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“ Summary, Part 4 (final) ” TWO CHIEF LESSONS [45:35]: 1. Non-Christian friend: since Christ has saved the chief of sinners, He will also save you if you believe upon Him for eternal life. 2. Christian brethren: God has saved you so that you may be a pattern of His saving grace to others. a. Christ chose you to make you a living sketch to lost sinners of His mercy and patience. Our lives should be attractive lights in the darkness. b. Christ can save those whom you believe to be beyond His mercy and patience. John Newton: “I have never doubted the power of God to convert the heathen world since He converted me.”
Ian Migala (1/5/2015)
from Minneapolis, Minnesota
“ Summary, Part 3 ” III. PAUL IS THE PATTERN OF A GREAT SINNER WHO RELISHED GOD’S MERCY AND PATIENCE AFTER HE WAS SAVED [33:00]. The chief of sinners became the chief of saints. Note his increasing humility over time: in AD 55, he called himself the least of the apostles (1 Cor 15:9). In AD 60, he called himself the least of all the saints (Eph 3:8). In AD 62, he called himself the chief of sinners (1 Tim 1:15). Further, he never believed that he had arrived as a Christian. To the end, he desired to grow. Phil 3:10-14: Paul never stopped striving for the prize that Christ had already given him. LESSON: if Christ continued the work of His mercy and patience in Paul, then we may be sure that we need His continued mercy and patience ourselves. IV. PAUL IS THE PATTERN OF A GREAT SINNER WHO NOW CALLS OTHER SINNERS TO BELIEVE IN CHRIST TO BE SAVED [40:52]. The great message of our source text is found in verse 16. The Greek word for “example” conveys the idea of a sketch as a rough draft. Paul didn't just preach the Gospel, he embodied it. LESSON: Christ saves believers not just so that He may give them eternal life, but that He may make them a living sketch of His mercy and patience to great sinners.
Ian Migala (1/5/2015)
from Minneapolis, Minnesota
“ Summary, Part 2 ” A. PAUL IS A PATTERN OF GOD’S SOVEREIGN ELECTION [18:21]. Acts 9:15: Paul was chosen. No one at the time could have expected that, let alone that he would become our most prolific apostle. Acts 7:60-8:1: God answered Stephen’s dying prayer. Deut 7:7-8: God chooses whom He loves. Rom 9:22-23: God makes vessels of destruction to show His patience. LESSON: if God chose the chief of sinners, there is surely hope for any here that may be despairing of salvation. B. PAUL IS A PATTERN OF GOD’S EFFECTUAL CALLING [24:57]. Ps 65:4: a blessed promise for the elect. 2 Tim 1:9: if works saved us, no one would be called. LESSON: if God spoke new life to the chief of sinners, why would you think that you are beyond the sound of His life-giving voice? C. PAUL IS A PATTER OF GOD’S JUSTIFYING GRACE [28:32]. Phil 3:4-9: despite Paul’s great lineage, he was as much in need of the saving mercy of Jesus Christ as everyone else. LESSON: if God is able to turn the chief of sinners away from trusting his own righteousness to trust the righteousness of Christ for acceptance with God, surely He will give the righteousness of His Son to any who believe upon Him alone.
Ian Migala (1/5/2015)
from Minneapolis, Minnesota
“ Summary, Part 1 ” In 1 Tim 3:15-17, we see three reasons why Christ saved Paul: his delivery from the power of sin (v. 15), God’s glory (v. 17), and to show Christ’s mercy for sinners (v. 16). I. PAUL IS THE PATTERN OF A GREAT SINNER WHO TESTED GOD’S MERCY AND PATIENCE BEFORE HE WAS SAVED [starting at 6:17 of the audio]. A. PAUL TESTED GOD’S MERCY AND PATIENCE AS A BITTER ENEMY OF GOD. He did not speak God’s name to glorify Him. He once couldn't bear to hear the name of Jesus Christ. B. PAUL TESTED GOD’S MERCY AND PATIENCE AS A MURDEROUS ENEMY OF GOD’S PEOPLE [9:31]. If you hate God, you will hate His living embodiment on earth: His people. Titus 3:3: Paul describes his unsaved self. He is proof that God’s grace is greater than our sin. LESSON: God’s mercy bore with Saul when divine justice called out for punishment. We should cry for mercy, not justice. II. PAUL IS THE PATTERN OF A GREAT SINNER WHO EXPERIENCED GOD’S MERCY AND PATIENCE WHEN HE WAS SAVED [16:39]. Paul wasn't looking for God’s mercy when he was on the road to Damascus; mercy was seeking him.
