March 27, 2025 - 1 Timothy 1:15,16 - A Pattern of Mercy

1 Timothy 1:15,16

"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. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting."

The Gospel is clearly defined in Scripture, and Paul sets forth a pattern for its proclamation in 1 Timothy 1:15-16. In a world filled with religious confusion, the Word of God remains our authority to discern truth. Paul declares that how he received mercy serves as a pattern for all who believe on Christ to life everlasting.

The term "pattern" in verse 16 signifies an outline or form—a definitive model of how God saves sinners and why He does so. Salvation has always been by one means, by one manner, and by one message. In contrast to the world’s uncertainty, the Scriptures affirm God’s exclusive way of saving sinners.

The Means of Salvation: Grace Alone

Paul testifies in 1 Timothy 1:14, "And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus." Grace—God’s unmerited favor in Christ—is the sole foundation of salvation. It is exceedingly abundant, greater than all our sins, and it ensures that God remains just while justifying those for whom Christ died.

The Manner of Salvation: Christ’s Finished Work

1 Timothy 1:15 proclaims, "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." He did not come to attempt salvation, but to accomplish it. At Calvary, He saved those that the Father gave Him from all eternity and in time obtained their eternal redemption by His death on the cross. "Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us." (Hebrews 9:12) God the Father justified, sanctified, adopted, and reconciled His people to Himself by the death of His Son. The cross was not a mere provision but a definitive act of salvation by God.

The Message of the Gospel: Mercy, Not Merit

Paul presents his conversion as the pattern of sovereign grace. The word "pattern" also appears in 2 Timothy 1:13: "Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus." Like an engineer sketches a design before building, God ordained salvation through Christ before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4). This pattern reassures sinners that, since God has purposed to save the chief of sinners, then certainly His mercy extends to the worst of sinners that He has ordained to save, by His Sovereign Mercy alone, and not any merit in the sinner.

The Certainty of Forgiveness Through Christ Alone

Many struggle with whether God has truly forgiven them. Paul’s testimony answers this by demonstrating that salvation is solely through Christ’s work. His blood that He shed unto death is the reason God forgives, and every sin of every elect sinner has already been put away. "And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross." (Colossians 2:13-14)

The Greatness of God’s Mercy

Paul’s conversion proves that no sinner is beyond God’s mercy. "When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." (Mark 2:17) Since He has saved the chief of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15), there are none who are excluded for being too sinful. However, many are excluded for thinking themselves righteous. "Sin has slain its thousands. Self-righteousness has slain its tens of thousands."

A Message of Mercy and Sovereignty

Paul also speaks of God’s long-suffering towards His elect, while distinguishing them from the vessels of wrath. "Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory?" (Romans 9:21-23) Some are chosen for salvation, while others are ordained to condemnation. Though this truth is unpopular, it is Scriptural and represents the God of the Bible.

Mercy Before Faith

Paul states in 1 Timothy 1:16, "Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all long-suffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting." The biblical order is mercy, then faith. The sinner does not receive mercy upon believing. Rather, it is God’s mercy that brings the sinner to Christ in faith and repentance. "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith." (Romans 1:16-17) As a conquered rebel bows before a merciful king, the sinner surrenders to Christ and the Righteousness that He fulfilled to the satisfaction of God the Father for him, because of God’s prior work of grace and mercy.

Mercy Unto Life Everlasting

Finally, salvation is "unto life everlasting"—the eternal enjoyment of God in Christ. "And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." (1 John 5:11-12) Faith does not produce eternal life; rather, it is given to those that God has already chosen and quickened by the Spirit of Grace. This life is sure because it rests on the unchangeable merits of Christ and His accomplished work at the cross. Thus, the Gospel pattern is clear: salvation is by grace alone, through Christ alone, unto eternal life. Let us rest in Christ, the Mercy of God, and proclaim His sovereign grace with confidence.