1 Timothy 1:16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.
In 1 Timothy 1:15 Paul speaks of himself as the worst of sinners. Here, in the following verse, he says that this is the reason why he was shown mercy by God - so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example (a pattern) for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. He had obviously thought long and hard about his amazing conversion and he had come to the conclusion that one of the chief reasons God had done what he did was that right at the beginning of the gospel there would be an outstanding example of a man utterly opposed to Christ brought to faith in him. What an encouragement to know of his Damascus Road experience and see that God can turn around even the most hardened of sinners. If he could do it for Paul, who could he not do it for? Great sinners are converted and so no-one need despair, how ever low they may have sunk. What an encouragement to preachers to know that even far gone sinners can be saved. More than that their very ignorance an unbelief argues their need of mercy. There is no other way they can be saved. When such sinners are saved it displays God's great patience in a tremendous way.
No comments:
Post a Comment