Christ Jesus Came to Save Sinners, Of Whom I Am The Foremost

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.

Part of preaching the gospel to ourselves on a daily basis is reviewing how the gospel has changed us. This is what Paul does in verse 13. Knox Chamblin writes,

"Vital to Paul's effectiveness as an apostle is that he never forgets his day a an persecutor...An ongoing awareness of grace reminds Paul of the appalling sin from which he has been delivered; an ongoing awareness of sin keeps him dependent on grace."

Being the chief of sinners, I know I wanted nothing to do with God. But Christ demonstrated His perfect patience in my life by pouring out grace through faith and love. Christ reconciled me with God, there is no other way to get there. He conquered my unbelief, pride, self-seeking attitude. NOTHING is to hard for God. A point brought up at Celebration this past weekend was that we don't have to earn God's approval, we have ALREADY been approved to obey Him. That desire to obey is placed there by Him. Trying to earn God's approval is pointless, we never could and He has already blessed us with it. Romans 5:7-9 also comes to mind when I read this passage.

7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.

How amazing that Christ the most perfect righteous being died for me the most corrupt and unrighteous being!!!?!!! I know I would struggle to die for a criminal and even more so if I was perfect. Christ demonstrated TRUE humility by dying for a filthy rag as myself. I pray that I would reflect on these truths daily! What an example Paul is to us! It is encouraging for me to read, I know it was the same for Timothy. He was able see the testimony of a faithful follower of God and know he was not alone.

18 This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, 19 holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, 20 among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.

Verse 18 is an obligation or charge to Timothy, like verse 3. "Persons who accept positions of power and importance in this world must also accept the obligations and responsibilities that go with them. The same is true in the church. Here Paul calls to mind Timothy's God-given responsibility to serve..." - BG Commentary. It is also a charge all believers must follow. We need to take our swords and wage war on ungodliness and sin. As Samuel hacked Agag to pieces, we to need to do that with our sin. Our faith is in God, if we reject this, then we too will be "shipwrecked." Our calling is serious and we need to be who we have been called to be. Romans 8:37-39: 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Press on hard, God is for us and has defeated our sin!