Mercy and Grace from God to the Chief of Sinners
As the Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy at Ephesus in the Roman province of Asia, he briefly addressed his protégé and missionary ministry partner (1 Timothy 1:1–2). Next, he addressed the problem of false teachers who had risen in the ranks to elder/pastor (1:3–7). The false brethren and their schemes of false teaching were countered by Paul with his own testimony of so great a salvation granted to him in Christ Jesus (1:12–17).
Salvation belongs to the Lord (Ps 3:8; Jon 2:9; Rev 19:1). It originates with God the Father (Eph 1:4–5). It was executed (made a reality) by God the Son (Rom 5:8). It is applied by the Holy Spirit (1 Pet 1:3). The Apostle Paul confessed, as all the repentant must do, “I had acted in unbelief” (1 Tim 1:13). The natural man is conceived and born into unbelief. We must hear the Gospel news heralded to us and made effectual by the Holy Spirit. In other words, the Word of God must be implanted in us, that is, in our souls (Jas 1:21).
By his testimony, Paul was shown mercy from God (1 Tim 1:13). It is God’s prerogative to show mercy and have compassion on the sinners of His choosing (Rom 9:15–16). Guilty sinners are shown justice by the righteous Judge of all the earth (Gen 18:25). For our Lord to show mercy and not execute His righteous wrath means the forgiven sinner does not receive what he or she actually deserves — a sentence of eternal punishment in the hell of the lake of fire (Mt 25:41, 46; Jude 7; Rev 20:14–15).
Paul explained to Timothy that God’s mercy was accompanied by His grace. Grace is God’s work that benefits those He has chosen to save. With a “trustworthy” statement, Paul illumines a profound truth regarding our salvation “Christ Jesus came into the world in order to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost” (1 Tim 1:15). Immediately, we see how the love of God in salvation humbles those He forgives.
The Apostle’s confession of being the chief of sinners is accompanied elsewhere by Paul’s testimony of being hostile to the name of Jesus Christ, even to the point of persecuting followers of the Way. Here he used a triad to explain his enmity: blasphemer; persecutor; and insolent. Each of our testimonies of mercy and grace include the bad news of who we were before we were born again of God’s Spirit (1 Pet 1:3).
Paul sees a bit of God’s purpose in saving someone as foul as he was toward Messiah. God was displaying His glorious attributes by saving a terrible wretch (1:16). Others observe a case example like Saul of Tarsus; and there they see the wisdom of God and the power of God in view. One can only conclude that God is merciful and gracious. He is also able to do above and beyond all we could think or imagine He could do in saving the worst people we know, today.
A blasphemer is a vocal opponent against God. A persecutor is an opponent against God’s people. Insolence demonstrates the degree of disrespect shown by haters of God (Rom 1:30), of Christ (Jn 7:7), and of Christians (Jn 15:18–25). The Apostle Paul was all of these before his conversion on the road to Damascus (Acts 9). It is easy for Christians to forget the depth of hatred and the heinous acts of Saul of Tarsus before he met the risen and exalted Lord Jesus that day.
God’s eternal purposes and His predetermined plan included the providential working of His salvation in individuals. Saul who became known as Paul, the apostle, was chosen by God before the foundation of the world to fulfill his unique role in the kingdom of God. This produced gratitude in Paul for so great a salvation. Our Lord was patient with this religious wretch from the tribe of Benjamin and the sect of the Pharisees.
As believers in Jesus, today, we are blessed to have such testimonies from Holy Writ. They set the pattern of our praise and worship toward God. They also inspire us to serve Christ in the same manner as those who were radically transformed before us. The point of this particular testimony is to see that God can transplant the hardened heart of His opponents and juxtapose their allegiance and zeal. For this reason, we must maintain a steadfast hope for family, friends, and others who remain hostile to the Gospel of God.
Further, salvation does not end at one’s conversion. Rather, it only begins when the regeneration by the Spirit grants faith. The Spirit’s ongoing work of sanctification will produce a diverse membership in the body of Christ, His church, the Israel of God (Gal 6:16). This, too, is God’s prerogative of employing slaves of Chris — however He chooses to — in fulfillment of His purpose and plan.
Faithfulness in service to Christ Jesus is a product of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Rom 8:9, 11; Gal 5:22). God is willing and doing His good pleasure in each saint (Phil 2:13). This work becomes evident as the Christian grows in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ (2 Pet 3:18), who is Himself the truth (Jn 14:6). In this, the Spirit of Christ equips the adopted child of God to represent the holy nation of royal priests as an ambassador for Christ (2 Cor 5:20; 1 Pet 2:9).
Having been put into service, the beloved are constrained by God to perform works of faith, as labors of love, done as unto the Lord. It is the Lord Himself who strengthens us for every good work prepared beforehand for us to walk in by the Spirit. It is God who performs all our works for us (Is 26:12) and who accomplishes what concerns us (Ps 57:2; 138:8). In this, we become witnesses to God’s faithfulness in extending mercy and grace to us and to many others (Acts 1:8).
Paul burst into a doxology in 1 Timothy 1:17. He needed to glorify God our King, for His magnificent attributes that have not changed. We have an eternal salvation to experience and to proclaim. If we are found faithful to do so, it is because our God is faithful and true to do all His holy will (Eph 1:11).
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
October 13, 2023
1 Timothy 1:12–17
