Paul was NOT the Chief of Sinners!
Paul is NOT Condoning sin, neither is he the ‘Chief of sinners’ so many wrest to their destruction not dividing the word of truth correctly!
1 Timothy 1:15 “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am CHIEF(G4413).”
CHIEF in the Greek = G4413 πρῶτος prōtos pro’-tos [PROTOTYPE] Contracted superlative of G4253; FOREMOST(in time, place, order or importance): – BEFORE, beginning, best, chief (-est), first (of all), FORMER. [Total KJV occurrences: 100]
He is speaking here also of ‘FORMER’ times. Better stated: “Who was in former times, the Chief among sinners!’ Examine the Greek Tense for yourself. The English has it reversed. Sin was NEVER the foregone conclusion in Paul’s life! This same passage in the very next verse, states that his LIFE and Steadfastness were a PATTERN to all believers! HOW could he hold himself up as an Example to the Church if he was daily violating his conscience in thought, word and deed? (as all the preachers claim)
Paul NEVER preached “saved in sin” nor did anyone else in the bible! Paul….Chief of Sinners? Are you kidding?? He preached and lived holiness and biblical perfectness. Some love to take this statement totally out of context to justify their desire to sin!
1 Timothy 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am CHIEF(prototype/ a chief example/former).
Romans 7:15 “For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.”
Romans 7:24-25 “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.”
What is Paul describing here? Is this a man who has been justified by the blood of Christ? No, this is a man under the curse of the law.
Look how Paul describes himself as a child of the King when speaking to other believers!!!
1 Thessalonians 2:10-12 “Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:11 As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.”
Under the law, as a pharisee, Paul was intimately aware of the sin in his life and the law which came against that sin.
Romans 3:20 “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”
However, he now knows after his damascus Road experience how to be righteous and blameless as he claimed he was to the other believers.
Romans 7:24-25 “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.”
Notice that Christ set him free from sin. Notice that as with us the old life must die and in fact we have to lose that life to have the LorD.
Mark 8:34-36 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it. 36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
This is Paul…renewed and born again! Deliverance from Bondage.
Romans 8:1-8 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Rom 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
Rom 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
Rom 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Rom 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
Rom 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Rom 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
Rom 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God
Praise the Lord. Paul is no longer under the law of sin. He is now in Christ.
We can be as well!
FREED FROM SIN:…. What part of free don’t the church understand. The word freed or free means in the Greek, ( a action Verb ) to make freed from the dominion ( power ) of sin.
Rom 8:2
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you FREE FROM THE LAW OF SIN and of death.
1Ti 5:22
Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself PURE.
Examine three very powerful terms “pure, undefiled, unspotted”. All are synonymous with “sanctified”.
—> pure Gk. katharos kä-thä-ro’s (kah tha rahs’)
Thayer’s: clean, pure, free from the admixture or adhesion of anything that adulterates or corrupts.
Strong’s for PURE:
clean, purephysicallypurified by fire
in a similitude, like a vine cleansed by pruning and so fitted to bear fruit
in a levitical senseclean, the use of which is not forbidden, imparts no uncleanness
ethicallyfree from corrupt desire, from sin and guilt
free from every admixture of what is false, sincere genuine
blameless, innocent
unstained with the guilt of anythin
Rom 6:7 For he that is dead is FREED FROM SIN
Rom 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
Rom 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
Rom 6:18 Being then made FREE FROM SIN, ye became the servants of righteousness.
Rom 6:22 But now being made FREE FROM SIN, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
On numerous occasions Paul sighted his conduct as a pattern for others to follow. (
1 Cor 11:1, 1 Thess 2:10, Acts 24:16, 2 Tim 3:10-12.) NEVER did he condone sinful behavior or ‘imply’ that ‘Christians’ sin all the time because they are not perfect! Jesus is not a friend of sinners, in fact, He does not even hear them. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have ALREADY crucified the flesh with its passions and desires! (Gal 5:24) Paul said. NOT gradually, by process, sometime in the distant future if you ‘feel’ like it! BUT NOW….IF YOU are in Christ! That’s how it works! The heretical teaching of progressive sanctification is of of devil. The Main reason for this erroneous understanding of Paul’s writings is the abandonment of bible repentance in the churches and among the pastors. Finding someone today who will sight a repentance of forsaking and clearing of sin, resulting in purity of heart and CHANGE of conduct, is nearly IMPOSSIBLE!