Message from Scripture: 11/13/2021

 

Our message from Scripture today is 1 Tim. 1:13; “I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief.”

 

In this letter to Timothy, Paul spoke of his past, of what he was before obeying the gospel and becoming an apostle to the Gentiles. He was a blasphemer, one who slandered Christ; he was a persecutor, one who injures another deliberately; he was a violent aggressor. Some translations tone this down, using the term insolent, or to insult. The term for violent aggressor, however, means a persecutor of others who mistreats them for the pleasure which the affliction of the wrong brings him. This was the contempt Paul had for Christians, whom he was convinced were destroying Judaism.

 

Paul underwent a radical change after his encounter with the Lord on the road to Damascus. He knew Jesus truly was Lord. He sincerely repented and found God’s mercy, coming to know for himself the persecution that would be inflicted on him, just as he had on others (Acts 9:16). Ultimately, he would die for the faith.

 

What can we take away from the life of Paul? No matter how far away you may get from God, in Christ there is always a way to His grace and mercy. No sin is so great that, if we repent and submit to the will of God, He is not willing to forgive. This is the depth of love He has for us, the power of the blood of Christ shed for us. Satan would have us think we are so corrupt, so defiled, God wants nothing to do with us. Nothing is further from the truth.

 

While we know this is not cheap grace, and that God expects us to do our best, He also knows we are human, weak and sinful. If we return to Him, He receives us as His own. Today, let’s go out to serve our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and show the wonder of God’s amazing grace in how it changes our lives from death to life. God bless.

 

Robert