Written by Shane Roxbury
Do you feel that your sins are too great or too numerous to be forgiven? Paul writes to Timothy that he was chief among sinners, and yet Jesus came to save him. His feeling of being the worst of all sinners is still a common struggle today, as many consider themselves equally unworthy. Paul certainly had reason to believe in his lowly state because of his persecution of the early morning church.
However, he wrote in I Timothy 1:15, “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.” Reading the Bible reveals other examples of Jesus saving people whose needs seemed insurmountable, yet they were also delivered.
In the fifth chapter of Mark, we read a story where Jesus met a man living in tombs, who was so full of unclean spirits that he was crying and cutting himself with stones, and could not be bound by chains. Despite his condition, when Christ approached, the man ran to Jesus and worshiped Him.
When Jesus asked the man his name, the spirits within him answered “My name is Legion: for we are many.” Legion also asked “What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God?” Many people living in torment have also asked this question, seeking God, and yet not knowing how to be saved from what torments them.
In Mark 5:8, we see the power of Christ change the condition of Legion when He commanded, “Come out of this man, thou unclean spirit.” At Christ’s word, they left the man and entered into a herd of swine nearby. So many spirits were within Legion that the entire herd of two thousand pigs were possessed and ran into the sea.
When people came to see what was going on, they found the man with Jesus, now clothed and in his right mind. Those who observed the power of Christ and the change it wrought in Legion were afraid, no doubt because of the power of God and a guilt for their own sins. The transformation was so profound in Legion’s life that the people could see the effects of salvation without even speaking with him.
In Malachi 3:6, God speaks to his people through the prophet Malachi and says “For I am the Lord, I change not.” God’s power to save souls from their sin extends to today. He will still change lives, the same way He changed Legion’s. This account sets a good example for those who wish to be freed from the sins that bind them.
No matter how badly sin has affected an individual, they can run to Christ and worship him, just as Legion did. As James 4:8 instructs, “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.” Jesus did his part to forgive and rebuke the unclean spirits, but Legion also had a responsibility to approach Christ and desire salvation.
The story of Legion does not end with Christ saving him from his condition however, as after he is delivered, he asks to follow Jesus and remain with him. Jesus instructs Legion to tell his friends of the miracle performed, and to be a witness to those around him. Legion did not return to the tombs where Christ found him, but rather went home to do what Christ asked of him.
Salvation was not momentary; Legion’s life was forever changed, and he was free from his previous condition. Matthew 1:21 tells us that Jesus will “save his people from their sins,” not simply forgiving them, but taking people completely out of sin. Again, in Romans 6:1, Paul asks of the church in Rome: “Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?” To this Paul answers in verse two by saying, “God forbid.” Why continue sinning with the hope that Christ will continue to save, when we can cease our sin altogether?
Through the deliverance of Legion, we see there is no amount of bondage from which God cannot spare a lost soul. And as Legion went on to follow Christ, we also should eschew sin and refuse to return to the terrible bondage sin brings. Instead, such an immense change can take place in the life of those who consider themselves chief among sinners, that as Legion did they can show others what God has done for them.
From living in tombs and full of uncleanness to becoming a pure follower of Christ, that is the absolute power of salvation!
