1 Timothy Chapter 1:

1 Timothy Chapter 1:

9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,

10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;

11 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.

12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;

13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

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.

16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. Acts Chapter 26:

9 verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

10 Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.

11 And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.

We know that Jesus had to die in our place to pay the penalty of death for all of our sins, but why did he have to die such a horrible, slow, and painful death? Because he had to pay the price for all sins of all mankind, including the most horrible, treacherous, brutal, and senseless sins that have ever or will ever be committed in this world. The the agonizing and brutal manner of his death literally covered every act of sin that could possibly be committed by a human being, and that means some really terrible sins. He suffered the very worst of all deaths because there are many sins that have been committed that are worthy of that punishment.

As the above cited passages of scripture show, the apostle Paul was guilty of horrific sins and crimes against the followers of Christ, but as he says, he obtained mercy from God so that everyone after him could look to his example and have hope. So tell the devil that the next time he suggests that you've 'gone too far this time.' The truth is that you could never out-sin the cross of Christ, as long as you believe in it. However that by no means makes the cross of Christ a license to sin. Jesus suffered so greatly so that he could 'take away the sin of the world,' as his forerunner also said (John 1:29). If our sins are truly taken away then we do not continue in them. "Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin" (Rom. 6:6).