And I have thanks to Jesus Christ our Lord, who enabled me, that I should be counted faithful, having been placed into ministry (1 Timothy 1:12).
Paul recognizes that it was Jesus Christ who enabled him, not by his own strength, effort, work, or desire, that he was placed into ministry. Paul formally was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent man (1 Timothy 1:13). He persecuted the Church, had men and women imprisoned, and even had some put to death (Galatians 1:13; Acts 22:19–20). He considers himself to be the least of the apostles, one born out of time (1 Corinthians 15:9–10). However, because he did these things in unbelief, God showed him mercy (1 Timothy 1:13). Mercy is relief from the effect of sin. The sins that Paul committed against the Church were sent away from him.
In addition to mercy, Paul also received grace (1 Timothy 1:14). Grace is God’s attitude of giving a benefit without regard to merit. Paul was appointed an apostle and steward of the Dispensation of Grace by the will of God, not because of who he was (Ephesians 3:2; 1 Corinthians 1:1).
It is a faithful saying and worthy of acceptance that Christ came into the world to save sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). Jesus Himself, reading from Isaiah, declared He came to heal the brokenhearted, give liberty to the captives, and sight to the blind (Luke 4:17–18). He stops short of the day of vengeance, which Isaiah revealed as coming, for He had not come to destroy His enemy, but to seek the lost (Luke 4:19; Isaiah 61:2).
Paul received mercy so that all long-suffering may be shown in him, as a pattern for those who believe on Christ unto eternal life (1 Timothy 1:16). Long-suffering is the long holding out of one’s anger against unreasonable people. God is long-suffering toward man, having not determined that certain ones would perish, but giving all an opportunity to change the mind unto salvation (2 Peter 3:9). Even Peter recognizes the long-suffering of the Lord in salvation regarding Paul (2 Peter 3:15). It is the kindness, forbearance, and long-suffering of the Lord that brings us to a change of mind unto salvation (Romans 2:4).
Although Paul acknowledges who he was before the Lord corrected his path, he does not let it hold him back. He was a sinner, but now because of Christ he is a saint. When Paul says he is the greatest of all sinners, he is not trying to display his humility; rather, he focuses on the mercy he received from God. In Philippians 3:8, Paul writes that he considers all things dung compared to the knowledge of Christ Jesus, and he desires to be found in Christ, not having his own righteousness out from the law, but the righteousness that comes out from faith (Philippians 3:9).
Let us strive in the same manner, for Paul is our pattern to follow as we live out the salvation God so graciously and mercifully gave us. Let us put off the old man, who we were in Adam, who grows corrupt according to deceitful strong desires, and let us put on the new man, who was created in righteousness and piety of the truth (Ephesians 4:22–24).
