Mercy

Before Gabriel appeared to Mary to announce the birth of Jesus, he had told the aging priest Zacharias that he and his equally older wife Elizabeth would have a son—John the Baptist. Zacharias would not believe the promise without observing a sign, so he was unable to speak until after John was born. Then, when his tongue was loosened, Zacharias worshiped God in appreciation and spoke of his son's role in introducing Jesus to the world.

Zacharias also highlighted the motivation behind the soon-coming Messiah's birth—the mercy of God. There is no salvation apart from mercy. It has been said that while grace is getting what we do not deserve, mercy is not getting what we deserve. And what every person deserves is eternal separation from God in Hell because of our sins. God does not desire that outcome, but His perfect justice would not permit Him to overlook our sins.

That is where mercy came in. In the person of Jesus Christ, both ultimately God and completely human, who lived a sinless life, the sacrifice that would satisfy God's justice was found. "Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other" (Psalm 85:10). It is only because of God's mercy that we have hope of salvation and eternity in Heaven. It is only because of God's mercy that we have the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem to celebrate.

In both letters to Timothy, Paul thanked Jesus for His strength as Paul carried out his gospel ministry, a ministry he was appointed to by Jesus in Acts 9 and 13:1-3. Again, he was the Lord's "chosen instrument to take His name to Gentiles, kings, and the Israelites," which would involve much suffering (Acts 9:15-16). But again, Jesus strengthened him for this work. Paul also recognized he received undeserved mercy, grace, faith, and love from Jesus.

In 1 Timothy 1:12-17 Paul referred to himself in the present tense as the "chief of sinners" or "the foremost of all" (v. 15). Paul did so despite his years of service, even being imprisoned for preaching the gospel, Do you agree with Paul's self-description? "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners!" Let that sink in for a moment. The Son of God left the glories of Heaven to dwell in a woman's womb until He was born in the most humble of circumstances. He grew up under the authority and protection of parents, felt the ridicule of siblings, faced the rejection of religious leaders, experienced abandonment by close friends, and endured the scorn and pain of crucifixion. And all of this for what? To save sinners!—the very people who ridiculed and rejected Him. Paul offers his example as the chief of sinners because he once blasphemed Jesus and put the people of Jesus' church to death.

Why in the world would Jesus save this man who actively sought to oppose Him? So Paul would be an example of the height, depth, length, and width of God's love for sinners. In other words, if Jesus could save Paul, then there is no one Jesus isn't unwilling to save those who believe in Him for eternal life.

Why did Paul receive mercy (v. 16)? What does Paul's conversion tell us about the character of God? How should we respond to this trustworthy saying that "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners"? How do the words use to describe God the King strengthen our appreciation and acceptance of Paul's trustworthy saying?

The God who saves sinners is considered eternal, immortal, and invisible—certainly the only God. For this fact alone that God is so far above us, He deserves our praise. Then, again, he made and cared for us through His common grace in the world. But beyond that, this eternal and immortal God sent His Son—coequal with God in nature (Philippians 2:6)—to take on flesh and experience death. And again, this was for us.

Because we know Jesus came into the world to save us, sinners, we can do no less than praise God for His grace, mercy, and love. We were once enemies of God, yet He sent His one and only Son to die on the cross in our place so we would become sons and daughters of God!