1 Timothy 1:1-17
Friday, 19 April 2024
It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost. -1Timothy 1:15 [NASB]
What is the Gospel? V.15 says, Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Paul further explains the Gospel in 2 Timothy 2:8: “Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descendant of David.” The birth of Jesus, the death of Jesus and the resurrection of Jesus— He was born to save people from their sins; He died to pay the penalty for sins and He rose again taking victory over sin!! –That is the Gospel! Anyone who accepts that gospel and repents will receive eternal life. Who is the minster of this gospel? Paul, a former sinner saved by the great mercy of God! That’s God!!! – He chooses the weak, the foolish and demonstrates His power. 1 Corinthians 1:27 [GNT] says: “God purposely chose what the world considers nonsense in order to shame the wise, and he chose what the world considers weak in order to shame the powerful.”
God is speaking to us today through this message – He will use each one of us for His glory, provided we are available for Him!! Being available also implies that our availability is according to His terms. In Romans 9:22&23, Paul illustrates the same principle of God – the vessel of wrath is turned into a vessel of mercy. Whoever we may be in our past life before knowing Christ (a vessel of wrath), the mercy of God is sufficient to turn our position to a vessel of mercy.
Paul states that he found mercy. In 1Timothy 1:13 Paul says “…even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy….” Dear brothers and sisters who receive this message, please be assured of the fact that God’s mercy is sufficient to turn your past life into a testimony for God!! Listen to what Paul says – mercy was shown to him (V.13) and he found that mercy (V.16). Psalm 130:3&4 says: “If You, LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with You, that You may be feared.”
May be you are a person who knows nothing about the mercy of God, even then, there is God’s mercy available for you that transforms your life!! You can find that mercy in Jesus Christ!! When you find the mercy of God and surrender your life at the mercy seat of God, you who may be blasphemer now will be changed to a proclaimer of the same gospel; you—a sinner now will be turned into a saint; you— a violent aggressor will be turned into a silent warrior of love!! How is that possible? Paul gives the answer in 1 Tim.1:14: “...and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus.”
God loves us through Jesus Christ – and hence He extends His grace and mercy towards us, which are able to penetrate into any unrepentant heart and change any hardened mind and make him into a vessel of mercy!!
Finally Paul says, “I am an example”— for you to believe that it is possible!! Also that poses a question to us - will you be an example for God to demonstrate to this world what He can do through the life of a person?
Ponder & Act on: Can you and I be an example to the world to demonstrate that God’s mercy is available for a sinner?
Listen: 'Let Your mercy rain'