I thank Christ Jesus for our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer, persecutor, and violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 1 Timothy 1:12-13
What example did Paul use to show that neither genealogies nor Law saves people? Paul contrasted the myths and lawless living to the healthy teachings of the gospel. God entrusted Paul with the glorious gospel of the blessed God. He gave the Law to restrain sinners. The law lacks the power to save those sinners. God’s grace brings faith, and love with it offers eternal life. Paul had a good genealogy, and he tried living a good life by the law – but neither of these saved him. It is through the gospel of Jesus Christ that Paul discovered salvation.
Jesus looks beyond our faults and sees faithful servants. Jesus considered him faithful. Jesus saw a person who was trustworthy enough to call to his service. Jesus looked beyond Saul’s hatred and saw a faithful servant. Jesus looks beyond our faults and sees our potential. Jesus always takes the first steps toward us, offering grace, faith, and love. God’s grace has no limits. His grace is always enough. God’s grace didn’t come by itself. It came with faith and love. Faith is how we should respond to God’s generous grace. We enter into a relationship with Jesus only through grace, as He did with Paul. As you can see, our salvation is not based on our lineage or our obedience to God’s law, or our good deeds. WE become God’s children when we accept the grace God offers us with faith and love in Jesus Christ.
Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Paul began verse 15 with a statement that he repeats five times in the Pastoral Epistles as trustworthy statements. Let’s look them up. Read 1 Timothy 1:15; 3:1; 4:9; 2 Timothy 2:11, and Titus 3:8. Highlight these passages in your bible. A hard concept for us as humans to understand is Jesus came to save everyone. All the terrorists, drug dealers, male and female prostitutes, slave traders, sex abusers, traitors, murderers, and the list goes on. When they accept Christ, they become a new person. Jesus’ blood is that powerful. Remember, a sinner is anyone who rebels against God’s Law (Roman 3:19-20, 23). Grace redeems and transforms.
Let’s be careful of not being false teachers but teachers that teach sound doctrine.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your grace and power to see beyond what we see. Thank you for your son’s blood on the cross. I pray that we will live by our faith and obey your law because we love you.
In Jesus Name
Amen
