“I Am the Worst” - Identifying with Paul

John Hopper - 

Perhaps the greatest deterrent to people coming to faith in Jesus is the simple yet persistent thought: “I am a good person.” I’ve heard this again and again while building friendships and talking with people about spiritual matters. People of every background and life story assume that if there is a God who decides between heaven and hell, they will be just fine—because they are good people, or at least they try to be.

As Christians, we know that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Yet helping others see this is no small task. Until someone recognizes that he or she is a sinner in need of God’s mercy, it is difficult to recognize the need for a Savior. So, what are we to do?

One approach is to walk people through a list of Bible verses that clearly describe humanity’s fallen condition (Romans 3:10-18). Another is to help others see that sin is not only about outward actions but also about inward thoughts, motives, and intentions (Matthew 5:27-28). Both approaches have value. At the same time, they can easily put people on the defensive. After all, who enjoys being told he or she isn’t as good as assumed?

This is why the manner in which we talk about sin matters so much. The apostle Paul gives us a powerful example. When he wrote that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners,” he immediately added, “of whom I am the worst” (1 Timothy 1:15, NIV). Before pointing a finger outward, Paul pointed it squarely at himself.

The same principle applies to us. When we openly acknowledge our own selfishness, when we are honest about struggles with pride, lust, anger, or apathy, and when we speak with genuine remorse, something begins to shift. People feel safer naming their own sin for what it is. And for many, the door begins to open to a Savior.

So, the next time the moment is right to speak with a friend about our sinful standing before a holy God, begin with yourself. Gently and humbly express your own brokenness and your own need for grace. Admit that apart from the mercy of God, you too can truly say, “I am the worst.”

John Hopper is the Executive Director of REACH, the evangelism training arm of Search Ministries. He served 16 years as a pastor in Houston, Texas, completed his doctoral studies at Biola University, and is the author of Questioning God? and Giving Jesus Away. He loves his wife, tennis, and apple pie at very different levels of magnitude!