Acts 8:3 As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.
Oh, that the love of God could save a sinner like me.
1 Timothy 1:13-17 although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. 14 And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 15 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. 16 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. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
God loves us. ALL of us. We are His creation created in Christ Jesus for good works. Pride and arrogance may stop us from doing all that we were created to do but His love covered a multitude of sin in the sacrifice of Jesus and His work on the Cross. The love of the Godhead is not deterred by our sin because it is unmerited and undeserved. We cannot earn salvation it is the gift of a loving Father to anyone who will accept it. Jesus did not leave us defenseless but instilled in us Holy Spirit who is our personal teacher and guide. We must trust Him to accomplish all that we cannot. We only need to accept Jesus and His finishing work on the Cross of Salvation and then precept by precept we will understand the value God places on us. All who believe enter into this supernatural body of those who trust in Him. Those things in our lives that were meant to destroy us He turns into our good. No greater power exists. For God so loved the world that He gave us Jesus that through Him the world could be saved. Carla
Before Paul trusted in Christ as Savior, he was a blasphemer, speaking against God; a persecutor, pursuing Christians like a hunter pursuing his prey (Acts 8:3; 9:1–5); and an insolent man, a violent person acting out of personal pride. If the apostle Paul could find mercy after the terrible things he did against Christ, then God surely offers salvation with “open arms” to all people (2:4).
Grace is God’s undeserved, unearned, freely given favor. The grace given to Paul was exceedingly abundant, overflowing beyond all expectations.
Paul summarized the heart of the gospel (verse 11): Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. World refers to all humanity. Save means to deliver or rescue. Christ came to die for the sins of humanity.
Paul saw the degradation of sin and understood the sinfulness of human beings. Because of this, he placed himself first among sinners.
Over 185 times in the New Testament the sole condition given for salvation is belief, having faith or trust in Jesus Christ. The gospel is that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose on the third day. All those who place their trust in Jesus for salvation will be saved from the coming judgment. To add any other condition to faith for salvation is to make justification a matter of works (Romans 11:6; Galatians 2:16). The NKJV Study Bible
A blasphemer is a person who speaks disrespectfully about God in order to damage His reputation.
Before his conversion, Paul sought to persecute followers of Christ by arresting and imprisoning them (Acts 9:1–2; 22:5). Paul not only sought to arrest followers of Christ, he also approved the murder of Stephen (Acts 8:1).
In contrast, those who watch over God’s people must not be violent (1 Timothy 3:2–3).
In Paul’s letters, the natural outcome of faith in Christ is love for God and others. Trustworthy and worthy of all acceptance and variations of this formulaic expression occur five times throughout the Pastoral Letters (1 Timothy 1:15; 3:1; 4:9; 2 Timothy 2:11; Titus 3:8). This phrase serves to introduce or conclude a quotation of established teaching and to emphasize the truth of what is being said.
Paul recognized that his violent actions against the followers of Christ deserved punishment (1 Timothy 1:12). God’s mercy motivated Paul to serve faithfully (2 Corinthians 4:1).
Forever and ever expresses the conviction that God is worthy of endless worship and adoration. Amen expresses agreement or endorsement of what is said about God (Psalm 72:19; 89:52). Faithlife Study Bible
No man, with Paul’s example before him, can question the love and power of Christ to save him, if he really desires to trust in him as the Son of God, who once died on the cross, and now reigns upon the throne of glory, to save all that come to God through him. Let us then admire and praise the grace of God our Saviour; and ascribe to the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, three Persons in the unity of the Godhead, the glory of all done in, by, and for us. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
1 Timothy 6:15–16 which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.
1 Timothy 4:9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance.
1 Thessalonians 1:3 remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father,
And when we begin (in love), we’re at the heart of the Gospel. Love your neighbor. Serve others. Welcome the stranger. Care for the sick. Feed the hungry. Be a peacemaker.
You Matter.
“I can think of nothing more prophetic than to preach the gospel of Jesus. Nothing more radical, more countercultural, than to nurture and promote the values of the Spirit—love, peace, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness as well as self-control—in little ways and great.” (Thank you, Cyprian Consiglio, Epiphanies)
Yes, the task to promote love and kindness can feel ominous. Which is why I love Clarissa Pinkola Estes' wisdom, "Ours is not the task of fixing the entire world all at once, but of stretching out to mend the part of the world that is within our reach. Any small, calm thing that one soul can do to help another soul, to assist some portion of this poor suffering world, will help immensely."
So. Today, let us be grateful for the enoughness in the permission to hug, for sunshine after dark and cloudy days, for friends who listen and don’t keep score, and for kind gestures and that make you glad to be alive.
And grateful for the leaves, now beginning their color parade in our neck of the woods. Japanese maples with leaves ranging from apricot to coral. And our Katsura trees, a soft golden brown.
And for the geese now heading back our way. Ready to settle in for the cooler months. Sabbath Moments
“You have been my friend. That in itself is a tremendous thing. I wove my webs for you because I liked you. After all, what's a life, anyway? We're born, we live a little while, we die. A spider's life can't help being something of a mess, with all this trapping and eating flies. By helping you, perhaps I was trying to lift up my life a trifle. Heaven knows anyone's life can stand a little of that.” Charlotte the spider says to the Wilbur the pig, in E. B. White, Charlotte’s Web
When I find myself awake in the middle of the night writing "first drafts" of the future, I don't experience peace. But by asking the One who reigns over heaven and earth for help, guidance, or resources, I find "the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding" (Philippians 4:7, CSB). The Lord may not always act according to my plan, but I can rest in knowing He listens, He answers, and His ways are best. God promises we will face troubling circumstances, but He also promises peace in Christ. In His farewell discourse to His disciples, Jesus said this in John 16:33: "I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world" (CSB). First5
No comments:
Post a Comment