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I received mercy for this reason
Why did God save me?
That’s a tough one to answer. As I’ve grown in my faith — particularly over the last few months — I’ve begun to realize how sinful I am. It feels like every action of mine is laced and corrupted with sin. My attitude is rarely where it should be, and my motives are rarely pure. If I were God, I know that I would have given up on me long ago. So why doesn’t He do so?
1 Timothy 1:12-17
12 I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, 13 though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 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. 16 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. 17 To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
My salvation is entirely due to God’s grace. The faith and love which characterize my walk with God did not come from myself at all; they are gifts from God (v. 14). There is nothing about me or my own ability to choose God that caused Him to save me. I was neither smart enough nor righteous enough to decide that He is Lord. It was His gift of faith that caused me to believe. In fact, I was a desperate and wicked sinner — the “chief of sinners” (from vv. 15-16). Thankfully, saving sinners is Jesus’ specialty.
So why did God save me? I received His mercy in order that Jesus Christ could show His patience toward me (v. 16). Even as I sin daily against Him — far more than against anyone else! — He loves, forgives, and blesses me. I know I can’t possibly be that patient.
God is glorified through His patience toward me (v. 17). It’s tempting (and foolish) to believe that because God has His glory in mind first and foremost, that we are just incidental to Him. But in fact, God’s love, mercy, and patience toward us is all wrapped up in His glory. I can have full confidence that He will never give up on me because His patience is the very thing He’s working to display.
I’m praying that God will never let me lose sight of His mercy and patience. Truly He is “the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God” (v. 17).
Our salvation for His glory
One of the many themes I’m finding in Ephesians chapter 1 is the fact that our salvation is intended as a means to God being praised for His glory:
He predestined us for adoption…to the praise of his glorious grace. (vv. 5-6)
In him we have obtained an inheritance…so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. (vv. 11-12)
In him you also…were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit…to the praise of his glory. (vv. 13-14)
I suppose I’ve heard it a hundred times that God works for His glory, but it’s an important thing to remember. Even our salvation took place so that God can show how glorious His grace is. Ephesians seems to talk a lot about the unbelievable treasures we have in Christ; it would be easy to lose focus and to forget that we receive these so that we might praise God.
Clearly, I need to start praising God more instead of letting these riches go to waste. I suppose a great way to do that would be to (gasp) talk about what God has been teaching me. It’s kind of weird…I feel with many fellow Christians as though talking about spiritual things is “off limits” except when we’re in small group, church, etc. God forbid that we talk about what is most valuable and precious to us — the one thing we have in common as a family. My roommate Mike and I recently discussed how silly it is to think we can be bold in declaring the truth of the gospel to unbelievers when we won’t even discuss it among believers.
I’m going to try it tonight at HOOT. We’ll see how it goes. (Holding it up to God in prayer, of course.)
