And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, (13) although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. (14) And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.  (15) This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.  (16) However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all long suffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.  (17) Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever.  Amen

The apostle Paul wrote the first letter to Timothy to give instruction for the confrontation of false teachers who were corrupting the gospel.  Paul was probably at liberty when writing this epistle – he had left Timothy at Ephesus and Paul is teaching him concerning the outward order of the early church  – practical instruction of the gospel as contrasted to the Law of Moses.  Timothy was a devoted servant of the Lord and of Paul – Timothy was sealed for ministry by the laying on of Paul’s hands which is the only such reference in the New Testament.

In our verses today Paul emphasizes the simple profound truth that Christ Jesus came into this world to save sinners.  Paul expresses his deep gratitude for God’s Grace – if he was chief of sinners and could be forgiven and in Christ transformed to an apostle he is the model of the power of Transformation by faith and not by any worthiness on his part.  A fundamental biblical truth is that God gives us the faith to believe in Christ and supplies us in grace with everything we need for salvation. Scripture here shows the distinction between a person who sins in ignorance and one who willingly rejects the light of god – those who do so run the terrible danger of hardening their hearts.  C.S.Lewis writes in Mere Christianity “ When a man is getting better he understands more and more clearly the evil that is still in him.  When a man is getting worse, he understands his own badness less and less.”

The gospel is for sinners.  We become better or worse as we age – if we fall into self righteousness, pride and self reliance we will never know God because we won’t realize how much we are forgiven.