“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” (1 Timothy 1:15, ESV).

There was a popular television show called The Biggest Loser in which contestants compete to see who can lose the most weight in a certain period of time.

The Apostle Paul said that he could not imagine anyone being a bigger sinner than himself, possibly because of his previous persecution of the church.

Because Paul was a big sinner, when God saved him all of Paul’s sin was forgiven, which allowed him to serve as an example of the extent of God’s grace: “But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost [sinner], Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life” (vs. 16).

The Holy Spirit’s powerful conviction of sin cause most people who have received the saving grace of God to be predisposed to think of themselves as the biggest sinner.

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. (Romans 3:23-24, ESV)