“He has saved us and called
us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own
purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning
of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior,
Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to
light through the gospel.” 1 Timothy 1:9-10
1st
and 2nd Timothy are letters from the Apostle Paul to his “child in the faith” Timothy.
Here Paul speaks of the
grace of God, which is His unmerited or undeserved favor. When we receive Christ as our Lord and Savior
we then fall under the umbrella of God’s grace.
He then favors us above those who are outside the family of God the same
way an earthly parent would favor their own child over a child of their
neighbor. Although God established this
grace when time began, it came to fruition through Christ when He took on the
sins of the world on the cross and died conquering death once for all
time. This is why we who are saved are
said to be born twice and only die once.
We die to our old sin nature and are born the second time as a new
creature in Christ. The second death is
reserved for all who reject Christ and the life changing forgiveness He
provides. Those who experience the second death are cast into a lake of fire for all eternity.
(Revelation 20:13-15)
In these 2 verses Paul is stressing the point that our
redemption is by the grace of God and not by anything we could have ever
done. We are called to live sanctified
lives with the Holy Spirit’s assistance.
Sanctification is the process of being set apart or made holy for
heavenly use. It is both instantaneous
and progressive. Instantaneous in that
the moment we receive Christ we are seen by God as completely righteous and
holy or sanctified. While this is true,
our actual entry into holy living takes time, perhaps most, if not all our
lives. It’s in God’s economy that grace,
mercy and love reside. It is the
exercise of those characteristics that stays God’s hand against us. He knows we are but dust and to dust we shall
return (Ecclesiastes 3:20).
So embrace the grace that has been provided for you to enjoy
and do not neglect it, for it is the basis for your redemption. Without it there would be no hope, with it
there is never ending hope. Until next time, walk with the King and be a
blessing!
References used: Reformation
Study Bible and The Asbury Bible Commentary.
NOTE: Paul recommends Timothy as one who will take a genuine
interest in the welfare of the Philippians. Timothy is frequently referred to
as Paul's child in the faith (1Timothy 1:2, 18; 2Timothy 1:2; 2:1; and Philippians
2:22) and was placed in Ephesus as Paul's representative (1Timothy 1:3).
