Paul A Pattern
1 Timothy 1:16
The Apostle
Paul tells us that in his experience of grace he was "a pattern to them
which should hereafter believe on (Christ) to life everlasting." God did
not choose him because he was better than others. He acknowledged himself to be
the chief of sinners. The Lord chose him to show others what the grace of God,
the blood of Christ, and the power of the Holy Spirit can do.
Before God
saved him Paul was A PATTERN OF GOD'S LONGSUFFERING GRACE. God simply would not
let him go to hell. That is what the longsuffering of God is. It is God
refusing to allow sinners to go to hell who fully deserve to go to hell (2 Pet.
3:9). The longsuffering of God is the salvation of his elect (2 Pet.
When the
Lord did save him Paul was A PATTERN OF GOD'S SAVING GRACE. We all tend to
think that Paul's conversion was something unusual, out of the ordinary; but it
was not. His conversion was a pattern of all conversions. His salvation was a
pattern of how God saves all his elect. Read the three inspired accounts of
Paul's conversion in the Book of Acts (chapters 9, 22, and 26), and you will
see the pattern. Paul was saved, and all of God's elect are saved by...
- God's Sovereign Election.
- The Merits of Christ's Blood Atonement.
- The Holy Spirit's Distinguishing,Irresistible, Effectual call.
- Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
After God saved
him Paul was A PATTERN OF GOD'S SANCTIFYING GRACE. As soon as he received his
sight he set himself apart and consecrated himself to Christ in believer's
baptism (Acts
Has God
saved you by his grace? If he has, he has saved you that you might be a pattern
of his grace to your family and friends, to your brethren, and to the world.
See that you represent him well.
Don Fortner