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believing for permanent life

1 Timothy 1:15-17 (JDV)

1 Timothy 1:15 This saying is reliable and deserving of full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” – and I am the first of them.
1 Timothy 1:16 But I received mercy for this reason, so that in me, the first of them, Christ Jesus might demonstrate his extraordinary patience as an example to those who would believe in him for permanent life.
1 Timothy 1:17 Now to the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ages and ages. Amen.

believing for permanent life

This is one of the finest summaries of the Christian faith. Note how Paul expresses the essence of his faith in these words:

His faith was in the work of Jesus Christ, not his own. He knew that neither he nor anyone else could have been saved unless Christ Jesus came into the world to save them. He considered himself the first in line for hell, because he had been the first of sinners.

His faith was in the mercy of God. Dr. John Roller describes mercy as “God’s kindness in not giving us the things that we deserve.” We deserve destruction in hell, but his mercy saves us from that fate — if we believe.

He trusted the immortal God to raise him to a permanent life. He did not expect to keep living after he died. He did not have that permanent life yet. But he trusted Christ, who promised to raise the dead “at the last day” (John 6:39,40,44; 11:24).

Are you believing for permanent life? Don’t let this temporary life be all there is for you. Believe in Christ and be raised to life again — permanently.

LORD, draw people to yourself by these words, so that they may live again, and permanently.