Title: I Am the Chief among Sinners
I am chief among sinners (1 Timothy 1:12-17)
We would like to share the grace of Paul with the text that is the representative testimony of Paul. The fact that Paul was a rapist, blasphemer and persecutor deserved Stephen's death (Acts 8:1), and was a leader in arresting believers in Jesus. Why did Paul live that way? Because he did not know (verse 13). He was familiar with the Old Testament orthodoxy and was a Pharisee and a strict legalist, but did not know Jesus. Although he was morally, religiously, and legally upright, he did not know Jesus, so he persecuted Jesus. Even today, there are many conscientious people who live without the law. However, many people do not recognize Jesus as the Messiah.
Louis Willis, the author of Ben-Hur, became a Union Army general during the Civil War, and while talking to a devout Christian friend, he began writing a novel to prove that Jesus was not the Son of God. However, he met Jesus while reading the Bible to learn about Jesus Christ. The novel is Ben-Hur (1880). what is sin It is the belief that one can be saved through his own righteousness, and not believing in Jesus is a sin. Evangelism is to reveal Jesus directly to such people.
1. Why Paul Was Loyal
How could God be loyal to the apostle Paul? It is all about God's grace, mercy, and love. It's not because I deserve any righteous deeds. Who am I? Am I not a sinner worthy of destruction and death?
In Zechariah 3:1-5, the high priest Joshua is clothed in filthy clothes and standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan records the condemnation scene in which he tells Joshua's filthy sins, but Joshua has no excuse. At this time, God rebuked Satan and told the angels to take off their dirty clothes, and said that they would remove sins and put on beautiful clothes. It is by the grace of God that I became a child of God, received a ministry, and received a mission (John 15:16).
The same person who had been loyal to Paul was also loyal to me. The office given to us is not appointed by the church by the session, but is a mission given by God as we are considered faithful. Therefore, I cannot cancel or decline the position at will. Let's thank you for the job you've been given!
For those who do not know the value of diamonds, it is not even a piece of candy. Because Judas Iscariot did not know the glory of the disciple, he left it without any regrets.
God believed that Paul was faithful and that he would be faithful. The apostle Paul knew himself better than anyone else. Therefore, the Apostle Paul had no choice but to carry out the mission given to him with emotion and gratitude until the day he died. Therefore, what the entrusted person seeks is loyalty. Let us glorify God by being faithful to death! The word “loyal to death” means to be loyal to the point of death, and to continue to be loyal until death. And let us be faithful in the least of things! Let go of greed for big things and be loyal to small things!
He called us like Paul. Like Paul, we too should be thrilled every day and live by fulfilling the duties given to us. Let's carry out our mission with humility and tears!
2. Why Paul was called as a missionary
Why did God call Paul-like blasphemers, persecutors, and murderers as missionaries?
First, it is to set an example of how much God loves and patiently waits and saves those who are persecuted and despoiled because they do not know Jesus like me (verse 16).
Second, he showed this kind of mercy to Paul so that he might give glory and praise to God (verse 17). Those who persecuted Jesus without knowing Him opened their lips and called them to praise and testify of Jesus.
Why did you choose me to save me and give me a holy office? To show how much God loves mankind through me, to give glory and praise to God through me, and to testify of my salvation.
3. Reasons to live by confessing that you are a sinner
The apostle Paul lived his whole life knowing that he was the chief among sinners. Those who testify before God that I am ‘the chief of sinners’ will never be arrogant or stumble. People keep forgetting themselves.
In China, Xunzi Haru said that he would aim at an apple tree with a bow and shoot anything that came into the target. However, he does not know that the crow is dying within the target and tries to catch the mantis. However, the mantis was trying to eat the aphids and the aphids were stuck in the tree to eat the sap. When he is realizing the great truth that he does not understand, the orchard keeper takes up a club and tries to strike Sunja. I don't know as an apple thief. Xunzi said that he realized that what he didn't really know was himself.
Let's live our whole life confessing to God, 'I am a sinner'! Never forget!