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My debt to Jesus Christ

12-16 I am deeply grateful to our Lord Jesus Christ (to whom I owe all that I have accomplished) for trusting me enough to appoint me his minister, despite the fact that I had previously blasphemed his name, persecuted his Church and damaged his cause. I believe he was merciful to me because what I did was done in the ignorance of a man without faith, and then he poured out his grace upon me, giving me tremendous faith in, and love for, himself. This statement is completely reliable and should be universally accepted:—“Christ Jesus entered the world to rescue sinners”. I realise that I was the worst of them all, and that because of this very fact God was particularly merciful to me. It was a kind of demonstration of the extent of Christ’s patience towards the worst of men, to serve as an example to all who in the future should trust him for eternal life.

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13 Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor(A) and a violent man, I was shown mercy(B) because I acted in ignorance and unbelief.(C) 14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly,(D) along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.(E)

15 Here is a trustworthy saying(F) that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners(G)—of whom I am the worst.

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