Sunday’s readings included Exodus 32:7-14 from the Old Testament and 1 Timothy 1:12-17 from the New Testament. Both passages deal with the unbelief (sin) of people and the forgiveness and mercy God shows for sinners.
1 Timothy is one of Paul’s many epistles (letters) included in the New Testament. Paul wrote this epistle to Timothy, a young companion, to provide encouragement for his ministry. Timothy had traveled with Paul on his second and third mission trips and, now, Timothy is helping Paul with the church in Ephesus. The church there is struggling with false prophets and teachings and Paul assigned Timothy the difficult task of leading this troubled church. It is a personal letter to his friend giving practical advice about ministering to others.
This passage begins with Paul writing of his past as a persecutor of Jewish Christians prior to his amazing conversion to Christianity. (Check out Acts 9:1-9 to read more about Paul’s conversion). Paul was the worst of the worst, responsible for harm and death to many believers. But an encounter with the risen Christ changed Paul’s life forever. This despicable character became a believer. God forgave him and gave Paul a new life and a calling to spread the Word to others. Paul did exactly that for the rest of his life – spreading the Word and starting churches throughout the Roman Empire.
The Old Testament reading is from Exodus 32:7-14. Moses is on Mount Sinai with God, receiving the Law from Him. Israel (the people) is waiting at the bottom of Mount Sinai, wondering what happened to Moses because it was taking so long for him to return. The people were afraid of the power and majesty of God and feared something bad had happened to Moses. The people, thinking they were doing a good thing, created a golden calf to worship. God saw this and told Moses to return to the people. Moses was furious. God was furious and threatened to destroy His people. Moses pleaded with God not to do that. After all, why bring these people out of Egypt only to kill them in the wilderness? Moses reminded God of His promise to deliver these people to the Promised Land and God relented.
We have two different stories of how people can stray so far away from God, to lose their belief in God (which is sin), and then to have God forgive them and save them from destruction. What a loving God we have Who can forgive people for doing the unthinkable, forgiving them of their sins, and loving us, in spite of what we have done.
If you think you have done something so horrible in your past that God could never forgive you, think again. The Israelites turned away from God, worshipping a golden calf, rejecting their God who had delivered them from the slavery they had under Pharoah. And God forgave them. Paul persecuted believers because they believed in Jesus Christ as the Messiah. And God forgave him.
God’s generous mercy is available to all if we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior. God is merciful and gracious to those who believe. Accept the faith and love that God has given you. Paul summarizes the Gospel in verse 15 saying that Jesus came into the world to save sinners. No sinner is beyond Christ’s power to save and give eternal life. Paul wrote of his life to give hope to others – that his past failures would provide hope to other sinners.
Vulnerability can open the way to sharing the gospel. Don’t be afraid to let others know what Christ has done for you. It may give hope to someone who is struggling.
Marsha Schroeder
Church Elder