Paul tells us in 1 Timothy 1:12-16, “I thank Him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because He judged me faithful, appointing me to His service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display His perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in Him for eternal life.”
What I read from this is Paul saying that the Lord showed mercy on a sinner like Paul to use him as an example to everyone else of the great salvation God has blessed us with. In other words, it tells me that IF PAUL CAN BE SAVED, THEN SO CAN I! What a wonderful feeling that is!
So with Paul I say, “To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen” (1 Timothy 1:17).
A Cord of Blue 