1 TIMOTHY 1:12-17 SINNERS POINTING SINNERS TO SALVATION
12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. 13 Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
The paradox of Christian conversion is that although it is primarily a personal transformation it has a public purpose. God comes to us individually and meets us in our need; that is our sin. It is the role of the Holy Spirit to convict us of our sin and our need to repent and turn to Jesus for forgiveness. Since the root of sin is the exaltation of self, and that is where unconverted human beings live, it makes sense that conversion takes place in the private sphere. The logical conclusion than is that we are also converted from our focus on the personal to a vision for the public.
Our consumer culture and marketing mentality have conspired to emphasize the personal aspect of conversion. Our personal salvation, as powerful a selling point as it may be, is not the goal of our new life in Christ. As is taught in the Westminster Shorter Catechism, Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever. The confession that St. Paul is sharing with us through Timothy is that God showed him mercy not primarily for Paul’s sake but for the sake of the world. Rather than diminishing the impact of God’s mercy it actually increases it exponentially. But at the same time we are honored and blessed by God to be included as a part of his saving program for the world.
When we are called by Jesus we are called to a ministry of service. Stanley Hauerwas stated it this way: As God’s creatures, our chief end is not to survive, but to be capable of serving one another and in doing so to serve as signs of the kingdom of God (In Good Company, p. 163). We are called to love God and neighbor and we accomplish this by sharing our Scripture-informed experience of God through Christ with everyone we meet.
I thank you Christ Jesus my Lord, for you have called me and appointed me to serve you, your kingdom and my neighbors. Keep me ever mindful that your call is not due to my deserving but your mercy and purpose. Through humble service may I be an example and witness to your truth and love. Amen.