Chief of Sinners

It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am chief. I Tim. 1:15

Chief of Sinners
Words by William McComb

Chief of sinners though I be,
Jesus shed His blood for me;
Died that I might live on high,
Lives that I might never die;
As the branch is to the vine,
I am His, and He is mine.

O the height of Jesus’ love!
Higher than the Heaven above;
Deeper than the deepest sea,
Lasting as eternity;
Love that found me—wondrous thought!
Found me when I sought Him not!

Jesus only can impart
Balm to heal the smitten heart;
Peace that flows from sin forgiven,
Joy that lifts the soul to Heaven;
Faith and hope to walk with God
In the way that Enoch trod.

Chief of sinners though I be,
Christ is all in all to me;
All my wants to Him are known,
All my sorrows are His own;
Safe with Him from earthly strife,
He sustains the hidden life.

O my Savior, help afford
By Thy Spirit and Thy Word!
When my wayward heart would stray,
Keep me in the narrow way;
Grace in time of need supply
While I live and when I die.

As we approach holy week, I think it’s important to look closely at our sin and the atoning work of Jesus on our behalf. I believe that you will never fully understand or appreciate Christ’s death on the cross until you come to terms with the enormity of your sin, and the fact that it was your sin that caused Christ to die.

…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23

Even though each of us is the chief of sinners, Christ shed His blood for us, died so that we might live, and sacrificed Himself while we were still dead in our sin. He didn’t wait for us to be good enough (not to mention that we never could be), He died to save us while we were still sinners.

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

Christ’s love for us took Him to Calvary. That same love seeks us out and draws us to Himself that we might be saved and live eternally with Him.

No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day. John 6:44

Chief of sinners though I be, Christ is all in all to me. I pray that He is all in all to you, too, and that you will consider His work on the cross for your sin in a new way this Lenten season.