By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. For I am the last of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the Church of God.
Commentary:
Churches contain people who do not yet believe. Some are moving in the direction of belief, and others are simply pretending. The Good News about Jesus Christ will save us if we firmly believe it and faithfully follow it. Paul had been an enemy of the Christian Church even to the point of capturing and persecuting believers. Thus he felt unworthy to be called an apostle of Christ. He knew that he had worked hard and accomplished much. But only because God had poured kindness and grace upon him. True humility is not convincing yourself that you are worthless, but recognizing God’s work in you. Because Christ rose from the dead as he promised, we know that what he said is true – he is God. Because he rose, our sins are forgiven, as he forgave Paul’s he will forgive yours. Put yourself in the hands of Christ and trust him.