Paul, The Pattern -
by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam
Many
religious people take the Lory call Him “The Great Example”. When problems arise, they ask
themselves: “What would Jesus do?” They seek salvation by “walking in
His steps”.
While
our Lord’s moral and spiritual virtues are indeed worthy of emulation,
there were many details in His conduct which we should not imitate. For
example, none of us would be in a position to pronounce upon the
religious hypocrites of our day the bitter woes which our Lord
pronounced upon the Pharisees of His day — simply because we all have so
much of the Pharisee in us.
Certainly
we cannot be saved by “following Christ,” or striving to live as He
did. His perfect holiness would only emphasize our unrighteousness and
condemn us. He came to save us, not by His life, but by His death. “CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS” (ICor.15:3), and sinners are “reconciled to God by the deathof His Son” (Rom.5:10).
But
God has given us a pattern for salvation. It is none other than the
Apostle Paul, the chief of sinners saved by grace. Hear what he says by
divine inspiration:
“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, THAT CHRIST JESUS CAME INTO THE WORLD TO SAVE SINNERS, of whom I am chief” (ITim.1:15).
Paul,
as Saul of Tarsus, remember, had led his nation and the world in
rebellion against God and His Christ. He was “exceedingly mad” against
the disciples of Christ and “breathed threatening and slaughter” against
them. Why then, did God save him? He goes on to tell us in the next
verse:
“Howbeit [but] for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all longsuffering, FOR A PATTERN to them which should hereafter believe on Him to life everlasting” (Ver.16).
The moral: Take your stand with Paul. Admit you are a sinner and his Saviour will save you too.
Les Feldick Ministries
30706 W. Lona Valley Rd.
Kinta, OK 74552
Posted By Cecil and Connie Spivey
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