). • David: “I have sinned against the LORD” (2 Sm 12:13, ESV). • Judas: “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood” (Mt 27:3, ESV).

14. Several biblical characters admitted sin. • Pharaoh: “This time I have sinned; the LORD is in the right, and I and my people are in the wrong” (Ex 9:27, ESV). • David: “I have sinned against the LORD” (2 Sm 12:13, ESV). • Judas: “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood” (Mt 27:3, ESV). • In tonight’s text, Paul says, “I have sinned.”

15. “I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 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. But I

16. “received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen” (1 Tm 1:12-17, ESV).

17. Paul was not simply a sinner.

18. Paul was not simply a sinner. He was the chief of sinners!

19. A DISGUSTING MAN. • A DOMINANT MAN. • A DELIVERED MAN.

20. A Disgusting Man V 13

21. “Formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent” (v 13, ESV).

22. We typically think of blasphemy as speaking against God.

23. We typically think of blasphemy as speaking against God. • The Gr simply means “speak against.”

24. We typically think of blasphemy as speaking against God. • The Gr simply means “speak against.” • “Why not do evil that good may come?—as some people slanderously charge [Gr: “blaspheme”] us with saying. Their condemnation is just” (Rm 3:8, ESV).

25. We typically think of blasphemy as speaking against God. • The Gr simply means “speak against.” • “Why not do evil that good may come?—as some people slanderously charge [Gr: “blaspheme”] us with saying. Their condemnation is just” (Rm 3:8, ESV). • “With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign [Gr: “blaspheme] you” (1 Pt 4:4, ESV).

26. We typically think of blasphemy as speaking against God. • The Gr simply means “speak against.” • Why do we note that people can be blasphemed?

27. We typically think of blasphemy as speaking against God. • The Gr simply means “speak against.” • Why do we note that people can be blasphemed? • Paul’s blasphemy seems to be against Christians, not God.

28. We typically think of blasphemy as speaking against God. • The Gr simply means “speak against.” • Why do we note that people can be blasphemed? • Paul’s blasphemy seems to be against Christians, not God. • “But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem” (Acts 9:1-2, ESV).

29. Paul was formerly a persecutor.

30. Paul was formerly a persecutor. • “They cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul” (Acts 7:58, ESV).

31. Paul was formerly a persecutor. • “They cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul” (Acts 7:58, ESV). • “Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison” (Acts 8:3, ESV).

32. Paul was formerly a persecutor. • Acts 7:58. • Acts 8:3. • Paul also details his life of persecution.

33. Paul was formerly a persecutor. • Acts 7:58. • Acts 8:3. • Paul also details his life of persecution. • “You have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers” (Gal 1:13-14, ESV).

34. Paul was formerly a persecutor. • Acts 7:58. • Acts 8:3. • Paul also details his life of persecution. • “If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee, as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless” (Phil 3:4-6, ESV).

35. Paul was also an insolent opponent.

36. Paul was also an insolent opponent. • The Gr for “insolent opponent” refers to being a violent person.

37. Paul was also an insolent opponent. • The Gr for “insolent opponent” refers to being a violent person. • The word was used to refer to wild, untamed animals.

38. Paul was also an insolent opponent. • The Gr for “insolent opponent” refers to being a violent person. • The word was used to refer to wild, untamed animals. • The idea is of a violent, unruly person.

39. What is the most disgusting thing you can imagine?

40. Rat in NYC KFC

41. SIN IS ABSOLUTELY FILTHY!

42. “I’m not that bad!”

43. “I’m not that bad!” What a smug thought!

44. ONE sin would have caused Jesus’ death.

46. Paul was a Dominant Man Vv 13-15

47. “I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 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” (vv 13-15, ESV).

48. Paul describes himself as a dominant man, i.e., the foremost of sinners.

49. Paul was the foremost of sinners because he acted ignorantly in unbelief.

50. Paul was the foremost of sinners because he acted ignorantly in unbelief. • Ignorance is no excuse!