As we look through history, we can all pick out some really bad, really rotten people. In our own time there seems to be no shortage of those types of people. In your mind some particular people may have popped up, maybe a cruel despotic ruler, someone who has cruelly murdered his family, or hurt multiple children. There is no shortage of evil people. Now, if someone came and applied for the position of pastor, deacon, or other Christian worker at your church, would you consider them if they admitted they had been such a person in their past? Most congregations would not want to even give them an interview. Can a vile sinner get saved? Is there anyone who is too wicked to truly find salvation? And if they do, can their past prevent them from being used by the Lord? As we read our Scripture passage today, we will see what God’s Word has to say.
Our reading for today comes from a letter that the Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, his protege and fellow worker in spreading the Gospel throughout Greece and Asia Minor. Paul was arguably the greatest missionary and evangelist in the early Church. We read in the Book of Acts of his missionary journeys, spreading the Gospel throughout the Mediterranean world, and we have many of his letters to the early churches he established in the New Testament which help to establish us in sound doctrine and Christian living. It would be difficult to find anyone who would argue that Paul wasn’t a great Christian, and yet there are those who would say that it would be “impossible” for some people to get saved, as they are just “too evil”. There are also some people who feel that they, themselves, have too bad a past to ever be accepted by God.
Let’s take a look at Paul’s past. Paul, who at that time was called Saul, was an enemy of the early church, hating Christians and the Name of Jesus. Saul was a devout Pharisee, and in the early years of the church he had the authority from the High Priest to go from village to village hunting down Christians and have them arrested and put to death (Acts 9:1-2; 22:4-5; 26:9-11). He was one of the most zealous of persecutors to the early church. Paul had scoffed at and blasphemed against Jesus and His teaching, and had hunted down and killed Christians. Can such a one as that get saved? Can God forgive, love, and use a person like that? As we see, yes He can! There is no one who is too sinful to be accepted by the Lord!
Paul had a miraculous conversion (Acts 9:3-8), and he became a most passionate and faithful witness and evangelist of the Gospel. Paul received Jesus’ forgiveness, and God used him in a mighty and special way. No one is too bad a sinner that they cannot be forgiven and used by God. If God would save Paul, who tried to destroy the church, then He will be willing to save anyone who believes. It is not because of our goodness that we are accepted by Jesus, but because of His love and sacrificial death on the cross.
The foundation of our eternal salvation is the free grace of God, as shown in the mission of Jesus. Jesus came into the world to save sinners. That was His purpose (vs. 15). No sinner is beyond His saving power, no matter how heinous they are! Jesus didn’t come just to show us how to live a better life, or challenge us to be better people. He came to bring salvation to those who call upon Him.
Paul turned from self-righteous works to faith in Christ alone. He knew and understood God’s grace. He knew that it was only because of that that he was able to preach the Gospel. Paul knew where he had come from, and he was moved by God’s love and mercy to praise Him (vs. 17).
No matter how shameful one’s past may be, God will still save anyone who comes to Him through His Son Jesus, and He will use them in His kingdom. Satan is the accuser of the brethren (Revelation 12:9-11), and he will keep reminding us of our past mistakes and sins. If you are a believer, you have been forgiven. Rebuke Satan and believe the Word of God. If you have never turned to Jesus for salvation because you feel you are just too sinful, remember that the whole purpose Jesus came was to save sinners (vs. 15). He will save you if you call upon Him. Do not wait another day!
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