In verse 8 Paul calls himself the least of all the saints. What a profound irony considering that his name is attributed to more New Testament books than any other name. Even in Acts he is mentioned so many times with his missionary journeys and bold proclaiming in the midst of many different situations and settings. But he says to me, the least of all saints this grace was given. Why would Paul call himself “least of all saints”? What would prompt him to think so lowly of himself? Do we think of ourselves too highly?
Do we consider ourselves in our sins the least? Do we recognize the severity of our sins? Our sins are what cause us to be the least of all saints. It is not because Paul was used for so little because he was used greatly. He was available to follow the Lord’s will and the Spirit’s prompting. He was the least of all saints because he was a sinner. He did not have inferiority complex, but he had a realistic view of himself before God. (emphasis on the before God)
The unfathomable riches of Christ. We use the word unfathomable or incomprhesenible to talk about the universe but do we recognize the chasm between us and God? Do we recognize that without God’s grace we would have no rights to his presence?
Verse 9 he says to bring to light “the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things.” To bring to light means to make visible or known. It is no longer hidden or a puzzle or a mystery but he is now bringing out for the world to see. Why is it important that Paul sought to bring God’s grace to light? Despite this mystery being hidden for ages God was making it available. Despite the Jews holding onto it and not sharing it there were others who were receiving this grace. Look at Rahab and Ruth. Look at who God sent Jonah to preach.
The grandness of God’s wisdom made known through persecutors, deniers, peasants, former prostitutes and Pharisees. Now through plumbers, lawyers, farmers, stay-at-home moms, teenage dropouts, soldiers and the list could go on and on of the ordinary people the Lord uses today to make known his extraordinary wisdom. There are many other average ordinary people who are not listed It is through the ordinary that God makes His greatness known.
The dignity of the church is marked here in verse 10. Consider that the church is made up of these ordinary people. The church is comprised of those who are simple, ordinary people used of God to make himself known. It is through the church that God has chosen to work. The church is not great because of the people but because the people are the people of God. The church is the most glorious of God’s creations because it is a people who are made new. A people who are rescued out of sin. Just as the Hebrews rescued out of Egypt Christ’s church is people rescued out of sin. The church is the people that experience the work of Christ’s death. When we have faith in Christ then we are a part of the church.
Christ’s death allows us to be a part of a body newly created. We have fellowship with one another. We are a new humanity in that we are different than other people because we are made new.
In verse 12, what do we have access to through faith in Christ or who?
In verse 13, Paul commends them to not be of little faith but to be bold and confident. He tells them to not worry about his troubles but to continue on in faith.
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