Sun, 23 October, 2005: Today’s Bible readings.
12 I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, 13 though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 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. 16 But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. 17 To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
Today we begin Paul’s first letter to Timothy, where Paul instructs the young preacher in his duties ministering in Ephesus.
In this first chapter, Paul relates how he was called to service, despite his sins past and present.
What do we learn from this?
Paul says that before his conversion he was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. We know Paul’s history from the book of Acts, so we know the truth of what Paul says here. Paul did some terrible things to Christians, but God saved him in spite of these sins.
God doesn’t save people who deserve to be saved, because there are no people who deserve to be saved. We have all sinned. We have all offended God. But the amazing thing is that God saves sinners like Paul (and like you and me). Paul tells us God saved him to display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. Paul is an example for us. If God can save Paul, God can save me.
But interestingly, Paul calls himself the foremost sinner. Notice that though he talks about his pre-conversion sins in the past tense, when he says he is the foremost sinner, Paul uses present tense. Paul isn’t saying that his pre-conversion sins were so bad that they made him the the foremost sinner. Rather, Paul is saying that he is the foremost sinner at the time of the writing of the letter.
Paul is an older man now, writing after years of being a Christian. Although he is growing in his sanctification, Paul is more aware of his sins than before. As Paul grows in his spiritual maturity, he is learning more from God’s word, and so he sees his sins more clearly.
This is not unusual. It is quite common to find the people who have been Christians the longest are the ones who are most aware of their own sins. The youngest Christians are the ones who think they are more obedient, because they don’t understand the commands of scripture as well.
Where is Christ in this passage?
It is Jesus Christ who saved Paul and appointed him for service. Jesus Christ displayed His patience in saving Paul. And all that happens in Paul’s salvation is to the glory and honor of God.
