In a letter to his spiritual son, Timothy, Paul wrote, some 1900 years ago, about his conversion:
β[I] was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious, but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. AND THE GRACE OF OUR LORD WAS EXCEEDING ABUNDANTβ¦β (I Tim. 1:13,14).
And he follows this with the now-famous declaration:
βThis is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chiefβ (I Tim. 1:15).
Upon reading this statement by Paul, those who know their Bibles will immediately recall the words of Rom. 5:20,21:
ββ¦the law entered, that the offence might abound, BUT WHERE SIN ABOUNDED, GRACE DID MUCH MORE ABOUND; THAT AS SIN HATH REIGNEDβ¦ SO MIGHT GRACE REIGNβ¦β
These two passages from the pen of Paul have a closer connection than may appear on the surface. The Apostle Paul, once Saul of Tarsus, had led his nation and the world in rebellion against Christ. βAs for Saul,β we read in Acts 8:3, βhe made havoc of the church,β and he himself testified to the Galatians: βYe have heardβ¦ how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and laid it wasteβ (Gal. 1:13).
Yet God, in infinite mercy, had saved Saul, not only for Saulβs own sake, but to make him the living demonstration of His grace. Thus in writing to Timothy, the Apostle goes on to explain:
βHowbeit 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 everlastingβ (I Tim. 1:16).
Let us, then, take our places with Saul, the sinner, and find salvation by grace through Christ, the Savior. βBelieve on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be savedβ (Acts 16:31). source
