Joe R. Price

"And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 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. However, for this reason I obtained mercy, 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" (1 Tim. 1:12-16).

The conversion of Saul of Tarsus is a model of God's abundant grace and mercy, offered and obtained in Christ. Christ's complete forgiveness of Paul's sins, great though they were, assures us Christ is willing and able to forgive all our sins.

Some would tell us God's grace overcomes sin without the sinner's obedient faith. This is false. "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God" (Eph. 2:8). And again, "faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead" (Jas. 2:17). Saul was saved "by grace, through faith" when he arose and obeyed the Lord's command to be baptized (Acts 22:16; Mk. 16:16). While salvation is indeed God's gift by grace, that gift is received through faith. God's grace offers salvation from every sin. Through faith, we receive His gift of salvation.

Some believe they have sinned so much Christ cannot possibly forgive them. This, too, is wrong. God's forgiveness of Saul is sufficient proof Christ can forgive you. Do not doubt the power of God's grace to forgive you; have faith in God (see verse 16).

God's grace is indeed greater than sin (Rom. 5:20-21). Yet, God does not save by grace until one obeys in faith. Saul had to repent to obtain salvation by grace (Acts 9:9-11). Saul had to be baptized to obtain the blessing of grace (Acts 22:16). He had to discipline himself daily to be submissive to Christ, or else he would be lost (1 Cor. 9:24-27). He could not live in sin and expect God's grace to abound toward him (Rom. 6:1-2, 12-14). Neither can we. He could not teach error and expect God's grace to overlook it (Gal. 1:6-9). Neither can we.

God's grace is greater than all our sins (Rom. 5:1-2). But God's grace must never be viewed as giving us liberty to teach and practice error with freedom from God's censure or condemnation (Titus 2:11-14). Beware of turning God's grace into lasciviousness (Jude 4).