One of the most interesting facts about Paul is that he called himself the “chief of sinners”. While this may seem like a humble and modest view of himself, John MacArthur makes an interesting point that this view was given and inserted under the divine inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Which means that Paul was indeed the chief of sinners. The text cannot lie. No one was worst then Paul. Paul, before his conversion, will always be the chief of sinners.
Given that, and understanding the great accomplishments of Paul, one can see what the Holy Spirit can do in us if we submit our lives to Him.
It is not a sound hermeneutic that since the Holy Spirit inspired a statement that it must be literal, yet Paul can be called the chief of sinners ("sinners; of whom I am chief:" (1 Timothy 1:15; cf. Acts 8:3; 9:1,5,13; 22:4; 26:9-11; 1Co 15:9; Ga 1:13; Php 3:6) "because I persecuted the church of God," (1 Corinthians 15:9) "how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:," (Galatians 1:13) for " I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth," (Acts 26:9) and thus, "breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord," (Acts 9:1) "made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison." (Acts 8:3) Passionate Saul/Paul was a "verb" of a man, for evil and then good.
And by persecuting the body of Christ, church of God, and even being a party to the murder of the manifest man of God, deacon Stephen, (Acts 7) Paul was persecuting and murdering Christ. Thus thus the Lord's question and statement, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?....I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.". (Acts 9:4-5)
And as manifest in his teaching and his pastoral care, by the Spirit of Christ Paul is ever most mindful of the church as the body of Christ, (Col 1:18) and its members as being bought with so great a price.
Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. (Acts 20:28)
Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died. (Romans 14:15)
And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? (1 Corinthians 8:11)
Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not? (2 Corinthians 11:28-29) And as the one new man manifesting the grace and wisdom of God. (Ephesians 3:10,21; 5:2; Col. 1:17)
More so than pastoral Peter., "church" and "churches" Paul" are seen together.
However, Paul cannot be called the chef of sinners in guilt, for as he confessed he,
was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief . (1 Timothy 1:13)
For Paul in utmost sincerity actually thought he was obeying the living and true God, and in fact in another wholly inspired statement could even confess,
And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day. (Acts 23:1)
Which is certainly not what I can say, and there are sins of ignorance versus disobedience to known Truth, perhaps out of weakness, and worse, willful impenitent rebellion to the conviction of the Holy Spirit, and guilt and punishment is determined in accordance with the level of light and and grace given. .
Thus while the Lord prayed, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do," (Luke 23:34) He also foretold, "Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes." (Matthew 11:21) "For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more." (Luke 12:48)
The worse sin is that of apostasy, after one is enlightened.
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (Hebrews 10:25-31)
David grievously sinned, and must have subdued his conscious during the period of his sins against Uriah the Hittite, yet when convicted thru Nathan then he repented immediately and was forgiven (if not without consequences). And could claim that in the overall sense (which is what we seem to see in such statements that says certain men were perfect or blameless or do not sin: 2 Chronicles 15:17; Luke 1:6; 1 John 5:18) "I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God." (2 Samuel 22:22)
Given that, and understanding the great accomplishments of Paul, one can see what the Holy Spirit can do in us if we submit our lives to Him.
Yes, and that
But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work. (2 Timothy 2:20-21)
I have a ways to go in this.
I try to remind myself of that daily.