I am a sinful man (or woman)

“But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, ‘Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.’” (Luke 5:8 ESV)

The realization of one’s sinful nature is not a light or casual moment. It is a profound and overwhelming experience. It is the moment that God removes the veil from one’s eyes and ears so that the true nature of God is revealed, as well as our own. It is the moment we come to understand the gospel.

In this scripture from Luke 5, Peter is shown the glory of Christ. After fishing all night and catching nothing, Jesus told Peter to let the net down for a catch. Because it was Jesus who told him to fish, Peter let down the net, almost sinking two boats with the catch. The glory of God revealed the depravity in Peter, who fell before Christ.

When our nature is revealed to us, we see our sin, and if truly touched by God, it is overwhelming, or at the very least, it should be. It affected Peter so greatly that he told Jesus to leave him because of his sin. But this overwhelming realization is not the end. It is the beginning of a transformation. When we realize our sinful nature and have been made righteous through the grace of Christ, along with our subsequent faith, it is crushing, but it is also the beginning of a new life —a life washed in the blood of Christ.

Now, I can only imagine that Peter expected Jesus to leave him. However, Jesus said, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” (Luke 5:10) Do not be afraid. Easier said than done, even in our righteousness, we will sin. We may ask ourselves, Lord, am I really yours?  Yes, we are, and when we are called into His service, it reminds us that we are His children. We can get distracted from our tasks and pulled away by the enemy, but we should remember the words of Christ: “Do not be afraid.” Once the Lords, always the Lords. Faith and repentance reconcile us, and like Peter, we see the errors of our ways.

The love and grace of God are not fleeting or conditional; they are eternal and unchanging. They are constant and never-ending. His mercies are new every day. Only through our devotion to Christ and our understanding of the Scriptures can we grow in sanctification, the growth of our holiness. This struggle with sin will always be an underlying war we fight until we stand before our Savior. But in this struggle, we can find comfort in the unwavering love and grace of God. Have faith and trust in the Lord, for all things are possible with God.

Do you see your sin for what it is, a capital offense against God? Like David, are your sins ever before you? (Ps 51) Like Peter, have you fallen on your knees before the only man who can save you, the God/man Christ Jesus? If you do not know Christ or the forgiveness He offers, seek Him now. Come to know His grace and mercy; it is life-changing.

Grace and Peace!