βThis is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlastingβΒ (1 TimothyΒ 1:15,16).
God could be righteously angered and vengeful today. Thankfully, He isΒ not!
GodβsΒ βlongsufferingβΒ is typified in the Apostle Paul (see todayβs Scripture). His salvation is aΒ βpatternβΒ of how people are saved into Christ today. Saul was an unbelieving, rebellious, indoctrinated, self-righteous, zealous Jew. In early Acts, he traveled and arrested, tortured, and executedΒ anyΒ Jewβincluding women!βwho followed Jesus of Nazareth. The Lord Jesus Christ observed it all from Heaven. He could have easily struck down Saul and whisked him off to Hell!Β Contrariwise, the Lord chose to extend mercy and love toward that wretched sinner. He personally appeared to Saul in Acts chapter 9. Saul, amazed and humbled, trusted the Lord Jesus Christ whom he had passionately hated.
Indeed, God chose that leader of sinners, the head of Israelβs rebellion against Jesus Christ, to become the Apostle Paul. He commissioned that man to go to all nations and preach the same grace God had shown him. Hence, Godβs spokesman to the world opens each of his 13 epistles with,Β βGrace and peace.βΒ Rather than wrath and war, God is (temporarily)Β patiently toleratingΒ sinful man. The Lord Jesus Christ has paid our sin debt; hence, we enjoy grace and peace today. However, to benefit from itΒ forever, like Paul, we must receive andΒ trustΒ it.Β βChrist died for our sins, He was buried, and He rose again the third dayβΒ (1 Corinthians 15:3,4). source
