Text: 1 Timothy 1:12-14

Topic: How God treats sinners

Introduction:

• Illustration: To illustrate how God really does turn ruined lives around, May begins by explaining the fervent efforts of many to save the life of convicted murderer Karla Faye Tucker, who was scheduled to be executed but who had become a Christian in prison.

• Illustration: May lists several famous prison conversions, but focuses on Chuck Colson as an example of a confirmed life conversion.

• It doesn't matter who you used to be.

• Big Idea: No matter how bad you think you are, God can and will forgive you.

• He can and will give you the strength to change your life.

• 1 Timothy 1:12-13

• There is nothing you can do to keep God from loving you.

• Illustration: May briefly tells the alarming story of assuring a woman of God's love—even for her, though she was guilt-laden over injuring her baby in rage.

• 1 Timothy 1:14-15

• When a person accepts Christ, he or she becomes a new creation.

• God can change you.

• Romans 8:11

• Illustration: May tells the legend of a man who robbed John Wesley, only to have Wesley's gracious words later draw him to a full conversion in Christ.

God can use you in spite of your past.

• Illustration: May tells the story of scandal-stained televangelist Jim Bakker, who repented and found a new, humble ministry after leaving prison.

• 1 Timothy 1:12,16

Conclusion:

• God is concerned with who you're becoming, rather than who you've been.

• You may have to live with the consequences of your mistakes, but you don't have to live with the guilt or the shame.

• God will set you free.