JESUS CAME TO SAVE SINNERS!
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INTRODUCTION Have you ever contemplated becoming a Christian, or have you ever thought you messed up so bad that you wonder...
Would God forgive you for the terrible things you've done?
Could you live the kind of life God desires of you?
I think all of us at some point, when we begin to evaluate our lives begin to feel as if we are God can’t and wouldn’t forgive. We begin to see that our lives are filled with sin, and we realize how terrible our sin is and we realize horrible we can be. We begin to think that's it. there is no turning back, I have fouled up to the point that God wouldn’t want me or he couldn’t possibly bring me back. Well when you begin to feel that way I want you to think about Paul who stands as an example of a sinner who God not called but used and yes forgave in a big way.
There is a man who serves as an example for you...
Of the grace and mercy that is available for you
Of the faith and love that you can have in Jesus [
NOTE PAUL'S FORMER LIFE...
NOTE PAUL'S FORMER LIFE...
He was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent (violent) man - 1Ti 1:13
even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief;
Consenting to the death of Stephen - Ac 7:58; 8:1
When they had driven him out of the city, they began stoning him; and the witnesses laid aside their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul.
Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death. And on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.
Making havoc of the church in Jerusalem - Ac 8:3
But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house, and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison.
Persecuting Christians even to Damascus - Ac 9:1-2
Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest,
and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
Persecuting even to the point of imprisonment and death - Acts 22:4
“I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and putting both men and women into prisons,
Enraged against Christians, compelling them to blaspheme - Ac 26:9-11
“So then, I thought to myself that I had to do many things hostile to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
“And this is just what I did in Jerusalem; not only did I lock up many of the saints in prisons, having received authority from the chief priests, but also when they were being put to death I cast my vote against them.
“And as I punished them often in all the synagogues, I tried to force them to blaspheme; and being furiously enraged at them, I kept pursuing them even to foreign cities.
His goal was to destroy the church of God - Ga 1:13
For you have heard of my former manner of life in Judaism, how I used to persecute the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it;
He was indeed "chief" of sinners - 1Ti 1:15
It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.
Yet the grace of the Lord was "exceedingly abundant" and he obtained mercy! - 1Ti 1:14,16
and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus.
Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.
WHAT ABOUT YOUR LIFE...?
WHAT ABOUT YOUR LIFE...?
Yes, you have committed sin - Ro 3:23; Jm 2:10
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.
Perhaps you are a good, moral person like the Eunuch, Cornelius, or Lydia
Perhaps you are a murderer and blasphemer like Paul was
In either case, Jesus came to into the world to save sinners - 1Ti 1:15
It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.
The grace of the Lord is exceedingly abundant - 1Ti 1:14
and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus.
The Lord is perfectly patient = long-suffering - 1Ti 1:16; 2Pe 3:9
Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.
The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
The Lord is merciful - 1 Tim. 1:13,16
even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief;
Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.
The Lord strengthened me - 1 Tim. 1:12
I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service,
The Lord put me into service - 1 Tim. 1:12
I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service,
The Lord put Paul into the ministry - 1Ti 1:12
I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service,
To bear witness to what he had seen - Ac 26:16
‘But get up and stand on your feet; for this purpose I have appeared to you, to appoint you a minister and a witness not only to the things which you have seen, but also to the things in which I will appear to you;
To turn people from the power of Satan to God - Ac 26:18
to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.’
He became a pattern of the faith and love that is possible in Christ - 1Ti 1:14
and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus.
Jesus came to save sinners and Paul called himself the chief of sinners. What is Paul saying; if He can save me he can save you. [There is no sin too great, no crime so heinous, that cannot be forgiven by the grace of the Lord! The conversion of Paul serves as evidence that no matter who you are or what you've done, you can be saved. ]
CONCLUSION
He believed in Jesus Christ - 1:16; Acts 22:16
‘Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.’
served Jesus - 1 Tim. 1:16
Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.
He thanked Jesus Christ - 1Ti 1:12
I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service,
He praised God - 1Ti 1:17
Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
Shall we not respond to the grace of God in the same way...?
Thanking God by rendering obedience to the gospel of Christ?
Praising God by growing in the grace and knowledge of Christ?
Then perhaps the Lord can also use us as "A Pattern For Would-Be Believers"... - cf. 1Ti 4:12
Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.