Thursday, September 5, 2013

Who Can't Be Saved?

One of Satan's weapons to block people from coming to Christ is to haunt them with their unworthiness. He reminds them of their sins and tells them God could not love them and even if God did, how could they ever forgive themselves?

Paul was the chief of all sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). He had torn families apart, had fathers and mothers of children tortured and killed ( Acts 9:1-2, 13, 21, 8:3 22:5, 26:10; 1Timothy1:13). This was not a casual occurrence. He had made it the priority in his lie to torment and murder Christians, pursuing after them in foreign cities.

Yet God saved Paul, changed his life and called him into the ministry (Romans 1:1; 1Corinthians 1:2). Why did God choose such an angry revengeful man? He specifically chose him for two reasons; because Jesus came to rescue sinners (1Timothy 1:15) and "But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life." (1 Timothy 1:16).

God's invitation of deliverance is for those in bondage, without exception. No one, absolutely no one is worthy to be saved. All of us have violated God in our rebellion against him. Paul is proof both of God's mercy and God's ability to change us.