Day 9 - I Timothy 1:14-16

Daily Devotional Study of I Corinthians

Overflowing Grace

h 1 Timothy 1:14-16    h

¹⁴And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.  ¹⁵This 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 . . . that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.

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aul loves to talk about God’s grace. It appears again and again in his letters. He was forever amazed at God’s free and sovereign work of salvation in his own life and in the lives of others. In this passage, he describes God’s grace toward him as exceedingly abundant. “Exceedingly abundant” is from one Greek word huperepleonasen, which literally means “super abounded.” The NRSV translates it as “overflowed.”

God’s Grace Does Not Come in a Trickle

The point is that God’s grace does not come to us in a trickle, just enough to get us through “the pearly gates.” Instead, God’s grace overflows toward us in such super abundance that it can make a violent blasphemer like Paul, the chief of sinners, into the most selfless of saints and a faithful servant of Christ. In Eph. 1:8, Paul speaks of God’s grace as being lavished on us (NIV). He tells Timothy, in 2 Tim. 2:1, to be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. When we understand the magnitude of God’s overflowing grace, then we can be courageous and confront all of our adversaries with confidence.

From the Chief of Sinners to the Chief of Christ’s Witnesses

In vs. 15, Paul refers to himself as the “chief” of sinners. The Greek word for “chief” is protos, from which we get the prefix “proto,” meaning “first.” In other words, Paul is saying that, of all the sinners in the world, he was at the front of the line when He met Jesus on the Damascus Road. As such, he sees himself as an example or pattern of what God’s grace can do in a person’s life. In other words, if God’s grace can reach to a violent man like Paul and change him, the chief of sinners, into the chief of Christ’s witnesses, then just think what His grace can do in your life and mine!

Trust in His Grace Today

“Grace” means that God does not deal with us according to our performance, but this does not mean God is not concerned about our performance. He is concerned because it is bad and sinful choices that destroy people’s (including Christians) lives “Grace” is favor or blessing that is unmerited or unearned, and it provides the power we need to overcome sin, as Paul wrote in Roman 6:14. For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. We must learn to relate to God on the basis of His overflowing grace that has been unleashed upon us through our Lord Jesus Christ. Our every need can be met and, like Paul, we too can live victorious lives because of God’s grace.

Grace, grace, God’s grace!

Grace that is greater than all our sins.

Grace, grace, God’s grace!

Grace that will pardon and cleanse within.

Prayer & Reflections

We thank you O Lord today for your overflowing grace. For the person reading this who is in despair, may they know now—at this moment--that your grace is sufficient for whatever trial they may be facing; and that you, by Your sovereign grace, will supply all they need to see them through as they look to You and You alone to supply their every need.