The Abounding Mercy in Christ Jesus
10/23 Reading Portions: 2 Kings 4; 1 Timothy 1; Daniel 8; Psalm 116
Online Bible Audio/Readings Links (ESV)
10/23 Reading Portions: 2 Kings 4; 1 Timothy 1; Daniel 8; Psalm 116
1 Timothy 1:13-14
though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
MERCY
In these verses Paul magnifies the mercy of God in terms that demonstrates that the apostle was a recipient of God’s mercy in Christ because he ignorantly ravaged Christ’s church through unbelief. He blasphemed Christ, persecuted Christ’s body of believers, and so insolently opposed Christ that he sent saints to their death. Among the many truths we can glean from this passage, one of them suggests that if a murderer of Christ’s people, such as Paul was, could receive God’s mercy and be saved through faith in Christ, then there is no valid excuse for anyone to reject the gospel in its saving truth.
Another truth we can glean from this passage is that everyone is qualified to receive salvation. Paul will state such outright in the next verse:
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. 1 Timothy 1:15
The only qualification, the only human work required for salvation in Christ is that we are sinners. While we may not have exceeded the depth, length, breadth, and height of Paul’s former, sinful zeal (him being the chief of sinners through his murderous rampage against the saints in Christ), you and I can honestly confess, “formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent” against Christ and His church. Nevertheless, like every believer from Adam and Eve to the last believer who will be saved prior to the Lord’s return, we have all…
…found grace in the eyes of the LORD. Genesis 6:8, KJV
Hallelujah! What a gracious and merciful Savior!
My Lord, my God, you have shown grace,
Your mercy does abound;
My blasphemy spat in Your face,
By grace, this lost sheep’s found.