This Day-3 devotion is adapted from Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones sermon "That One Sin"

That One Sin

"The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life." (1 Timothy 1:15-16)

One of Satan's most effective strategies for inducing spiritual depression is to haunt believers with memories of past sins. Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones called this "that one sin"—a particular failure that seems to stand apart from all others in its gravity.

Perhaps there's a sin in your past that feels uniquely shameful. Maybe it's something you did before coming to Christ, or perhaps it's a failure that occurred after your conversion. You believe God forgives sin in general, but this particular transgression feels beyond the reach of grace.

The apostle Paul understood this struggle. As the self-proclaimed "foremost" of sinners—one who had violently persecuted the church—Paul had plenty of material for spiritual self-condemnation. Yet he recognized that his profound sinfulness simply provided a greater canvas for displaying Christ's "perfect patience."

Dr. Lloyd-Jones observed that fixating on past sin often stems from a poor understanding of the gospel. We subconsciously believe that God's forgiveness operates on a sliding scale, dependent on the severity of our sins. But Scripture teaches that the same infinite grace that saves the "respectable sinner" also redeems the most notorious offender.

When we believe our particular sin stands outside God's forgiveness, we misunderstand both the depth of human sinfulness and the greater depth of divine mercy. All sin—yours included—was paid for at Calvary.

Today, if you're haunted by "that one sin," remind yourself that Christ didn't die for categories of sinners but for the foremost of sinners. Your particularly troubling sin isn't an exception to grace—it's an opportunity for "Jesus Christ to display his perfect patience" through your story.