If anyone understood the grace of God, the apostle Paul did!

“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. …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.” (1 Timothy 1:12-15)

Because of his extensive training and experience in the Mosaic law and all things Jewish, he was uniquely qualified to make his missionary journeys, planting and visiting churches, encouraging believers, and writing letters of teaching, training in righteousness, and exhortation. I recognize, though, that Paul would be nothing and not able to teach accurately without the Holy Spirit dwelling in him and working through him.

He wrote some quite intense letters! The apostle Peter thought so, too:

“And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. You, therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability.” (2 Peter 3:15-17)

I’ve seen a couple of responses to this passage; one response where there is agreement with the statement, “yes, Paul writes some things that are difficult to understand…. In fact, normal, everyday people cannot understand them, they need a special revelation from God to fully understand what Paul is saying, a revelation only certain people have.” That argument is often used to support the need to adhere to the Jewish law or some made-up doctrine.

Another response that I’ve witnessed is the “Paul didn’t really mean what he seems to be saying” response, particularly when the manner which some people choose to live is a lifestyle condemned by scripture. Essentially making up excuses to justify what God identifies as sin. Paul’s writings are difficult to hear and receive because they are not what the hearer wants to hear. In that case, “…the ignorant and unstable twist [Paul’s letters] to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.”

There has been some fancy footwork dancing around Romans 1—example: gay people (or LGBTQ+) going directly to that letter written by Paul condemning that lifestyle, yet using the very words of Paul to justify their sin. I guess taking the scripture head on and then twisting it (to their own destruction) in a way to justify their own perversion (God’s perspective) works somehow for them.

Of course, that is a radical example of what I’m saying. The problem with the example is the tendency to adopt a judgy attitude and err by hating not only the sin but also the sinner. The only solution I know of easing the tension between loving the sinner with their “in your face” sin is to be filled and led by the Holy Spirit—No compromise with sin, but also no compromise with loving sinners (after all, that is who we are). The life of Jesus is our example—we need to know Him well.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your way acknowledge Him and He will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.” (Proverbs 3:5-7)

If you want to be wise, fear the Lord. If you want to understand Paul’s letters, be filled with the same Holy Spirit that spoke to Paul. Wisdom will not contradict or twist scriptures, but as things are winding down on earth, you can be sure the enemy is working hard to deceive people by twisting and undermining scripture.

How could God love a sinner such as I? I cannot comprehend the love, the mercy and grace of Him, who died for me. And yet I accept it because it is His gift to me, and to all who call on His Name.