“There’s only one hero in true Christianity, and it is Jesus Christ” – Paul Washer

In a stirring sermon delivered at a Mississippi prison, Paul Washer, founder of the HeartCry Missionary Society, emphasized a central tenet of Christianity: Jesus Christ is the only hero, and salvation is found solely in Him.

Speaking to an audience of inmates, Washer passionately declared that true Christianity leaves no room for human boasting or self-righteousness, but rather centers entirely on the sacrificial work of Christ.

“There’s only one hero in true Christianity, and it is Jesus Christ,” Washer proclaimed. “The rest of us have done nothing but failed across the board. Your only boast is this: Jesus Christ died for wretches like me.”

Washer’s message, titled Freedom in the Gospel: Part 1, drew a stark contrast between Christianity and all other religions. He argued that while other faiths focus on human effort and merit, Christianity is unique in its reliance on divine grace. “Every other religion in the world is about what somebody does to make God owe them something,” he explained. “But in Christianity, our salvation is entirely dependent on what Christ has done for us.”

To illustrate his point, Washer shared a poignant story about a minister who worked among lepers. After years of serving them, the minister himself contracted leprosy and was forced to address the community as a fellow sufferer. “Fellow lepers,” the minister began, acknowledging his shared condition. Washer used this analogy to emphasize humanity’s universal need for salvation. “We are all lepers. We are all sinful,” he said. “The most loving thing I can ever do for you is tell you what you are. You are a leper. You are a sinner. And so am I.”

Washer also critiqued the tendency to elevate Christian leaders or preachers as “great men of God.” He firmly rejected such notions, stating, “There are no great men of God. Let me repeat that: There are no great men of God. If you say something like that, I know your theology is really bad. I know you’re unbiblical. All there are are sinful, weak men of a great and merciful God. That’s all there is.”

Reflecting on his own life, Washer admitted his struggles with self-centeredness even in his decades of ministry. Quoting the late Christian singer Keith Green, he said, “I seem to have a wealth of so many thoughts about myself. I get up every morning, I think about that. I know Jesus has saved me. But even in my 40-some years of serving Him, how much of it was really about Him and how much of it was about me?”

Washer concluded with a powerful reminder of the simplicity and sufficiency of the Gospel. “My greatest thought, my purest thought, my greatest sacrifice would only earn me hell,” he said. “I am saved for the same reason the Apostle Paul is saved. And the Apostle Paul was saved for the same reason the thief on the cross was saved: Jesus Christ died for my sin, and that is it. That’s all.”

The sermon resonated deeply with the incarcerated audience, many of whom face daily reminders of their own failures and need for redemption. Washer’s message offered hope, not in their own efforts, but in the finished work of Christ. “If you are Christian, your only boast is this: Jesus Christ died for wretches like me,” he declared.

Through his uncompromising message, Paul Washer underscored the heart of the Christian faith: that Jesus Christ alone is the hero, the Savior, and the source of true freedom. His words serve as a timeless reminder that in Christianity, all glory belongs to Christ, and salvation is a gift of grace, not a reward for human achievement.