AP

1 Timothy 1:15-17 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.  But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.  To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory forever and ever. Amen.

We can be very thankful to the Lord, our God, that he chose and called the conscientious Jewish Pharisee, Saul of Tarsus, to become a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ, and an Apostle of the  Eternal Gospel.  What he writes here to the church in Thessalonica says it all; it’s no wonder he describes it as ‘trustworthy’ and ‘deserving of full acceptance’!

Firstly, the real, historical figure, Jesus, was born into our world to be its Saviour, which is what his name ‘Jesus’ means (Matthew 1:21).

Secondly, this Jesus is God’s Promised Messiah King, which is what his title ‘Christ’ [‘Anointed One’] means (see Psalm 2:1-6).

Thirdly, the only way we can recognise this seminal truth, and share in its eternal benefit, is to first come to the realisation that we are sinners who need a Saviour!  Failure to come to this realisation is probably the prime reason people miss out on the benefit and so spend Eternity in hell.  The self-righteous Pharisees, of which Saul had been one, are a sad example of this – and therefore a key warning to us.

Thirdly, we are rescued from our sinful condition and its dire consequences by God’s mercy and patience alone.

Fourthly, there is no sin in us too great to disqualify us from receiving God’s mercy, as Paul’s experience proves.

Fifthly, Eternal Life is a free gift of God’s grace, received simply by believing in Jesus.

Sixthly, this Gospel of God’s grace in Christ is the only answer to Man’s serious problem of sin because the God who has provided it is ‘the only God’, ‘the King of the ages’, and the One to whom belongs ‘honour and glory forever and ever’.  This is the vital truth the Apostles Peter and John had to declare to the Jewish authorities when they were cautioned to stop declaring it publicly: “… there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)

The Christian Gospel today, and in any era, cannot exist alongside any contending ‘faith’ or ‘world view’.  If Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, or any other religion, provides an alternative path to heaven, then the claims of Christianity must be wrong; if Christianity is true, then every other worldview or philosophy of life is false by definition.  Let us never try to appear to be ‘politically correct’ by speaking, or even thinking, otherwise. Let us say with Paul, ‘Amen’.    In Christ alone my hope is found!

– Bruce Christian