Reading: And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Commentary: Here for all to see is the simple purpose of the coming of Christ Jesus into the world, "to save sinners". Such a purpose then is a matter of the will, the heart, for "God would have all men to be saved." The apostle Paul thus treasured Christ with all his heart, for Paul knew the evil life God had delivered Paul from, and by such Paul could see the infinite mercy of God upon Him. Looking back on it all, Paul was also able to see how patient and long-suffering God had been to Him, and also the Lord's glory in Paul's salvation. If God then can save such a persecutor of Christians as Paul, can't He also save us "chief of sinners"? When we thus suffer here, we can remember all Paul happily suffered for the Lord, and in the midst of our suffering we rejoice Christ is yet our Almighty King above, ruling all things. He is worthy of all our praise every day, till life everlasting.
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