1:12-14
Paul's ministry was enabled by the Lord Jesus. God gave him the grace and mercy he needed to fulfill the work which God called him to do. This is a great encouragement to anyone who has heard the voice of the Lord. When the Lord calls us he also enables us to hear and to do what he wants us to do. He gives us grace to do his will. His grace empowers us. His grace sustains us. His grace encourages us, protects us, and provides for us.
Paul knew exactly what kind of person he was when he met the Lord Jesus Christ. He was a blasphemer, a persecutor, and injurious. He did much harm to the church. But then God stepped into Paul's life and turned it all around. He opened Paul's ears so he could hear his voice. He gave him a heart to hear and to obey what he said to him.
He does the same today. The Lord speaks to us, and takes our ruined lives and turns it all around so we can honor him and bring glory to his name. We have all been ignorant and in unbelief. But God shined his light into the darkness of our night and led us out. He translated us out of the kingdom of darkness and into the kingdom of his Son Jesus Christ.
Now we have faith in the Lord Jesus and we love the brethren. May the Lord help us to continue to grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ every day.
1:15-16
Paul's life was an example of the mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ. When looking at Paul we should always keep this in memory. Paul's mission was to preach the gospel of grace. His life was an example of God's grace. Paul was the worst kind of sinner and rebel against God before he was saved. Before Paul met Christ he was the furthest anyone could possibly get from being a Christian. However, after he met the Lord Jesus and was filled with the Holy Spirit he became an example of how God can forgive anyone. God can save any person who will believe and receive the gospel.
Anyone who trusts the sacrifice Jesus made on our behalf will be saved. Christ died for our sins, he was buried, and he rose again on the third day. This is the gospel which saves our soul and gives us eternal life.
Paul said if he could be saved then anyone could be saved. This is the message of the gospel of grace. God can save anyone who will believe and trust in Jesus Christ.
1:17-20
Paul returned praise to God, and described God as eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God. We should meditate on these words. He is invisible. He is immortal. He is eternal. Thinking about this description should cause our understanding of God to expand beyond man-made religions. It is interesting to me that false gods are usually depicted as something people can see like an image, idol, or a picture in some way. However, God is invisible. You cannot see him. But you can hear his voice. He will speak to you. God will communicate with you in words you can hear and understand. This is how he has chosen to reveal himself to us. He gave us his word. He gave us his Son, Jesus Christ, who is described as the Word of God by John in his gospel and letters.
Paul described ministry as "warfare". From this we understand we have a spiritual enemy who withstands our efforts to preach the gospel. How do we fight a good fight of faith? We must hold onto faith and a good conscience. We hold onto the faith by holding the gospel: Christ died for our sins, he was buried, and he rose again on the third day. Jesus is alive. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God. He lives now to intercede for us. He will return to rapture the church and establish his kingdom on this earth. Jesus will rule an earthly kingdom for a thousand years and then everything will be complete in the New Jerusalem. This is a plain description of the facts of the gospel and what is still in front of us to look forward to.
Some people will not hold to the gospel. They will turn away from the faith and will not keep a clean conscience. Paul gave the names of two men he knew who turned away from the faith and a good conscience. Paul said he turned these men over to Satan so that they would learn not to blaspheme. I have no idea what Paul meant when he said he turned people over to Satan. Whatever it means it must have been a painful experience for the blasphemers.
One thought to keep in mind. It is possible to shipwreck your faith. This is why the preaching of the gospel is important. Without this gospel of grace men will certainly go astray and get messed up.
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