'And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.
However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise,be honor and glory forever and ever'. Amen.
I love the verse 'Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the chief'.This agrees with Christ Himself: 'I Have come ,not to call the righteous,but sinners to repentance' and 'I have come to seek and to save, that which was lost'.
ReplyDeleteI remember one time asking a person were they a Christian and they replied' I would love to be a Christian but I'm not good enough'.What a joy it was to tell them that one of the qualifications to become a Christian was to realize that you are not good enough!Such is the grace of God for those who acknowledge their own sinfulness. sadly Postmoderns don't like to think in such terms. Others are like Adam and blame Eve, who in turn blame the snake.Christ calls us to come to the light so may get rid of the darkness, then in turn become a light to the world.
I also love Paul's letters to Timothy as they are to a young man in ministry and not a church , so we can take them personally.The wisdom here is perhaps at its greatest as it is from the old man Paul who has walked with God for perhaps 30 years and is now ready to meet his God.