I’ve been reading 1 Timothy 1 and I was struck by how Paul the Apostle viewed his life. There are four milestones by which Paul refers to how the gospel has transformed his life:
1. 1 Timothy 1:15 – PAST – “I was the chief of sinners”. Paul had the correct view about his past life: he was the leading sinner. Not only did Paul think that his sin was deep but had a good understanding that the life he lives was in the past. How often do we carry the burden of our old life?
2. 2 Corinthians 5:17 – PRESENT – “I am a new creature in Christ Jesus”. Paul understood his present situation – that he was completely new in Jesus. Sometimes if we are still burdened by our past it is because we do not understand that we stand as new people in God’s sight. The old has past and the new has come.
3. 1 John 3:2 – FUTURE – “I shall be like Him”. Paul knew that despite the fact that he was a new creature, he was not yet perfect. He wasn’t complete. His hope was in Christ that one day he would be!
4. Philippians 3:14 – IN THE MEANTIME – “I press words the goal”. Paul wasn’t passive about his faith. He was always looking to grow and mature in the things of the Lord. Do we have this same attitude?
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