Good morning and welcome in. Today we’re going to take a look at a passage of scripture but before we do that I wanted to tell you a little story.
Ever since the late 1980s when Minnesota won the world series, I’ve really enjoyed watching a game of baseball. I don’t know a lot of the rules but I do know that In the game of baseball you can use what’s known as a pinch hitter who takes the place of another batter as a substitute in the lineup. Many times a manager will bring in a gifted pinch hitter at a critical moment in the game so that the team can win.
Many of us use a pinch-hitter each day and we don’t even think about it.
For example, I’m not a very good mechanic, so when I’m in a pinch, and my truck doesn’t start in the morning, I bring in someone else who is far better at it than I am. I call an excellent mechanic who diagnoses and repairs my vehicle quickly in my driveway so I can get back out on the road.
On a busy holiday weekend, a retail store manager may replace his normal employees with some of the best sales people that he has. He puts those who have the most experience on the work roster, so that they can keep up with all of the busy traffic on the floor, as they make an attempt to beat last year’s sales record.
Whenever we want to succeed or win, we can call in a substitute or a pinch hitter. In the places where we may come up short, we can call on another to finish the job and to win the game for us.
This reminds me of the Christian faith.
The Bible has concluded that each of us have sinned and come short of the glory of God. This earth is like a team that is flailing in the 9th inning in need of help. We cannot win on our own. We need to step out of the game and allow somebody better than us to take our place, very much like a pinch hitter and His name is Jesus.
1 John 4:14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
This is the reason why God sent His only begotten Son into this world, as a substitute for us so that we can be victorious over sin and eventually win at the game of eternal life. Through faith in Christ, we have the opportunity to start over again to begin a new life serving Him. This is exactly what happened in the life of the Apostle Paul.
1 Timothy 1:12-16 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
Many people would agree that Paul’s life went through radical change. A person who was once trying to destroy Christian Churches was now in the process of starting them.
Galatians 1:13-24 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: And profited in the Jews’ religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.
But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days. But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother. Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not.
Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia; And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ: But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed. And they glorified God in me.
What causes this kind of change in a person’s life? What causes a person to do a 180 degree turnaround in their life, and then head in the complete opposite direction? What causes a man who was very high up in his own religion, to leave it all behind him? It was believing in the forgiveness of God. It was understanding that Jesus died as an atonement to God for our sins.
Isaiah 53:5-6 – But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Paul recognized that he wasn’t good enough to get to heaven on his own. He realized that he was a wretch, the chief of sinners, who was in need of forgiveness with God. He accepted the truth, that God loved Him and that Jesus had substituted himself as a Savior, not only Paul’s own sins, but for the sins of the entire world.
Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
The soon to be Apostle accepted Jesus Christ as his atonement and Savior so that he could be forgiven, and begin a new walk with God,… a walk that was filled up with new opportunities to please God and to do His will.
1 Peter 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
Remember that all of us have come short of the glory of God; each of us sinners in need of God’s forgiveness and mercy. Our Lord Jesus Christ is there to help us to obtain victory over our sins, so that we can begin a new life of faith towards Him. He’s the one that God has chosen as a Savior and substitutute for us all. Jesus truly is…
…. Our Pinch Hitter
Let’s think about these things for right now and Lord willing we can talk some more tomorrow. Till then, bye-bye everybody.❤️
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Teufer Lake King James Bible Church 