Only The Sinner

 “We know that the law is good if one uses it properly.  We also know that the 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, for the sexually immoral, for those practicing homosexuality, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine that conforms to the gospel concerning the glory of the blessed God, which He entrusted to me.”  -1 Timothy 1:8-11

It seems as though I should still be living under the law is for sinners and I am certainly a sinner.  However what I must remember is that I have been washed, I have been sanctified, I have been justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 6:9-11, See previous post Our Identity in Christ).  I have been saved!  The law no longer applies to me in this way. 



But I am also reminded of the song Only the Sinner by Josh Bales.  This song reminds us of Christ’s words in Matthew 9:13, “for I have not come to call the righteous, but the sinners.”  Jesus can’t be Savior to someone who doesn’t need to be saved.  Here are the lyrics:

Only the sinner, only the weak
Only the man who lies and steals and cheats
Only the woman who runs around
Only the child with a selfish mouth
Only prostitutes and murderers
And crooked business men
Only those who have no alibi
Only those who cannot hide their sin

Only the dirty
Never the clean
Only the beggar men
Never the king
Only the messed up
Never the made, the made
Only the sinner
Jesus saves

Never the righteous, never the good
Never the man who does all the things he should
Never the rich, no never the strong
Never the woman who never breaks the law
Never the healthy, never the wise
Never the man who claims to have some alibi

Only the dirty
Never the clean
Only the beggar men
Never the king
Only the messed up
Never the made, the made
Only the sinner
Jesus saves

Just because we have been washed clean and made new does not mean we do not need Christ (it was Christ who abolished the law for us in the first place, Romans 10:4).  We must always remember to stay humble before Christ.  This is where Christ’s model of servitude resonates in my heart.

Lord, Thank You that I am not condemned by the law, but You took my place instead.  Thank You for Your humble example of servitude and sacrifice during Your time on earth.  Teach me to live by “the sound doctrine that conforms to the gospel concerning the glory of the blessed God,” and to stay away from the contrary.  Teach me to view myself as a sinner and yet live as a saint.  Keep me humble, and make me more like You.

Amen!